Hi,

I have just finished a cambelt change on a silvertop and after starting up it sounds a bit tappety. I've not done one of these before, but I don think I did anything wrong.

rotated engine to tdc and slipped 5mm flat bar in the rear of the cams.
released tensioner and removed old belt
5th gear and on breaks to crack off the crank bolt - wasnt too had but engine turned over about 1/8 before gearbox engaged and took up the slack.
released cam pullys
replaced waterpump and pulleys.
new belt on
I have a raceline sump so have no timing mark. So I used a dial indicator and rod in cylinder 1 to find exact TDC on crank.
nipped everything up, then to torque.
rotated twice by hand. check timing - good
turned over for 10 secs with no spark. check timing - good
put covers, aux belt on etc.


any ideas?
hoping I didn't turn the pistons into the valves when I removed the crankbolt.
In hindsight I probably should have cracked it off before removing the cambelt. But it didn't turn very far (1/8).

maybe my timing is off slightly, or the tappets have drained down?

I only ran it for 20 seconds when I heard the noise.

If you could turn it over by hand then you haven't mashed the valves and pistons together; unless you are The Hulk

Scudderfish is correct - it can't be that bad if you can turn it over by hand.

quote:

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or the tappets have drained down

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Thanks for the replies.
I'll do that - and maybe a quick compression test first.

are they hydraulic followers?

also a chance cam timing is 180degree out?

edit:
ah re-reading your original post
yes hydraulic, and very unlikely 180 out.

[Edited on 6/7/26 by gremlin1234]

I was worrying about nothing. Cleared up now the engine is up to temp!

thanks guys

...and breath

You'd have to turn the crank maybe 120deg before you contacted a valve

One thing I would say/remind people with these, is don't rely on the timing tool/bar in the back of the cams to lock them when undoing the crank or cam bolts. I've seen a few with the ends cracked off the back of the cam. Use the flats/hex on the cam to hold them.

Excellent news, well done