Bike week doesn't start till next weekend, so you are cool with that.

SB I did what Comp recommended and added a set of roller rockers. So it's cam, lifters, springs, retainers & keepers, rockers, then I fubared and replaced my balancer.
Already had done a chain last year when I resealed it for oil leaks.

or attach the timing light + clip to slave solenoid on top of motor and- clip to any good ground...I don't think the cord touching manifold will have any effect ,unless maybe,,,one of your plug wires is arcing to same. I'd think that would be obvious if happeningQUOTE=rws;4134643](quote)
My battery is on the opposite side from #1 cylinder, so the cord makes a long reach. Could I be getting some wrong timing from the pickup cord touching my exhaust manifold? I timed the oe cam with this light OK in the past.



YOU CAN PUT THE TIMING LIGHT WIRE ON #6 PLUG AND IT WILL READ CORRECTLY.[/QUOTE]

A lot of people are thrown off by that this year. I was slammed by locals (Meredith) at end of last week...alot where buzzing around around franticly to get ready to go into hiding...LOL.

Was up in Franconia Notch yesterday, saw a group of bikes from Michigan...made me wonder if they didn't know..

I should have been more specific...was wondering if you changed prop, carb, heads, or anything like that too ?

Do you still have the old balancer? put it on there, set it to tdc and then change balancer. Seems obvious, so guessing you did not save the old balancer.

Otherwise I would pull all the plugs and spin it both ways with the cylinder stop in the spark plug hole to note the stop btdc and atdc. I put Jegs yellow timing tape on my balancers and that is nice.

I have several sizes of homemade piston stops. Just take an old spark plug, break off the ground electrode, and knock the ceramic out with a punch. Then tap the leftover steel housing and put a long bolt with jam nut. Screw the rig into the plug hole, with the bolt backed out. Turn the motor over to "close" to TDC and run the bolt in until it hits the piston. Move the motor AWAY from the bolt, then set the jam nut. put masking tape on your balancer. Turn the crank until the piston hits the bolt, mark the tape w ink pen to your existing TDC pointer. Turn the crank the opposite way until it hits the bolt. Mark your tape w ink pen again. Your true TDC is exactly halfway between the two ink marks. Use a dremel cutoff wheel to make a permanent notch at TDC or use purchased degree tape.

You GOT to know "real" TDC..

Are you sure you got the timing chain lined up correctly?
Did you dail in the cam with a degree wheel? If you did not,, and have a 3 way timing chain sprocket and did not line it up correctly you will get the exact problem you are having.
Another way to verify, is put a vacuum gague on it. If valves are opening late, your vacuum will be steady and low. I would be surprised if you have a timing issue at all.

I also agree with mcollinstn, you got to know the "Real TDC" and doing it like he said you will find it.

Keep us posted!

To find TDC and know for sure that you are right there, I find it easier to take the valve cover off so you can see the valves for #1. Remember the letters EOIC (good for setting valve lash or tightening the rockers). Exhaust opening, Intake closing. When the exhaust starts to open, adjust the intake rocker. When the Intake just starts to close, adjust the exhaust. Now that you know you have your lash/rockers set correctly, look for TDC. TDC, if I remember correctly should be when the exhaust is closed and the intake just starts to open. Set your mark on the balancer with a white paint pen if you can't find the correct balancer and try timing it from there. I've never had an issue with any kind of SMC motor using that method whether it was roller cam/rocker or not.

If you do it like this and #1 isn't TDC (use the coat hanger and see if it bottoms out without having to dip it too far into the cylinder), it's time to check your timing marks on the cam and crank.

NOOOO!!!! Don't spin the motor counter clockwise. SBCs don't like that. It can spin the main bearings and get the oil channels misaligned and we could be dealing with a thread about spun main bearings. Clockwise only!!!