TOPIC:

I apologize for such a newbie question, but when rotating the crank by hand, which way should it be turned? My 1982 GPz 750 rotates easily counterclockwise, but absolutely refuses to rotate clockwise. I thought it should be able to rotate both directions easily?

wrench on the right side of the motor(points side) turning towards the right or towards the front wheel...pull the plugs if it has too much compression the timing bolt has a sheer pin and can once in a while snap...dont know your bike but timing bolts have a small and bigger nut...turn the bigger one

clockwise

It looks like it's getting stuck right before TDC.

Just for grins check your timing chain tension.
Also make sure your starter one way clutch is not trying to turn starter.

freakinbike wrote: It looks like it's getting stuck right before TDC.

Remove your spark plugs and see if it still gets stuck. If it does, there is a problem; if it doesn't, all is normal. Ed

So what's that about? Is it getting stuck just because of normal compression build up? I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure my '79 750 will turn fairly easily in either direction. But I've got pretty solid compression on both cylinders.

Topper wrote: So what's that about? Is it getting stuck just because of normal compression build up? I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure my '79 750 will turn fairly easily in either direction. But I've got pretty solid compression on both cylinders.

Yes, he may just be feeling the resistance caused by compression. The easiest way to tell for sure is to remove the spark plugs. With those removed there is no compression so the engine should turn over smoothly. With the plugs out, other than the small amount of friction from the bearings and piston rings, the only resistance is the pressure needed to open the valves and operate the oil pump, and that shouldn't be enough to make the crankshaft difficult to turn. Ed

... unless what he's feeling is a piston impacting a valve. I had a honda that I had to rebuild because the engine was hitting the intake valve when rotated normally, but we could spin the engine backwards - the position of the cam changed just enough with the difference in direction to allow one way to work and one not.

By the time I figured that out, I'd bent the cr*p out of the valve.

Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but is it advisable to NOT rotate the motor the opposite (or counter-clockwise) direction?

Thanks in-retard...

*Note: for farter clarification...the right side of the motor is the correct side, and the left is just plain wrong.

Doesn't "clock-wise" or "counter clock-wise" depend which side of the motor you're facing! LOL!

daveo wrote: Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but is it advisable to NOT rotate the motor the opposite (or counter-clockwise) direction?

Thanks in-retard...

That is what I have always read. At least it is true for sure when adjusting the ignition. If you go past the desired point you don't back up, you just go all the way around again. Ed