Which way is clockwise?

[FJ111200]

Yeah sounds a bit dumb i know but, looking at the picture below the exhaust cam is to the front.
Now in the Haynes manual it says "turn the exhaust cam clockwise to take up the slack in the camchain", this is prior to fitting the inlet cam sprocket.
So is clockwise looking from this side of the engine or the other. If i turn clockwise from this side it creates more slack.
Am i being thick or what? 

[andyb]

If you're doing what I think you're doing, you want to turn it to lose the slack between the exhaust and the crank, not between the cams; clockwise as viewed at that angle will do this, counterclockwise will put slack between the crank and exhaust cam while tightening the run to the intake cam.  Make more sense?

[Flying Scotsman]

Im no expert but slack is removed at the cam by turning crankshaft cc.

[FJ111200]

I can't see my picture now, can you?  There's always been a problem between Photobucket and AOL.
The Haynes manual definately says " turn the camshaft clockwise to eliminate any slack". There's a hex cast into the cam to allow it to be turned.
So if you can't see my picture the ignition pickups can be seen as if you are looking at the engine with the exhaust pointing to the left.
I've been doing a total engine re-build and i'm at the camshaft installation and timing stage.

[andyb]

Turning the camshaft one way is the same as turning the crank the other way if you're taking up slack   But you need the crank at a specific point to ensure that the cams end up at the right place, so that's why you're turning the cam instead.

Honestly?  Throw them in there, and carefully turn the motor over.... if it stops or even wants to stop hard, it's piston on valve, and you were too far out.  If it turns over twice at the crank without interference, then try to align the timing marks.  Odds are you'll miss on one of the cams by a tooth, just mark where you are and move it over accordingly.  When you're setting the cam timing, always turn the motor over forwards (ccw at the crank) if the cams are in, because you're ensuring that any slack ends up between the intake and the crank (where the tensioner is).

Cam timing is scary the first time or two, but the truth is it's difficult to describe, and you know that if you blow it you can bend the valves, crack the head, break valveguides, break pistons, bend rods, bend crank, etc... so it's a little nerve wracking!  Just don't use anything silly to turn the motor over, just a socket and hand pressure should be plenty, and if it stops, stop and take the cams back out and try again.  Once you've gotten it right, you'll smack yourself in the head and go 'damn, that was easier than I thought it'd be...'.

[racerrad8]

Clockwise is from that side of the engine. You need to make sure all of the slack is at the back of tensioner side before installing the tensioner.

If you have the timing mark on TDC at the crank and the slack removed by turning the exhaust cam and the timing mark is centered in the hole of #3 cam cap, then install the intake so the timing mark is aligned there. Then install the tensioner and start the center bolt & spring a few threads, turn everything backwards to set the tensioner depth.

Once you have it all together, turn the engine over one complete crankshaft revolution until the timing mark is aligned and recheck you cam marks. Both timing marks should be centered in the hole of the #3 cam caps.

Randy - RPM

[fj11.5]

Thanks randy , you answered the question I asked a few weeks ago, all I have to do now is be able to do it 

[FJ111200]

Am i being thick or what?  :rofl2

  Once you've gotten it right, you'll smack yourself in the head and go 'damn, that was easier than I thought it'd be...'.

Yes i was being totally thick, and yes you were right andy.
You can all slag me now 'cos what i was doing was trying to time it all up using a 3CV pickup coil and a 36Y rotor.
Once i realised that and put the 3CV rotor in place, obvious now but, the T mark and TDC changed positions and it worked like clockwork, or should that be clockwise, 
Thank you all for the input, i just didn't click. Dickhead