Timing Chain Top Pad rubbing the chain.

[LarryJa]

I'm putting my bike back together after adjusting the valve clearances & timing the cams.
As I tighten down the timing chain top pad onto the cam saddle, it's obvious that the top pad is rubbing in the timing chain. Since I do not recall that from disassembly, is this correct?.
I've pulled the crankshaft timing pin & the camshaft timing plate out & , then rotated the engine a couple of turns, with the tensioner tool still set, to see if the chain would set lower I to the sprockets & give some clearance. No dice.
So, does the top pad normally run on the chain???

[earthman]

Sorry, I didn't notice that aspect when I did my 20K service but would like to know the answer too.

How bad is it rubbing? My gut feeling is that it really shouldn't be by much, surely by this sort of mileage, it would have worn down a fair bit??

[LarryJa]

The only visual reference that I have, in the service manual, are the chain top pad illustrations on pp 3.16 & 3.17. There, the illustrations show the top pad directly on top of the chain. If there is any clearance, it is minimal.
Today, I am going to final check my valve clearances &, then, remove the cam saddle again & recheck the cam timing. Fortunately, I have extra cam sprocket screws to use.
I'll post, later, if I find an issue, or not.

[LarryJa]

I retimed the cams two more times, out of obsessive worry.
The top chain pad does slightly contact the chain, at rest.
So now, my valves & cam timing are correctly set, & I'm set for reassembly.
BTW: attached is a pix of the final sprocket tightening. Note that the cam hash lines do NOT directly align, even though the cam timing tool has locked them in! Others have correctly pointed this out earlier.

[digital]

You must ensure that the sprockets are always aligned with their marks and each time the engine turns to run a four-stroke engine, the lines will align. Therefore, the camshaft sprockets must be synchronized and their bolts completely new.

On the other hand, the top plate is made of the same material as the two skates through which the timing chain is attached and slides, so it is normal to scratch a bit.

[digital]

Here the two camshafts are already synchronized and the chain is tensioned.

A good reference point is to place the other colored chain link (as seen in the photo) in the center of the two camshafts.

[digital]

[digital]

For those who have never made a valve adjustment, let's say when the Triumph tool or a bit is inserted into the crankshaft to synchronize the camshafts. Please note that the crankshaft has two holes side by side, if you insert light through the hole like the photo, you can see the two holes. The one that interests us is the one that will insert the bit or the Triumph tool, totally, inside the crankshaft hole.