Hey, new to the forum, but must admit, been lurking for a while. Enjoy all the comments you guys make about tha AC and have used some information from the forums before. I have a 1998 300 4X4, the best ATV in this cc class IMHO. Here's the problem. Long story short, the cat sat up in storage for a while and I didn't properly prepare her. I know, bad bad. Anyway, took her out had some problems with loss of power and smoke from the exhaust, figured it was time for new rings, etc. No problem, done this before with several old hondas. So I dive off into the job, no service manual at all thinking past experience will lead the way. Well, she's back together but won't start. The problem is that I have the cam set wrong. It's blowing towards the carb when the intake valve opens, instead of "sucking" air through the carb. Logically, this means I have the cam upside down, but to be safe, I was wondering if anyone here had access to the service manual and maybe could tell me what the specs are on set the cam. There's a dash/line etched into the cam sprocket, I assume that's the timing mark, I set that straight up on TDC, my guess is that it needs to be straight down on TDC. Anyway, thanks for anyone that can help.

 

In my 2003 manual it shows that there are two slots/lines on the end of the cam itself. These are supposed to be parallel (flat) with the mating surface for the valve cover, with the lobes pointed down towards the piston. It makes no reference to any markings on the cam sprocket, but then again it isn't the same year as yours.

Hope this helps anyways...

 

Thanks. That was it actually. I had remembered from timing Honda cams that the lobes had to be pointing down, but when I tore the valve cover back off today and took a closer look, there are 2 marks on the end of the cam. Lined them up with the head, lobes pointing down. Put it all back together. Rolled over about 3 or 4 times and fired off. Music to my ears. Now if I can just figure out this carb problem that has been plagueing me for a while. Thanks again Alcoff95.