Welcome to NESR! Most features of this site require registration, including replying to threads, sending private messages, starting new threads, and uploading files. Click here to register.

Results 1 to 15 of 15

Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

  1. #1
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    MA
    Age
    44
    Posts
    38,868

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    Aight, so my bike's got 21k miles on it now w/o an adjustment. I THOUGHT I was gonna get it done before VIR but I finally got an email TODAY from the guy that WAS gonna do it & he finally confessed he can't get it done before VIR...

    Any words of advice? Should I scramble to get it done? Should I not worry bout it too much & just keep it away from redline?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
    GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media

    The Garage: '03 Tuono | '06 SV650

  2. #2
    First name on the shit list.... SVRACER01's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Farmington
    Age
    46
    Posts
    16,968

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    ehh, i wouldnt worry. but if you desire to get it done before the "season" then get what you need together so when you get back you can get started. seriously... i wouldnt be concerned

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
    01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
    TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports

  3. #3
    FYYFF theothersean's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    middle of nowhere
    Posts
    2,858

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    My sprint was due for adj at 12,000 miles I finally brought it in at 15,000 and all the valves were within spec.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    12 Vstrom 1000
    09 KLR 650
    09 Yamaha WR450F (street legal)

    (hers)
    13 Vstrom 650ADV
    08 Yamaha WR250F(street legal )
    09 KLR650

  4. #4
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    MA
    Age
    44
    Posts
    38,868

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    yeah... i've been taking the "ehh, I'm not gonna worry about it" approach for the last 6000 miles

    I still wanna get a bunch of other stuff done that's just as important... brakes, oil, chain, etc. That stuff i definitely want to get done before it goes on the track next weekend but I can do that during the week or Saturday since it won't be ridden that day. The valve adjustment was the only major thing that I had wanted to get done that I can't really do myself.

    Full list of stuff i wanted done:

    Valves
    Plugs
    Carb Synch & maybe needle shim
    Brake Pads & fluid.
    Oil & filter.
    Water Wetter, engine ice or other race approved coolant.
    and two things i noticed in my owners manual that I may wanna check are
    Unitrack pivot/lube &
    Steering Stem bearings/lube

    Like I said... mostly stuff i can do myself.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
    GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media

    The Garage: '03 Tuono | '06 SV650

  5. #5
    Lifer
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Ma
    Posts
    10,687

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    I may be wrong here, but don't you need to pull it apart, then take the measurements and then order the shims that you need to put the valves back where they should be?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    It's all water under the bridge, and we do enter the next round-robin. Am I wrong?

  6. #6
    Everybody to the limit!
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Winchester, MA
    Age
    43
    Posts
    6,878

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    [QUOTE]Originally posted by hessogood
    [B]I may be wrong here, but don't you need to pull it apart, then take the measurements and then order the shims that you need to put the valves back where they should be? [

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  7. #7
    Everybody to the limit!
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Winchester, MA
    Age
    43
    Posts
    6,878

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    Originally posted by hessogood
    I may be wrong here, but don't you need to pull it apart, then take the measurements and then order the shims that you need to put the valves back where they should be?
    Yes, you need to pull the valve cover off and use a feeler gauge to check the clearances while turning the crank with a socket (pull off the ignition rotor cover to turn the crank).

    If the valves are out of spec you need to pull the camshafts (on the z6xr, where the shims are under a metal bucket and can't be pulled with the camshafts in), and either order new shims or find a dealer who's willing to "swap" your old shims for some of his own.

    FYI, Nault's Windham has swapped shims with me in the past. Just bring your own micrometer as I found that their shim container was a bit mismatched.

    When I checked the clearances on my zx6r at 8000 miles I found that most of my intake and all of my exhaust valves were too tight, this is common as the valve seats swell and tighten up the clearances, especially on the exhaust side where hot gasses run across the valves all day. Don't remember exactly how out of spec they were but there's a thread 2 years old in the paddock where I talk about them if you (Pete) want to dig them up.

