Timing marks for 1996 FE 350

Hi Folks

I am putting together a basket case Fe350
I believe I have the timing correct but I want to be certian. I cannot find timing marks on the cam sprocket and can only find 2 small dots on the Rotor. When I set the engine at top dead centre one of the small dots line up with a small notch in a bolt hole located at the approx 11 o'clock position of the cases.
I have read the info Taffy posted and everything I read says the cam bolts are to be at the 12 and 6 o'clock position ( where the lobes are down) This does not work on my cam, the lobes are down when the bolts are in the 3 and 9 o'clock position.
I did see a small cast line on the flywheel but it is not lining up with the small notch in the bolt hole.
Can anyone clarify the correct timing for this machine. Thanks. I have enjoyed reading and finding parts through this website. Now I need to get this rig up and running. Thanks again JIM

Hi Jim,

I just had a look at the 89-96 Parts manual and Owners manual, and the description of your cam alignment does not seem correct. I suggest you take another look at the bike and compare it with the pictures and descriptions in the manuals.

If you do not have the manuals you can download them free at http://www.husaberg.se/

Just click on downloads, previous, and scroll down to 89-96 Owners manual, and 89-96 parts manual. The pictures of the cam in the parts book is nearly identical to the pictures in the others up through 2003 for the cam info.

Are you sure you are at top dead center? are you measuring the piston position with a straw or something like that?

The ignition stator timing process is also described in the Owners manual.

The first Workshop manual that I know of is the 99 manual which you can download from THIS web site . Look to the left of the screen, and find Downloads, under Resources. You then go to parts manuals etc and there are 3 pages of items there to help you. Some of the manuals are in several parts because of their size.

The 99 manual should be a big help to you.

Let us know what you find out....


Regards,

Joe

Thanks Joe

I will look. I know I am at top dead centre as I have a straw down the plug hole and it is at top dead centre. One small dot on the rotor lines up with the little notch in the bolt hole.
When I have the lobes down on the cam , the mount on the cam ( for the sprocket) the flat side is down horizontal with the top of the head. This places the bolt holes at 3 and 9 o'clock. When I go for 12 and 6 o'clock the lobes are out 90 degrees from down. I have a 99 book but it says the bolts are to be a 12 and 6. Maybe I have another make of cam?
I will go out to the shop and have another go at it.
Thanks for the info. I will look it up tonight. Have to go bale hay now. JIM

bearbuster said:

Thanks Joe

I will look. I know I am at top dead centre as I have a straw down the plug hole and it is at top dead centre. One small dot on the rotor lines up with the little notch in the bolt hole.
When I have the lobes down on the cam , the mount on the cam ( for the sprocket) the flat side is down horizontal with the top of the head. This places the bolt holes at 3 and 9 o'clock. When I go for 12 and 6 o'clock the lobes are out 90 degrees from down. I have a 99 book but it says the bolts are to be a 12 and 6. Maybe I have another make of cam?
I will go out to the shop and have another go at it.
Thanks for the info. I will look it up tonight. Have to go bale hay now. JIM

Click to expand...

Jim, yours should look just like Figures 8AD and 8AE on page 29 of the 99 Workshop Manual.

regards,

Joe

Ji Joe

I downloaded the files but cannot open them. Something acrobat reader does not like.
I have not seen a cam with the same backing plate as the one in my bike.
I contacted Bob at Barrett marketing and he says the serial number of my motor is 1992. Apparentley them made a bunch of 350's and they did not sell them all until 1998 hence the 1992 number.
Her are a couple of photos I took showing my cam and the back plate as well as the timing marks on the rotor.
I have a flat side to my backing plate and it is located on the same side as the lobes in this case down. This does not allow for a bolt pattern to match the photos in the manuals.

I am sorry the photo's did not upload not certian what I did wrong.
I there somewhere I can email them to you so you can look at what I am talking about. Thanks JIM

Hi Bearbuster,
Glad you sourced your parts,in a previous thread cam timing was given at something like intake opens at 10 deg BBDC(before bottom dead centre) and closes at 54 degrees ABDC,zero clearance and 1mm lift.These # were for the 2000 up engines but it will get you in the ball park so to speak and you can hopefully use the # to verify your dots.

Hi Joe
I am going to try to upload a photo for you to see. I cannot get a look at the downloads of the manuals. Acrobat says unable to open.
I guess I will have to send one picture at a time. Well here goes. JIM

Hi Joe

I did it. Photo's are in.
I also updated adobe and have looked at the pages you suggested. My cam is not of the same breed. There is no auto decompression on my cam. Is there a chance the cam is not stock?
I have turned the motor over and it turns through OK no valve contact.
Let me know what you think. thanks JIM

bearbuster said:

Hi Joe

I did it. Photo's are in.
I also updated adobe and have looked at the pages you suggested. My cam is not of the same breed. There is no auto decompression on my cam. Is there a chance the cam is not stock?
I have turned the motor over and it turns through OK no valve contact.
Let me know what you think. thanks JIM

Click to expand...

Hi Jim,

Wow, the pictures answer a 1000 words don't they.

Here is the page I was refereing to from the 99 manual, I hope you an open it. If your computer doesn't have Adobe reader on it you can get it for free at the adobe website.

It looks like your equipment is quite different from what I expected.. However, it the cam lobe tips are split overlap down or up at TDC of the piston, then you are O.K. Being off 1 tooth on the cam sprocket (if there are 34 teeth on the sprocket) would represent 10.58 degrees, a noticeable offset if the engine is at TDC.

The only one that I can recommend with info on this bike this is Dale Lineaweaver, who has been very busy of late. Hopefully he will see your post and picture and confirm/comment on what I said..

You might send him a personal message though.

Regards,

Joe

Hi Joe

I appreciate you trying to help me with my bike. I did send a note off to Dale and got am outo reply we was on the road with the race circuit.
I have dealt with him in the past and it has been a while getting all the parts collected so a few more days is not a big issue.
I have turned the motor through and there is no valve interference. I am only afraid to put it together and have to open it up again because something is out a bit. Therefore I will continute to wait for someone who has worked on this age of motor to reply. I was told there was only 6 of this machine imported that year. Seems everyone liked the 501 more.
I do have one screwup. The book mentions dowles between the head and cylnder. This motor had non. I have Honda Yamaha and Suzuki Dowls on hand and non will fit. I wonder if maybe there was non in this motor when new. I know it was rebuilt once by local shop and it was never as good as it was new. Maybe a few things were not put back as they should have been. The owner sold it to me with a bent set of rockers and wadley worn rockers shafts. I converted it to Kibblewhite valves( from Dale Lineaweave) special valves. They have been shortened to allow the 12mm rocker shafts and elephant foot adjusters. I have Ohlins on the rear and the front is WP with ceramic parts to reduce friction when they heat up with hard use. I did get it running for a couple of weeks but did not want to blow it up so I dismantled it to fix up what ails it.
Like a dummy I forgot to spend time checking for timing marks. Now it is time to get it together and I end up looking like the dummy.
Well thanks to everyone for the assistance you have shown me. Husaberg owners are the best. JIM