i started the head swap and i'm to the point where i need to rotate the crank to put #1 in TDC. went almost a whole revolution clockwise to bring it to the 0 mark. then wanted to check how much play there was so i went the other way. rotor didnt start to turn until like 6* after i started moving the crank. is it safe to say the chain is stretched? i did this 3 times and it's been about 6* consistently. when setting timing during idle the timing mark doesn't jump around so i didnt bother to check it before.

 

yeah it'd be safe to say there is some play in it, because there is new and age doesn't help. also you need to consider that the piston doesn't really move up and then back down, there is a short dwell time at TDC and BDC, maybe 6* of crank rotation. i wouldn't worry about it. usually a bad or worn timing chanine will show it's self in not being able to set or keep timing after set

 

Sound stretched, but its prolly not as bad as mine, lol... when i took the cover off my 305, it was so scretched it littlerally fell off and hit the ground! Gear teeth were mint though, lol.

 

yea i think i will leave the chain alone for now. but i know it will need replacement soon so i'll keep that in mind.