Rebuilding motorcycle after timing chain skip 62K Km

[Claudiu]

I replaced the valves because they were bent. New seals too. Valve seats were reamed by a machinist who also lapped the valves although I told him not to because I don’t know if they were hardened. Sometimes they think they know better.

 

[Claudiu]

Waiting for gasket kit, sharing accessories.

 

[Claudiu]

Tools…

 

[Claudiu]

Trying to fit the drop link alignment pin, just playing with tools. Surprise. The drop link looks offset. The alignment pin’s head fits very tight into the large hole but doesn’t align with the smaller hole. From the opposite side the shaft fits quite loose, there’s enough play to feel it. Now wondering if I need to loose and realign the drop link too. With this bike it seems the more you dismantle the more you get to fix.
Second thought: maybe is meant to be like this. The manual says to pull diagonally back and up when installing the drop link. Maybe that’s to ensure the bolts shafts seat firmly the surface of the holes when the bike stays on its wheels under own weight… and the joints don’t move. Anybody went this far yet?

 

[Claudiu]

Trying to fit the drop link alignment pin, just playing with tools. Surprise. The drop link looks offset. The alignment pin’s head fits very tight into the large hole but doesn’t align with the smaller hole. From the opposite side the shaft fits quite loose, there’s enough play to feel it. Now wondering if I need to loose and realign the drop link too. With this bike it seems the more you dismantle the more you get to fix.
Second thought: maybe is meant to be like this. The manual says to pull diagonally back and up when installing the drop link. Maybe that’s to ensure the bolts shafts seat firmly the surface of the holes when the bike stays on its wheels under own weight… and the joints don’t move. Anybody went this far yet?

Details about installation. Assuming linkage positioning procedure is meant to ensure firm contact between assembled members which have clearances. I think it’s very important during major rebuild because it’s almost impossible to check if the installation is performed correctly so components positions serve the purpose. The manual explains steps but doesn’t explain their purpose so there is the risk that some operations performed blindly by the book can still result in troubles later.