[officialhopsof]

I have an 08 klr that I recently did the 685 big bore kit to, and I think I may have messed up the cam timings so I need to get in there and check them, do I have to drain the coolant or the oil for this? Pretty sure I don't have to do the oil but I could see the coolant being a problem. I can't remember if the coolant channels when up through the top of the head or not. Any insight would be helpful as draining the coolant is a pain lol.

The reason I suspect the cam timing is off is because I cannot get the bike to red line or rev above 5000 rpm give or take. It also seems less powerful even with the big bore kit and has a bit of a kick back at ignition. (Mostly included that paragraph for the benefit of anyone that has this issue in the future, I wasn't able to find too much useful information online about it. Took me taking the bike to a mechanic to figure this out)

A good cam timing diagram (again for the benefit of searching):

Thanks!
Brandon

 

[Tom Schmitz]

officialhopsof -

Hi and welcome to the forum!

It is not necessary to drain oil or coolant to check the cam timing. Remove the valve cover and you'll be able to see the timing marks on the cam sprockets.

If if the cam timing is off you can release the cam chain tensioner and inch-worm the chain around on the sprockets to get it right.

Tom

 

[officialhopsof]

Solved

Ah fantastic! Just what I hoped to hear!

Thank you!
Brandon

 

[Tom Schmitz]

You're very welcome.

Hoping you'll be joining us!

T

 

[Damocles]

Besides cam timing, you might want to check ignition timing, if you pulled the rotor (as in, upgrading doohickey); the Woodruf key aligning rotor to crankshaft may be missing, allowing ignition timing to go amiss.

From your comment, I assume you personally installed the 685 kit; also assume your valves and valve seats are in good condition and adjusted properly.

If the engine rev'd o.k. before the 685 kit implant, and the carburetor was unchanged, no reason you shouldn't be able to spin her up with the big-bore conversion, as far as I can see.

Good luck, and please let us know how you make out.

 

[officialhopsof]

I did personally install it (had the dealership hone the cylinder and attach the piston rings for me though).

Didn't touch the doohicky but I'll keep the ignition timing in mind if the cam timing is correct. Valves are good however, check the clearance and everything when did the big bore.

Thanks!

 

[Damocles]

Cool, officialhopsof!

If you left the rotor alone, the ignition timing's o.k. Plain ol' geometry determines the timing pulse incidence, not adjustable by ordinary means.

Hope your problem's a small one, readily detected and easily corrected.