Hello everyone

I have a 2008 zx14, the cams are out of the engine. When I align the rotor to 1,4 is this TDC for 1,4 on the compression stroke or the exhaust stroke.

With no cams in the engine, every 360 degrees of rotation brings you back to the same place.
Make sure to hold the cam chain tight against the crankshaft sprocket and up and out of the way of the guides etc.
Compression and exhaust strokes are found after cams are installed.
A shop manual is very helpful when doing engine work.
Hank

It's been a lot of years since I did this but according to my tutorial, when the 1,4 marking is aligned to the mark at the back of the engine case, that's TDC of compression stroke for cylinder 1 or 4. I'm not sure if there's any way to determine exactly which one unless you pull the #1 and #4 spark plugs and drop a stick down each hole.

Like I said, I haven't done this in years and actually only twice in my life but I researched the heck out of my tutorials.

https://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=4E477AEB-1B78-59F6-020BFA65B442B029

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/17/2025 @ 3:06 AM *

...and yes, pull that timing chain tight against the crankshaft sprocket at all times so it cant skip any teeth. I used a bungee to hold mine. If you turn the crankshaft, you need to pull up on the chain so it stays securely on the crankshaft sprocket. You also should have marked your camshaft sprockets to the exact position they were at in relation to the engine case and the timing chain links to the exact tooth each was on. Maybe you did all that but just saying.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/16/2025 @ 4:18 PM *

Cylinders 1 & 4 are both at TDC at the same time, while 2 & 3 are at bottom dead center.
Rotate the crankshaft 180 degrees and 2 & 3 are at TDC, while 1 & 4 are at BDC.
TDC can be found using a positive piston stop (most accurate), a dial indicator (within a couple degrees due to piston dwell, or by putting a rod or something in a spark plug hole and watching it rise, stop, then fall. You can judge TDC visually this way, but it isn't very accurate.
Rook, the mark you're referring to will line up again with 360 degrees of rotation.
The book is referring to compression stroke with the cams in.
With no cams, there is no compression or exhaust stroke.
Hank

The book is referring to compression stroke with the cams in.
With no cams, there is no compression or exhaust stroke.

So the answer is, "if the cams were in with the timing rotor positioned at 1,4 ...the cams would be positioned for TDC of the compression stroke of cylinders 1 and 4?" Is that correct? I'm guessing Jesspoy1 intends to install the camshafts and wants to know how they should be positioned to match the position of the crankshaft/timing rotor.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/17/2025 @ 3:09 AM *

Not really the answer Rook...
If the rotor were positioned at 1,4, meaning the motor was at TDC, it could be the compression stroke of cylinder 1 or cylinder 4. Suppose it is the compression stroke of cylinder #1...now rotate the motor 360 degrees with the rotor positioned at 1,4 again. What happens now? Pistons 1 and 4 are still at TDC but it's the compression stroke for cylinder #4. What has changed is the position of the cam lobes.
I wasn't sure what Jesspoy1 was asking and I'm still not...
I was hoping my answer would bring him some clarity.
Hank

I appreciate everyone’s help. I’ll try to keep this brief. My zx14 has 29,000 miles and after riding it it seemed to lose power so I assumed it needed a valve adjustment, first one it has had. I followed Rooks tutorial but after I put it back together no change. I believe I was a tooth off in that I didn’t zip tie cams to the chain. During this time I didn’t try to start over as my wife became ill and passed away from cancer. So the bike sat for several years in my garage. I’ve started over again, removing the valve cover and forgot to mention I have the Schnitz manual chain tensioner. I want to do this right this time. So if I have the rotor pointing to the left side case seam of T 1,4
then I should be able to install the cams, set up the cam timing and so forth that I’ll know the crank is in the correct position to accept the cams.

I appreciate everyone chiming in and offering their knowledge.

First off, very sorry for your loss.
Clear this up for me...
Are the cams in the motor now with the top end assembled, but possibly 1 tooth off, or are they out?
Do you have a shop manual?

Everything is assembled but the valve cover is off

Please post a pic of the rotor and the crankcase, showing the parting line in the cases.
Also a pic of the ends of the cams with the sprockets, with the marks on the sprockets showing.
A pic of the other end of the cams showing the lobs for #1 cylinder might help.
I'm presuming you did not remove the sprockets from the cams?

Sorry, just learning how to use this site. I really appreciate everyone’s help

No problem...
In your tenth post you show both sprockets and the top of the cylinder but: I can't see the timing marks on the sprockets...refer to Rooks excellent pics in his tutorial for a comparison

* Last updated by: Jesspoy1 on 10/17/2025 @ 9:13 PM *

I think at this point I’ll start over. At least I know I can set the cams in when T1,4 are at case alignment

Late to the party... 1-4 T in the photo is correct,
Cam IN will be where the top of the head's line is the guide as well as cam Ex will be on the head line at the exhaust side of the lineup mark.

So when looking at IN at the head's top line, #1's cam lobe will look out to the intake side, cam EX will have the lobe facing the exhaust side of the header pipes.

Even though the cam sprockets are on the right side of the bike, lobes out on the left side or #1 cylinder cam lobes face out, and sprocket marks are to the outside at the head's line also. Photo shows sprocket marks to the inside facing each other.

So that says you are 180° out of phase. Say you 360° the crank where the cam lobes face out on #1 cam, and the sprocket lineup marks face away from each other, lining up at the top of the head, then you're golden.

Recap:
#1 cam lobes face out to intake sides and exhaust sides.
Sprockets IN and EX face out at the head's line.

OK thank you Hub and everyone else.

Thanks Hank for explaining TDC of compression stroke of cylinder 1 OR 4. That wording aways seemed strange to me but it's perfectly clear. I just needed a little more info to understand what the book was saying.