installing megacycle cam with timing gears in lemans 1 engine

[amamet]

for the time being I cannot seem to find any of my notes regarding the megacycle cam.  I'm sure I will though.  anyway, as I put the engine back together should I just install the cams timing gear lined up so the the dowel from the one and only position on the cam goes back into the hole on the gear that has the punched dived in it? then line up the other punched marked between that gear and the cranks gear?  the cylinders and heads are already on.  I'm fairly inexperienced inside an engine, thats painfully obvious, but have to learn sometime.  heads were rebuilt and everything balanced.  I do have a backup plan.  a highly experienced and respected Guzzi mechanic has offered to spend the time walking me through he process using his shop and tools, just have to bring the engine to him when he has time

[guzzisteve]

If you have your heads on you have to remove rockers & pushrods & hold up cam followers w/magnet or coathangers. All bumps down to remove & install cam. Then put L/H piston at TDC on compression stroke, that is where marks and dowel pin will line up.

[amamet]

not sure what you mean by "all bumps down to remove and install cam". as you saying to face the bumps of the old cam down, remove and install the new cam with the bumps facing down too?  if thats the case the new cam is already in.  the engine is on my bench as I write this. I can easily remove the heads if need be
thx
allen

[pete roper]

I'd strongly advise against the use of alloy timing gears.

[amamet]

This engine has 60k miles on it. The timing gears were already on it when I bought it, I assume for many miles too. They worked fine before, I know many people don’t like them. Should I chuck them and buy sprockets and a chain. Seems like a waste if it worked fine before?

[Don G]

You should check the cam timing against the manufacturers specs. just cuz your there. DonG

[guzzisteve]

If new cam is in disregard install. Time it at L/H TDC, pin & marks should alien.

[John A]

Did you clean out the sludge trap when it was apart?  with alloy gears itll be full of aluminum sludge.

[RinkRat II]

Greetings amamet,  You are correct in your theory on the timing marks. With the  LH piston at TDC the marks on the gears as your picture shows is correct. The dowel to locate the cam gear should be at 10 o'clock. As Don G sez...get a degree wheel and check the cam timing.

    Paul B

[acguzzi]

I find the distributor more of a hassle than the gears, the gears are marked so it's pretty straight forward. The timing though, making sure you are on the right stroke and close enough so you can rotate it into alignment, a pain.

[amamet]

Sludge cleaned and new plug installed when all parts were balanced

[John A]

Sludge cleaned and new plug installed when all parts were balanced

Perfect