valve adjusting

[HobbyMan]

Got a question about valve adjusting. I know the valve cover can be taken off with the engine in the bike. I was wondering if the valve cover be removed with with a vetter fairing installled. My valves need adjusting badly but I don't want to remove the fairing. Also, can I just use a feeler guage to set the clearances? What does the gap need to be? Sorry if this has been mentioned before, I didn't see it in any other threads. Thanks in advance for the info.

[mro]

1980's
intake 0.11 to 0.15mm
ezhaust 0.21 to 0.24mm

Will need to have valve bucket tool or remove cams after you deturmin what valves need shim change. Adjustment made by installing proper size(thickness) shim. Should be a spread sheet here some where that makes identifying proper shim size easy.

Don't know if fairing in way



mro

[skids]

Re: valve adjusting

Nope. No way in hell. The faring and its bracket must come off.

[DiverRay]

Skids has it, the Vetter bracket will NOT allow for a valve adjustment. There isn't the room to remove the front outside bolts on the valve cover.The stock '78 Yamaha touring fairing must also come off for a valve adjustment, but the upper bracket CAN stay on the bike.
Ray

[HobbyMan]

Thanks for the info! My next question is about how long it takes to remove the fairing and adjust valves? I just need a rough gestimate, because I don't want to start it and not be able to finish it the same weekend. I can do the work, but I haven't worked around the head before.

[mro]

Have removed vetter and bracket. If wiring done right it just unplugs, then took me about 10 minuets to remove.

Valve adjustment several hours, had to get very stuck old gasket off head, had no spray gasket remover Used gasket scrapper and razor blade. Motion pro shim tool mod took another 10 minuets to get it to work right.


mro

[DiverRay]

mro has it about right. The first time around, it will probably take you ALL day to do. I can do the COMPLETE tune, carbs, valves, cam chain and all in about 4 hours flat, with a beer break.
Ray

[81xsproject]

Lets not forget to mention that you should figure out where you can get the new shims before you start. That way you don't end up with your bik apart and no clue where to swap or replace correct ones at. Some dealers will swap for you old ones. I think it was mentioned that some other (besides Yamaha) dealers have the same size shims, but I can't remember.

[posthuman]

do people usually re-use the gasket or not?

[TopCatGr58]

Post,

It's a paper/fiber gasket, and depending on how it was put on, it will probably break or tear getting the cover off. They are ~$10.00 on PNM. You may want to also order the 1/2 moons, only $4.00 ea IIRC, since the rubber hardens and shrinks with heat and age. Has been recommended to use PAM on one side to prevent it from sticking, so you can take it apart later and save the gasket. But once you do the shim adjustment, it should hold for many years, so unless you like to pull the cover off to "check" the clearances every year, then spending $10.00 once every few years isn't much to have a new good sealing gasket each time!
T.C.

[chevy45412001]

warped cover

man last time i took off valve cover to change to nicer looking cover.....man what a mistake. the newer cover was warped and poured oil out on my engine at start up. shut it off removed bolts pulled cover gasket tore all up was only on for about 15 min. had to get new gasket. Hate when that happens...

[mro]

It's a paper/fiber gasket

When time allows been thinking of making a gasket from some thin rubber I use for something totally different. First just might tape a piece of the material to front of valve cover to see what heat might do to it.


mro

[HobbyMan]

Thanks guys

[TopCatGr58]

Re: It's a paper/fiber gasket

Originally posted by mro
When time allows been thinking of making a gasket from some thin rubber I use for something totally different. First just might tape a piece of the material to front of valve cover to see what heat might do to it.


mro

Mike,
I think if you used NEOPRENE or a silicone/rubber mix material so it would withstand the heat, that would be good! Good Luck!

Chevy, I've made my own from roll gasket material, not easy but doable!
T.C.