Need to know procedure for cam timing on a saito FA50. Cast marks, pins etc. Want to make sure I'm not one tooth off
Thanks, red

There is a dimple on the timing cam gear. This dimple needs to be directly pointing down when the piston is TDC. You can check this when it is assembled with the backplate off and the engine has completed its exahust stroke and begining the intake. There is a brief period when both valves are closed. Use your finger accross the lifters and when you feel that both valves are closed look at the piston location from the back of the engine and it should be TDC. Just make sure you are on the right cycle (not on the compression cycle).

put a little vaseline on the cam gear, it will help hold the timing mark in place until you can get the housing down on the block.

Hello; If you remove the lifter for the intake pushrod, rotate teh camshaft until teh hole in the cam lines up with teh lifter bore. At that point I use a pushrod to pin the camshaft still.

Still there? Rotate the crank until it's at top dead centre, lower the cam case onto the crankcase while holding the pushrod in the intake lifter bore. wiggle it aound, do it again, whatever it takes to be sure it's done right. After you've done it, you'll wonder what all the worry was about.

All the Saitos I have had apart(lots) have had that drilling on the intake lobe of the cam. I have made , I think 4 little tools to do that same job, where do they go?

I made my own tool for timing Saito cams - it's a 4mm rod with the enf ground down to 2mm diameter. Stick it into the bore for the intake tappet, it will engage the hole in the base circle of the intake cam and lock the cam from turning. Then with the crankshaft at TDC mount the cam and housing.

The gear teeth are coarse enough that you can see easily if the cam is off when using the tool.

HTH.

Bill.

Thanks everyone for the info. It came out OK. I made the timing rod from a jewelers screwdriver and snipped off the blade to a 1/4". I also left the front bearing out while doing it so I could see the mating of the two gears. Piece of cake ).
red