Putting bike back together, measuring shim gaps for good measure, ran into huge gaps.

[ff255away]

I had E2 and E3 valves replaced, and am in the process of putting everything back together. Considering I was not sure how much the gaps had changed, I went through and remeasured everything.

Measurements were as follows:

E1- .23 E2- .25 E3- .24 E4- .32 (new bucket)
I1- .73 I2- .86 I3- .80 I4- .88

I've done nothing to the intake side. Any ideas what could possibly have happened? I'd like to replace all of the nuts holding the cam shaft in place, several of them were stripping. But I didn't think that would account for gaps four times as large as intended.

[GLoweVA]

Gaps that large would suggest that the valves aren't seating all the way.
Since you had the valves replaced did you check the valve seats to make sure that you got 100% around the circumference seating?
Were the 'new' valves straight and not slightly bent?

[ff255away]

How would the exhaust valves interact with the intake valves? As far as I know, the new valves were totally fine- neither of them have irregular gaps and no leaks.

[GLoweVA]

Not knowing how you put your cams back, but if done improperly yoir intakes could come into contact with the exhausts and possibly bend one or two.
Another possibility is some had put cams in with the head on a bench and bent valves that way.

It is entirely possible that all is good and you'll need some of the larger shims. I think the largest ones I've seen are around 305, 310.

[GLoweVA]

Another thought is make sure you've got the right cams in the right spots.
I know it sounds stupid, i've done it and luckily i caught it before i had all the cam caps torqued.

[natemoen]

Huge gaps like that usually go along with bent valves.....

Might have to pull the head and see what's up.

[WMarshy]

I agree with everyone else, the intake clearance is extreme. You've got problems on hand. Did you do all the work yourself?

As noted previously, you can have valve to valve interference if both are open at the same time. In addition, setting the head flat on the bench with the valve open will bend them. Quick easy check for bent valves is turn the head over (valve side up) and choose a chamber with both valve closed and fill the dome with some water. Good luck.

[IanDMacDonald]

Yeah, curious myself as to whether u did the work yourself. I took mine to a machine shop, and had all valves installed, seats ground, lash set for cheap. All I did was drop the head on and go.

[MPittma100]

Correct Repair

Yeah, curious myself as to whether u did the work yourself. I took mine to a machine shop, and had all valves installed, seats ground, lash set for cheap. All I did was drop the head on and go.

+1 on that. Your machine shop should be able to return your head to you ready to bolt on - lashes set, valves ground, cams installed, and all cleaned up - READY! Make sure that they can do that before you leave it with them. If they are unable to repair the head in this fashion, go elsewhere.

Mike

[IanDMacDonald]

The only I asked them not to do was torque the cam caps, as I wanted to remove cams to slip chain around the sprockets, instead of breaking the chain. Good thing, as they installed the cam caps in reverse order.

[trbig]

The only I asked them not to do was torque the cam caps, as I wanted to remove cams to slip chain around the sprockets, instead of breaking the chain. Good thing, as they installed the cam caps in reverse order.

??? Reverse order? Ex on the intake? or # 1 where the # 5 goes.

[IanDMacDonald]

#1 where the number five goes.

[GLoweVA]

The only I asked them not to do was torque the cam caps, as I wanted to remove cams to slip chain around the sprockets, instead of breaking the chain. Good thing, as they installed the cam caps in reverse order.

Ian, How'd they check the valve clearances without torquing down the caps?

[IanDMacDonald]

Good question! It was on my list to verify the valve lash was within spec, but never did. My bad. I do intend on checking them over the winter when I paint the engine.

[ff255away]

All 4 valves are bent. I had the exhaust valves professionally replaced, so that means I must have screwed up the timing pretty bad when I set everything back together. I'll be taking it into a shop to get the four intake valves replaced.

Can anybody recommend a shop north of Seattle? And a fair estimate to replace all four intake valves? The guy who did my two exhaust valves charged 50 dollars a valve, and I provided the parts.