I've been working on restoring a 99 Superhawk for the better part of this year and I'm very near completing it, however, I've hit a strange issue that could be a whole host of things that has me confused on where to go next.


The motor was completely rebuilt and since I have started it several times and aside from slightly out of sync carbs it ran great. The last time I started it, it sounded very rich and boggy almost to the point where it would stall and it did followed by a PING. Now I quadruple checked the timing as well as installed manual CCTs prior to first start so I seriously doubt it's a timing issue. Onto diagnosis, I checked the plugs, coils/wiring, starter, flywheel and reduction gear and all seems to be nominal. My next steps would be to pull the head covers, recheck the timing, inspect the chains and guides possibly even the water pump chain but I'm trying not to disassemble the half the bike looking for this gremlin.


So when I manually turn the crank over there's a certain point where it locks up (not completely, just heavy resistance) and makes some funky noise. I am able to turn past this point of resistance and then every stroke seems to cycle just fine with no noises. I get several revolutions from the crank until I hit this point again. Judging by how long the cam chains are and how many crank revolutions I get before I hit this trouble spot all signs seem to point to something galling the chain at some point. Should I be checking the cam chains/guides directly or could there be something else I haven't accounted for?


Sorry for the long and possibly confusing post but I'm trying to explain as much as I can given my limited experience and knowledge and I thank you for trying to help.

 

I found my VTR binding on start-up, but only when the engine got hot, turned-out to be the cam chain set too tight, as the engine grew from heat, the chains tightened. I had set the manual adjusters at half turn out, turns out it needed one full turn out.