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  • #16
    Originally posted by BA80 View Post
    ???? A gallon of Castrol GTX 20w50 is about $14 at Wally World too.

    I fail to see how paying a couple extra bucks for the recommended type is unnecessary.

    Having a bad morning Tod?

    I pay anywhere from 12-15 bucks at Wally World for 5 quarts... though occasionally, I've had to pay 18 in a pinch... but I can find the regular Castrol at dang near any hole in the wall country store or place that sells oil. Take that times 4, and soon to be 5, bikes on the road with wet clutches, and you'll see that it's not just a couple bucks. But... my question to you.. is if something even just a couple bucks cheaper works just as well, why would YOU spend the extra money? What about cereal for your kids? Do you get the store brand stuff that's just as good, or do you buy the namebrand stuff? It's just a coupe bucks difference, right?

    As probably hundreds or more can attest on here alone, with hundreds of thousands of miles travelled, the "Motorcycle specific" oils are unnecessary, more expensive, and harder to find if you need a quart on the road. I don't like to carry extra oil with me since I've had partial quarts leak in my bags before. I would also highly doubt that they made that Castrol you run specifically for 30+ year old friction plates, just a general wet clutch use in which they're talking about modern friction discs. So no, it's not going to be the single "Recommended type" for our bikes. As long as it doesn't have the friction modifiers and has some zinc in it, it's the recommended type. If you like the more expensive motorcycle specific oils, that's your choice. If you think the extra money is worth it, that's also your choice, but I have pulled a few of these motors and clutches apart and seen that the cheaper, regular, non-motorcycle specific oils work just fine and have never had a clutch slippage since changing to the better springs.


    Thus, I stand by the statement of unnecessary, more expensive products. Not having a bad morning, or afternoon, just tired of every.....single.....time.... hearing you trying to sell everyone on this unnecessary oil. It's like you work for them or own stock in the company? Just asking to ease up a bit on the sales pitch is all.

    Anyway, sorry about hijacking the thread. Back to the regularly scheduled topic.

    Before you buy a set of feeler gauges to do the valve check, look at the specs of how thin the gaps you need to measure are. Your regular Chinese made off-the-wall $3 feeler gauges from Walmart probably aren't going to work. I had to finally look at a couple auto parts stores to find a set that would measure as thin as the intake needed.
    Last edited by trbig; 05-09-2012, 05:03 PM.
    Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

    You can live to be 100, as long as you give up everything that would make you want to live to be 100!

    Current bikes:
    '06 Suzuki DR650
    *'82 XJ1100 with the 1179 kit. "Mad Maxim"
    '82 XJ1100 Completely stock fixer-upper
    '82 XJ1100 Bagger fixer-upper
    '82 XJ1100 Motor/frame and lots of boxes of parts
    '82 XJ1100 Parts bike
    '81 XS1100 Special
    '81 YZ250
    '80 XS850 Special
    '80 XR100
    *Crashed/Totalled, still own

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    • #17
      Originally posted by trbig View Post
      Not having a bad morning, or afternoon, just tired of every.....single.....time.... hearing you trying to sell everyone on this unnecessary oil. It's like you work for them or own stock in the company? Just asking to ease up a bit on the sales pitch is all.
      I think I'm gonna put it on my avitar and in my signature now.....
      Greg

      Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

      ― Albert Einstein

      80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

      The list changes.

      Comment


      • #18
        Originally posted by BA80 View Post
        I think I'm gonna put it on my avitar and in my signature now.....
        You need to turn "sales pitch" unto a link to the oil companies web site though!
        Nathan
        KD9ARL

        μολὼν λαβέ

        1978 XS1100E
        K&N Filter
        #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
        OEM Exhaust
        ATK Fork Brace
        LED Dash lights
        Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

        Green Monster Coils
        SS Brake Lines
        Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

        In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

        Theodore Roosevelt

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        • #19
          ok so my valve clearances are as follows...

          1E: .008 / .20mm
          1I: .005 / .15mm

          2E: .008 / .20mm
          2I: .004 / .10mm

          3E: .008 / .20mm
          3I: .006 / .13mm

          4E: .008 / .20mm
          4I: .005 / .15mm
          Last edited by airborneXS; 05-11-2012, 03:09 PM.
          79 XS11 special "Loki" - homemade 4-2 exhaust, pod filters, rebuilt forks with progressive springs, tkat fork brace, progressive shocks, rebuilt all brakes and MC's, rebuilt carbs with #142.5 main and #42.5 pilot, a custom front and chin fairing, and a handmade set of saddlebags....

