Valve Clearance Adjustment

[slammp]

Anybody on here do this. To be honest I am looking for someone to sit with me and walk me through it. I've never adjusted valves, and while I do have basic mechanical knowledge and a manual I would feel A LOT better if someone who actually knew what they were doing was around. Not an immediate need - looks like i'll need some specialty tools (micrometer, and shims) before I start pulling stuff apart, but before spring I'd like to spend a day and get this done - I'm at about 18k mile on the RC51 so it's definitely time.

[stoinkythepig]

I've never done them on an RC51, so I have nothing bike specific to offer, but if you simply follow the manual, it should not be terribly hard. They need 9.48 mm shims, IIRC. I recommend getting a Hot Cams kit for around $75. The only other tool you need is a set of feeler gauges. No need for a micrometer, the shims are marked with their thickness.

[Eric Baker]

If anything's off, you may need to get the correct spec shims from a dealer, so it may not be an easy one day job. Not hard though. I know on my R6, it gives you a table in the repair manual in order to find the needed shims. You would go in and measure all the clearances, take down numbers to figure out the shims needed, and get any you don't have from the dealer.

[Cerberus]

If anything's off, you may need to get the correct spec shims from a dealer, so it may not be an easy one day job. Not hard though. I know on my R6, it gives you a table in the repair manual in order to find the needed shims. You would go in and measure all the clearances, take down numbers to figure out the shims needed, and get any you don't have from the dealer.

as has been said repeatedly.. this is apparently not a shim style valvetrain

[csmutty]

as has been said repeatedly.. this is apparently not a shim style valvetrain

I think this one is. My thread was not shim type but the RC is.

[Cerberus]

I think this one is. My thread was not shim type but the RC is.

Oops my bad. A lack of reading comprehension, ironically enough

[slammp]

We'll find out soon enough. I pulled the front end off this morning - forks are going in for new seals. Sounds like it will be a two day affair - one to pull it apart and measure, and a second to switch out any shims once the thickness has been determined. Bergs has volunteered oversight on the valve adjustment - very cool of him. I've got a bit of work to pull the gas tank and get everything ready, but that should be straight forward enough. I am looking forward to learning this for future use.