see how the hole (partially covered by locking plate) is around 11 o clock?

thats where it should be when the flywheel line is lined up with the pointer in the crankcase...

 

haha i have no idea on the pins your talking about

 

Right in between the bolt that says 12, and the hole on the right, you can see part of a circle that's mostly covered up, there's a small pin there that links the gear and the cam together.

Also, you should check out the site in my sig, and join the LT230S Group on this site. Go to quick links>social groups>LT230S brotherhood.

Oh, and I had my steering stem snap as well, not a great thing to happen! I got my used one off eBay for $14!

 

Reviewing your pics, and my manula, it appears you may be a tooth or two off on the cam.



That round mark on the mag body, should be directly under that pointer, and then the cam must be oriented with the grooves parallel with the head, and that dowel pin facing up (as seen in 230sman's pic)

 

That brotherhood is sweet! Some guys parting out his bike! haha i definitely need plastics.
ok, mine looks exactly like that (cam pic). But when you rotate it, the "U" on the cam is also directly beneath it, like when you rotate it the cam is exactly upside down, its hard to explain. Ill take a pic. So does this mean my timing is on? Because those little hash mark lines stay level with the head....
I went back and got directly on......But when i reset the timing, i made the two hash marks level and put that "U" on the cam down, not up like in lt230smans pic

 

If the U is down, the cam is upside down. That little locator pin needs to be up, and the marks level when that dot is under the pointer.

 

See thats where im confused. I originally put the cam in with that "U" down. But when i rotate the motor counterclockwise by the flywheel, the "U" goes directly up like your saying its supposed to be. Is the TDC mark always when the motor is at TDC? Cuz maybe the mark i set it at is when the motor was at BDC, it rotates, and the cams upside down. Hard to explain. I took these pics while i was out checking timing, again lol. I didnt move anything except for removing that cam bolt right now....
(Both were taken at exactly the TDC mark)


(when i pulled the cam cover):


(Rotated it exactly one revolution at the TDC mark):


So that last mark is right, right? So what im really asking is the motor always at top when the flywheel mark is lined up?

 

ok so i went out there and reversed the timing chain. It ran for about 3 seconds then died. I sprayed starting fluid straight into the cylinder. I think i have a valve staying open.....i cant get the intake side valve tappit cover off to adjust it. Exhaust should be set around .003" right?

 

so went out there and regrounded the only ground i could find and got pretty good spark. So threw everything together. Went to start it up, first kick it started. But about 5 seconds later it died. Went to kick it, and it kicked back and damn near broke my ankle! Then it started up like it did before. So maybe fuel delivery. Or open valves. Am i on the right path?

 

Kicking back is a sure sign its either a stuck/tight valve, or incorrect timing. When your mark is under the needle, and it's at TDC, the cam should be paralle with the head, and both valves should be closed.

Valve specs are .03-08mm intake, .08-.13mm exhaust