          09 YZF-R1 " Toothless"

          04 Buell XB12R "Butterfly"

          "I had a name at some point, a birth-name, but now everyone just calls me Wolf...."

          Wolf
          Moto Militia MC

          Comment


          • #20
            Ok, with those numbers you're not desperately in need of a valve adjustment. All of them are tight, but not horribly so.

            Your call as to whether or not you want to do an adjustment now....
            Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

            '78E original owner - resto project
            '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
            '82 XJ rebuild project
            '80SG restified, red SOLD
            '79F parts...
            '81H more parts...

            Other current bikes:
            '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
            '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
            '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
            Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
            Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

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            • #21
              Originally posted by crazy steve View Post
              Grinding the shims on the outer diameter is not a good thing; some of them are quite a tight fit, but I haven't run into one yet (of the right size) that wouldn't drop in with a bit of persausion...

              If the shim can move in the bucket, it could damage the bucket and cause the bucket to stick in it's bore. If it does that, that holds a valve open and you probably just dropped a valve and trashed a motor...
              Fired it up last night and heard a new clicking sound. Pulled the valve cover off and found the washer I couldn't find when I did the job. Also, on one of the valves that I put a grind-to-fit shim in, the bucket will not spin in the bore I took out all 3 that I ground to fit and am replacing with the right thing. I only put on 5 miles with the bad ones in.I hope I did not do any irreversible damage.
              "Galaxy" 1982 XJ1100J, 1983 XV handlebars, new fusebox, homemade SS wind screen and SS muffler heat shields, homemade grab bar extension and luggage rack. XS750 140 mph speedo, '81 Venture oil cooler, V-Max ACCT, Yahman YICS Eliminator, 1st and 2nd gear Dremel fix.

              Comment


              • #22
                So how are my numbers? Do I need new shims? Where do I get shims from
                79 XS11 special "Loki" - homemade 4-2 exhaust, pod filters, rebuilt forks with progressive springs, tkat fork brace, progressive shocks, rebuilt all brakes and MC's, rebuilt carbs with #142.5 main and #42.5 pilot, a custom front and chin fairing, and a handmade set of saddlebags....

                09 YZF-R1 " Toothless"

                04 Buell XB12R "Butterfly"

                "I had a name at some point, a birth-name, but now everyone just calls me Wolf...."

                Wolf
                Moto Militia MC

                Comment


                • #23
                  Originally posted by XJkid View Post
                  Fired it up last night and heard a new clicking sound. Pulled the valve cover off and found the washer I couldn't find when I did the job. Also, on one of the valves that I put a grind-to-fit shim in, the bucket will not spin in the bore I took out all 3 that I ground to fit and am replacing with the right thing. I only put on 5 miles with the bad ones in.I hope I did not do any irreversible damage.
                  I think you should be more worried about what that washer might have done before the shims... Hope everything works out for you... I recall reading about someone having trouble getting a bucket out of the head and he ended up replacing the head as the bucket and head were messed up and would require machine work. A use head was cheaper. Hope none of your buckets got messed up.
                  '79 XS11 F
                  Stock except K&N

                  '79 XS11 SF
                  Stock, no title.

                  '84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
                  GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws

                  "What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~

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                  • #24
                    Originally posted by crazy steve View Post
                    Ok, with those numbers you're not desperately in need of a valve adjustment. All of them are tight, but not horribly so.

                    Your call as to whether or not you want to do an adjustment now....
                    AIRBORNE. I think your question was answered here. This is the problem when someone hijacks a thread as the answers get confused.
                    Last edited by Rasputin; 05-11-2012, 08:35 PM.
                    2-79 XS1100 SF
                    2-78 XS1100 E Best bike Ever
                    80 XS 1100 SG Big bore kit but not fully running yet.
                    Couple of more parts bikes of which 2 more will live!

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                    • #25
                      Originally posted by airborneXS View Post
                      ok so my valve clearances are as follows...

