Valve Adjustment

[scalded dog]

I know the manual calls for the Valves to be adjusted evry 4000 miles, I talked with my local yamaha shop, and they said it would be $195-210. Labor, does this sound reasonable? Later 'Dog

[skids]

Considered the time that it takes, and the usual charges per hour, yes, it sounds more than reasonable.

[ratbyk]

Valve Adjustment

Dog, before you ever take it to a shop and spend big bucks you should at least check the clearances yourself.They may not need to be adjusted. I checked the Ratbyk when I first got it 5 years ago and they were fine. Each winter since I again rechecked it's valve clearances. This winter for the first time in 40,000 kms I had to adjust them.
The intakes had tightened up a bit. I did them myself. After determining what my present clearances were I pulled the shim out of each of the bad ones. Miked them up/confirmed clearance stamped on them. Determined what shims I needed to correct. Took my existing shims into the local Kawi dealer and traded my existing shims in for the correct thickness. (I buy all my tires/accessories from him.) No problems, installed the correct shims, rechecked the clearances and flashed it up.
Cost me a valve cover gasket that the Kawi dealer obtained for me.
Ken/Sooke
78 XS11E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"
92 ZX11 Temptress

[jazzrat2000]

Is this something a "meachanics for dummies" person (me) could do?

[fxrer]

Always get "the book" (repair manual) no matter what vehicle you plan to work on. The procedure is very well explained in the Clymer manual. It's just that you need the hold down tool, plus a source for the shims.

Ken, where did you get the tool when you did it yourself?

[jazzrat2000]

hmmm, I have the Haynes manual... and no hold down tool...

[ratbyk]

fxrer, the tool came from the PO when I bought the bike. I know that I have seen them advertised at places like Parts an more, Bike Bandit etc. They are cheap, like around $12. I modified it as covered in the Tech Tips. (it was brand new still in it's plastic bag when I got it) I have a spare motor sitting on the floor. I pulled the cams and all of the shims to give myself an assortment to do the job. In the end after mix and matching I only had to trade off 3 at a local dealer to do the job.
Ken/Sooke

[jazzrat2000]

hold down tool on ebay

would this be what you are talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...366078994&rd=1

[Ken Talbot]

I don't think so, Dr Tim. The tool I have looks more like this . I can't quite visualize how that Nissan unit would work.

[jazzrat2000]

and, the price is right! (can you tell I am an absolute rookie at this? watch for a "parts bike" evailable on ebay shortly after I attempt to do some work on it! )

[jazzrat2000]

just ordered it... if I screw up the valves, you will also be able to buy the tool at a reduced rate on ebay...

[thumperjsa]

Jazzrat, you are too quick. i was going to tell you I just bought one at Bike Bandit a few days ago and you could borrow mine after I am done with it. I know my valve clearances are too tight so I am going to do pull my shims after I see the clearances again.

Then once I determine what I need and have to trade I will post in the shim bank post. If none are available I will check the local dealer.

Jazzrat, you will also need a clearance tool to check the gaps. I have one of those you can borrow if you don't have it once I pop open my valve cover and calculate out what I need.

By the way, if you screw up your valves, that won't be the only thing doing on Ebay.

[ratbyk]

Valve Tool

The valve tool that Ken Talbot showed is the same as the one I used. As it came I could not get it into position to lock the bucket down. I followed the tip in the tech tip section to modify and was successful. Even after I had the bucket down it took a several attempts at the first one to work out a sequence that worked. Once I had determined how on the first one I had no more trouble the other 7. It became very easy once a workable sequence was worked out. Suggest you get a small but strong pencil magnet. Very helpful in slipping the shims in and out of a tight place. Also found that you cannot turn the engine completely over with the tool in place. Much as I hated to, I had to turn the engine just a few degrees in the wrong direction to get the cam lobe out of the way to change shims.
Ken/Sooke

[Czekus21]

It's good practice to turn the motor over by hand after doing your valves ( plugs out ) to make sure that none are going to hit the tops of the pistons. Just a precautionary measure that's worth it's weight in gold. After the valve are adusted, you'll want to readjust the cam chain tensioner as well as the carbs. Just for good measure.

[jazzrat2000]

this is getting too complicated, I think... I have adjusted the cam chain before, but not the carbs... and I have no idea how to turn the engine over by hand...