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Hey

I am trying to check valve clearances on my 09 crf450r all stock besides being rebuilt

It takes forever to start but when it does it runs great, and starts all the time when hot, my question is I have all the timing marks lined up on the gears and camshaft correctly where should the camshaft middle lobes be facing? When it’s at TDC? I can’t get any feeler gauge in any of the valve clearances to check they don’t move at all, and I saw in the manual this may be the exhaust stroke at tdc and to turn the motor again to get to the compression stroke at tdc then check and everything should be free up, tried it and nothing, so I noticed the cam lobes at tdc are facing the front wheel? Is this normal? Everything lines up correctly and all marks do so not sure what am doing wrong, I’m also trying to remove the cam to replace the plunger and weight for the recall since my dealership won’t do it since it’s expired in like 2012 or something lol

Welcome to the site !!

The cam lobes should be facing 2-O clock to the rear , and the slash marks on the gear should be level with the head ... On the Clutch side there is a large round plug , inside it there is a gear , there is a mark on the case and a mark on the gear , the Dot and Triangle should be aligned when the cam lobes are facing the rear as mentioned , and the small plug on the Ignition cover should have a mark aligned with the flywheel , then and only then can you get a correct reading on the valve lash and then and only then are you at TDC
, if all 3 are not visible as mentioned , you are not in time with the cam , or the Balancer shaft may be out a tooth or more .... all 3 must be as mentioned , or no go ....... if you need pictures or specs I can post pics from my Service Manual for you ....