                      1E: .008 / .20mm
                      1I: .005 / .15mm

                      2E: .008 / .20mm
                      2I: .004 / .10mm

                      3E: .008 / .20mm
                      3I: .006 / .13mm

                      4E: .008 / .20mm
                      4I: .005 / .15mm
                      there fine, if u wanted to be anal u could change
                      2i or 3intake either go up on one or go down 1
                      on the other, but if u didnt want to mess around
                      theyll be sweet for a few more 'miles.
                      pete


                      new owner of
                      08 gen2 hayabusa


                      former owner
                      1981 xs1100 RH (aus) (5N5)
                      zrx carbs
                      18mm float height
                      145 main jets
                      38 pilots
                      slide needle shimmed .5mm washer
                      fitted with v/stax and uni pod filters

                      [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pA8dwxmAVA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL[/url]

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        well then...im slapping her back together...the manual states to check every 4000 miles...how often does everybody actually check em?
                        79 XS11 special "Loki" - homemade 4-2 exhaust, pod filters, rebuilt forks with progressive springs, tkat fork brace, progressive shocks, rebuilt all brakes and MC's, rebuilt carbs with #142.5 main and #42.5 pilot, a custom front and chin fairing, and a handmade set of saddlebags....

                        09 YZF-R1 " Toothless"

                        04 Buell XB12R "Butterfly"

                        "I had a name at some point, a birth-name, but now everyone just calls me Wolf...."

                        Wolf
                        Moto Militia MC

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Originally posted by airborneXS View Post
                          how often does everybody actually check em?

                          Check what? ...........
                          Greg

                          Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                          ― Albert Einstein

                          80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                          The list changes.

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Originally posted by WMarshy View Post
                            I think you should be more worried about what that washer might have done before the shims... Hope everything works out for you... I recall reading about someone having trouble getting a bucket out of the head and he ended up replacing the head as the bucket and head were messed up and would require machine work. A use head was cheaper. Hope none of your buckets got messed up.
                            We're all good. The washer was not hitting anything of consequence. As for the bucket, it was just the position it was in at the time. I pulled it out and rotated it 180 and - no problem.There is no damage. I took the shims out of an '80 XJ 650 I have and used them in the 1100.That bike is turning into a parts bike for my 1100. Took it for a midnite ride after getting it back together. Runs like a champ.
                            "Galaxy" 1982 XJ1100J, 1983 XV handlebars, new fusebox, homemade SS wind screen and SS muffler heat shields, homemade grab bar extension and luggage rack. XS750 140 mph speedo, '81 Venture oil cooler, V-Max ACCT, Yahman YICS Eliminator, 1st and 2nd gear Dremel fix.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              how often does everybody on here actually check their valve shims....
                              79 XS11 special "Loki" - homemade 4-2 exhaust, pod filters, rebuilt forks with progressive springs, tkat fork brace, progressive shocks, rebuilt all brakes and MC's, rebuilt carbs with #142.5 main and #42.5 pilot, a custom front and chin fairing, and a handmade set of saddlebags....

                              09 YZF-R1 " Toothless"

                              04 Buell XB12R "Butterfly"

                              "I had a name at some point, a birth-name, but now everyone just calls me Wolf...."

                              Wolf
                              Moto Militia MC

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                airborneXS: how often does everybody on here actually check their valve shims....
                                I check mine about once a year and I ride every day, so I put on about 15K miles between checks. I should probably check them more often.

                                Now that you got me thinking about it, I am planning on replacing my valve cover gasket this next weekend, so maybe I'll check them again.
                                Hi, my name is George & I'm a twisty addict!

                                80G (Green paint(PO idea))
                                The Green Monster
                                K&N A/F, TC's fuse block, '81 oil cooler, TC's homemade 4-2 w/Mac Mufflers, Raptor 660 ACCT
                                Got him in '04.
                                bald tire & borrowing parts

                                80SG (Black w/red emblems & calipers)
                                Scarlet
                                K&N A/F, TC's fuse block, WJ5, Shoei bags, Raptor 660 ACCT.
                                Got her in '11
                                Ready for the twisties!

                                81H (previously CPMaynard's)
                                Hugo
                                Full Venturer, Indigo Blue with B/W painted tank.
                                Cold weather ride

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