More XBR stupidity... camchain

[guest18]

Ok, before you all start laughing too hard...
If "someone" was to manage to let the camchain come off the lower (crankshaft) sprocket whilst refitting a head
 ( )
Is there a quick and dirty trick to re-hook the damn thing onto the (lower) sprocket, or does the engine side-cover have to come off? 

Now remember, try to answer the question first before pointing and laughing 

[guest564]

I don't remember ever having a problem, does it not just pull up again? Could it be that its trapped? trying rocking the crankshaft gently in both directions. I used to have a 'special' spring that I used to hook the camchain and pull it up the barrell.

[guest18]

Never had a problem before either  but just now when you pull it up it feels as though it has missed the toothed section completely, has excess chain available and spins freely...
Most frustrating!
In the absence of other ideas I shall try to wiggle it around and re-seat it but if no joy I may just have to remove the rhs cover and sort it that way. It's a right bu66er though!

[guest833]

Gaskets aren't that bad-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-CRANKCASE-RIGHT-GASKET-XBR-500-038_W0QQitemZ270533882072QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item3efd1370d8

[guest18]

Yeah as much as anything it's the extra aggro and time for removing the side cover, cleaning the gasket surfaces, and indeed waiting for the gasket to arrive(!)
That said I managed next to no time in the garage tonight as there was so much else on 
On the plus side taking the head back off and wiggling the chain about before refitting the head seems to have done the trick  now just got to bolt it down, find the tdc marker (pita on your own with a chair stopping you getting a decent look in the hole lol) etc etc
I think tomorrows garage session could be challenging, but hopefully satisfying...

[guest18]

Ever get the feeling the Gods are against you...?
Fitting the new head bolts, doing it all correctly with the torque wrench set in the middle of the approved range and the  threads oiled... and the two short bolts pulled the threads straight out of the barrel 
b****r!