1981 GS1100E 16v: valve adjustment question

[dantodd]

I did a valve adjustment following the .pdf here: http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...adjustment.pdf that is linked from basscliff's page.

It r an great for the first short 2 mile test run. I took it for a little liber ride just now.

The good news: she definitely starts and pulls better.

But: I now hear a definite tappet sound. It seems to be just one by the sounds of it.

I'll obviously be opening it back up to see what is happening. Most likely I managed to NOT properly tighten one or more lock nuts. But there's a little nagging in the back of my head. When I did the adjustment I aligned the cams as shown in the tutorial. Some of the cam lobes were directly away from the tappet but there were some that were 45? or more off. I was concerned but the pdf showed similar lobe positioning when he was adjusting so I just did as directed. Was that a mistake or is it ok to adjust the valves with the cams in that position?

[gustovh]

It is fine. Did you use 2 feelers? One under each tappet. It is probably just one a little wide.

V

[dantodd]

Did you use 2 feelers? One under each tappet.

No, I adjusted each separately. I did confirm both on each lobe after tightening everything and then went back and re-checked each on the set I was working at both cam position before I rolled it. Could that be the problem?

[JJ]

It's normal to hear a lot of different noises from these engines. Noisy tappets are definitely better than quiet ones. That means you have some clearance.

[gustovh]

It is way easier and more accurate to use 2 feelers adjusting the 16 valve tappets, they rock a bit if you don't and it is back and forth to get it right otherwise.

V

[dantodd]

It is way easier and more accurate to use 2 feelers adjusting the 16 valve tappets, they rock a bit if you don't and it is back and forth to get it right otherwise.

V

Thanks, I'll grab another set when I redo the job.

[tkent02]

Some noise is normal but if one is obviously louder than the others something isn't right.

[rapidray]

I am an ex-Suzuki dealer mechanic & have been building race engines for 40 years & have NEVER found any need to use 2 feeler gauges!!!
Ray.

[wyly]

I am an ex-Suzuki dealer mechanic & have been building race engines for 40 years & have NEVER found any need to use 2 feeler gauges!!!
Ray.

Hi Ray I can see the point of using two gauges to get matching measurements, are you saying that it's not that critical to get matching gaps? We mechanical newbies don't have your years of experience getting consistent measurements so it's a bit of a concern.

I just did mine and and set them with a single tappet gauge as close as I could to .08, is that too small?