Re: OK, what the heck am I doing wrong?
 

You're changing the relationship between the camshaft and the crankshaft.

You don't really measure "cam degrees". Everything in an engine measures in "crank degrees".

The cam moves slower than the crank, so, if you retard the cam 10 degrees by moving the cam gear a tooth, the cam falls behind by 20 degrees, since it moves at 1/2 speed.

Re: OK, what the heck am I doing wrong?
 

I have seen timing gear sets vary as much as 8 degrees. I would try another brand of timing gears. Ron.

Re: OK, what the heck am I doing wrong?
 

I had brain fade I was backwards Thinking right but typing (explaining)wrong.
Crank moves 720 (2 turns) degrees. The cam goes 360 degrees (one turn)

My motor is weird but not that weird. LOL

Re: OK, what the heck am I doing wrong?
 

hi, just asking, did you have both marks at 12 oclock when degreeing cam? with marks at 12 and 6 oclock which is lined up for install , motor is on # 6 TDC. just thinking outloud.

Re: OK, what the heck am I doing wrong?
 

OK, thanks to you guys, I finally get it.

I did move the cam 10 degs. but the degree wheel is attached to the crank, not the cam, and that's where I was reading 20 degs.

It finally hit me this morning when I was on my lawn tractor mulching leaves. Can't believe I didn't/couldn't see it sooner. The cam will come out and go back to the manufacturer who is anxious to make the correction and send it back.

Thanks again.

I'm not really stupid, just dumb.