    Took me about 16 hours of work to do my first valve adjustment. Most of that was futzing around with the camshafts since I couldn't get them realigned, after doing it once I figure I could *probably* do it in 8-10. A good mechanic should be able to do them in 4-6 so I'm told. The valve check isn't hard, the hardest part is removing all the shit you need to get the valve cover off, but if you get in there and find your valves need adjustment where does that leave you?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  8. #8
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    MA
    Age
    44
    Posts
    38,868

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    Originally posted by hessogood
    I may be wrong here, but don't you need to pull it apart, then take the measurements and then order the shims that you need to put the valves back where they should be?
    Yup... the guy that was gonna do it for me was gonna do all that. he's got shims of all sizes & he just swaps em out... only charges for labor, but he can't get it done in time for VIR..... think maybe I should just tell Alex to keep the bike under 12k rpms or somethin.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
    GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media

    The Garage: '03 Tuono | '06 SV650

  9. #9
    Lifer richw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Baltic,CT
    Age
    76
    Posts
    4,482

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    I think for a bike thats beat on the stock adjustment
    period is to long.

    If you can find a freindly machine shop you will find that all the new sizes will be smaller. This means your existing shims can be surface ground down to the new size. You should also find you can swap from on valve to another.

    All the wear pounds the valves and seats into the heads and closes the adjustments

    If the motor is beat then damage has been done. The biggest problem is when an exhaust valve is held up off the seat. The hot gases then act like a cutting torch and quickly really gouge the seat.

    If you take a compression check when the motor is hot you will know if you have leakage at the valves.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Glen Beck is John the Baptist

  10. #10
    KB KB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Manchester NH
    Age
    52
    Posts
    8,171

    Re: Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    Originally posted by OreoGaborio
    Any words of advice? Should I scramble to get it done?
    You should probably wait until the last possible minute and then and not until then start to think about haviong your valves adjusted.

    KB

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    LRRS/CCS EX #13

    GMD COMPUTRACK

  11. #11
    Posting Freak SWEET_Z's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Smallbany, NY
    Age
    41
    Posts
    850

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    Most of mine were out of wack when I did mine at 9000. You can ussually swap shims with a bike shop because Kawi puts half sizes in the bike from the Factory. Mechanics are ussually happy to take these cause they dont come in the shim kits they can buy.

    I think if you check the manual you were supposed to do it at 7500 and then again 15000 later.

    Problems that can occur from poorly adjusted valves:

    * Poor running engine and low performance
    * Failed smog testing (if this is a smog-legal street driven vehicle)
    * Burnt exhaust valve(s)
    * Broken valvetrain components (springs, pushrods, lifters, camshaft)
    * Limited lifespan of valvetrain components
    * Excessive valve guide and seat wear
    * Blown up engine
    * Lose an important Race!
    * Empty Bank Account


    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrists office"

  12. #12
    Just Registered
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Is it not obvious?
    Age
    46
    Posts
    3,236

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    21k miles without an adjustment? damn.

    Just be lucky you don't have Ti valves I guess

    I've done the shim swap thing too, just sometimes you have to go to the mechanics area for greater efficiency and as Honc. said take a mic with you.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  13. #13
    Lifer ZX-12R's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Candia, NH
    Age
    43
    Posts
    5,860

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    I posted this in your last thread about shimming your valves (back in September). It is still an excellent deal! http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...threadid=18489


    For anyone that reshims their valves on their own and are worried about quickly getting the correct size shim, this might be the kit for you: http://www.cyclebuy.com/shopping/shims/shimkits.htm

    3 each of every size from 1.20mm to 3.5mm in 0.05mm increments. The kits are available in 9.48 and 7.48mm diameters. It is by far the best price I have ever come across for shims.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  14. #14
    Super Moderator beet's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Meriden CT
    Posts
    11,349

    hey pete it's fucking raining the WE

    do it up is what i say ya kak git fecker

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    www.bostonmoto.com

    Forum Rules
    Heres a condom. I figured since youre acting like a dick, you should dress like one too.

  15. #15
    suburban ghetto living... black's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    boston burbs....
    Age
    49
    Posts
    2,106

    Valve adjustment... this is givin me a headach

    pete check out zx6r.com or google ZX6r valve adjustment t, there is a really good step by step wiht pics on zx adjustment for a zx6r.

    doesnt seem to hard.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    hmmmm......

Similar Threads

  1. First Valve Adjustment
    By Swizz in forum Bike Maintenance
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 03-09-16, 08:41 AM
  2. valve adjustment
    By j4eric in forum Bike Maintenance
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 06-30-11, 02:25 PM
  3. valve adjustment?
    By crowspeed07 in forum Dirty Bastards
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-15-10, 11:52 AM
  4. Valve adjustment?
    By capt1014 in forum General Bike Related
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 06-17-08, 09:03 AM
  5. valve adjustment
    By nilez in forum Bike Maintenance
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 04-15-08, 07:16 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •