Timing chain after rebuild
 

Just wanted to make sure I'm putting the timing chain on right. I just rebuilt the engine on my 99 500 sportsman. I didn't take the motor apart so the original owner made no markings. Do I just top dead centre the piston, and then line up the one dot with the top of the motor that is on the camshaft sprocket? Then I put the chain on? Also does anyone know where the stator could be set at for this thing. Like I said I didn't take it apart. Should I just centre it and see what happens?
Thanks!

Way I did it on changing cams was to have the cam sprocket alignment slot dead center of the head and made a mark. Removed the tensioner,removed the 3 cam sprocket bolts WITHOUT moving the crank shaft and letting the sprocket and chain drop down. Install a new cam,pull up the sprocket and chain,you can wiggle the chain around the lower sprocket if need be,align back to where sprocket and head marks lined up. On a new rebuild you have to make sure the piston is at tdc. Either mark the flywheel to where it easy to see the tdc mark and where it aligns with the recoil case pointer OR if you have the stator off,the lower sprocket mark points straight down at the case mark,have the one plated link on it,then you can arrange the index slot on the cam sprocket center of the head and the two plated links on the dots. Once aligned,install the tensioner,adjust the valves. Once the engine is turned over the plated links wont line up again,but it's ok , that's the way it's designed.