Front cylinder cam timing slightly off

[jchesshyre]

When I did my valves recently I noticed that the cam timing on my front cylinder is slightly retarded, but not by a whole tooth. In order to get the FI and FE marks perfectly aligned with the cylinder head the FT mark on the crankshaft is a few mm ahead of the mark, i.e. the cam is very slightly behind. It's not because they're out by a tooth because when I tried adjusting them one tooth forward it made them much further out of alignment.

The rear cylinder is perfect, totally spot on.

Is it possible to loosen the cam sprockets and adjust them slightly to rectify this? And is it anything to worry about? The bike runs very well but this still bothers me and I assume it would run better still with this timing totally lined up.

[alanfjones1411]

If it's running alright I would leave it and put it down to cam chain stretching.

[E.Marquez]

Common issue with used cam chains, as they wear the timing goes further and further off.
Can you adjust cam timing? YES, but its not a uncomplicated task and best left to those that have done it before, have the special tools needed.
A novice will likely do more harm than good trying to just "move them"

[fabiostar]

my rear is the same, about a half tooth out on the exhaust cam... if its running step away and leave it. as said its prob camchain stretch.

[jchesshyre]

Yeah, I'd assumed it was down to cam chain stretch, but it just struck me as odd that the rear cylinder is perfect but the front is out. I guess I'll change the cam chain once it gets far out enough to worry about...