Zero valve clearance

[deanstrickland]

Hey guys I have air popping out the carb and spark plug hole on number 1. Did a valve adjustment job last month and number 1 intake measured .12 so I didn't change it. Pulled the rocker cover today (engine cold) to check clearance and I cant get a feeler gauge in there at all.

Ive also confirmed that the timing dots are lined up when at the T mark. How on earth could my clearance disappear over the course of a month? Ive only ridden it twice.

1980 xs1100

[Radioguylogs]

There was probably a piece of crud in the valve seat when you measured last time.

Now that you measure a smaller clearance, that's the measurement to trust.

[deanstrickland]

I was running super rich as I put new jets 110 and pilot jets 42.5 in and was tuning the bike. I understand these are stock but PO had 100 and 25 respectively. Is it not possible that so much carbon built up that it caused number 1 intake to remain open due to carbon build up? Plugs were covered!

[cajun31]

I was running super rich as I put new jets 110 and pilot jets 42.5 in and was tuning the bike. I understand these are stock but PO had 100 and 25 respectively. Is it not possible that so much carbon built up that it caused number 1 intake to remain open due to carbon build up? Plugs were covered!

I would go ahead and check all the valves again starting with that one. You stated you were tuning the bike after the jet change... by the way those jets are what come stock in the later specials. Back to the tuning.... what exactly were you doing and what tools were you using. Super rich as you stated doesn't make a lot of sense with the jets you are currently using. I use the color tune to make my pilot screw adjustments ... tuning them all out until I see the first hint of yellow/orange. Of course that gets the bike just to the rich side but nothing that will run you out of the garage.

[DiverRay]

I would do another valve adjustment, and then once the engine is warmed up, squirt Berryman's B12 or Seafoam onto the carbs until the engine dies. Turn off and let it set for about 20 min. then restart and rev to about 3500. That will clean out all the left over carbon inside the engine. You may want to check the valve adjustment one more time after that, just to be sure all is well.