Can I verify valve timing without pulling valve cover?

[CentralCoaster]

I think I followed some crap advice when adjusting the cam chain tensioner, and the timing chain possibly slipped a tooth.

Is there a way to verify this without pulling the valve cover again?  I just did for a valve adjustment and don't want to mess with it again if I don't have to.

I was thinking I could check TDC through the spark plug hole and then check whatever timing marks are accessible from the side cover.

Any ideas?

[dgyver]

If you spin the motor and you hear a sharp SNAP, you know the timing is off... beacause the valves hit and you just bent a valve.

Pull the cover and check. There is no other way to know.

[CentralCoaster]

I'm guessing that being off one tooth wouldn't necessarily do that, but just make it run like ass.  The bike idles ok.

But I guess I should just pull the cover.

Is there a TDC or BDC mark on the crank I can see through the side cover?



The "advice" I read was to put some pressure on the rear wheel to keep slight tension on the chain while loosening the CCT.  The thinking I guess was to hold the slack in place.  But loosening the CCT allowed the wheel to roll forward during this, not sure if that was due to the slack or it slipping a tooth on the crank.

[dgyver]

It is not the problem of slipping the chain on the crank, very unlikely. The problem lies when the chain slips a tooth on the cams and the timing is off with the valves. Timing marks are on the signal
generator. They assist in aligning the cams and their timing (spacing between each other)

[CentralCoaster]

Yeah, I see there'd be no way at all to determine the camshaft position without pulling the cover.