1979 GS750. Help! Valve Keeper popped out while adjusting valves.

[Guest]

20200719_181802.jpg
ACTUALLY A 1982 750T
keepers came out. Do i have to remove head to fix? Thanks

[chuck hahn]

You have an 80. Just adjust per the service manual . Should be the same procedure as in this manual even though its an 83 book...still same setup as the 80

http://zeus.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/GS750E-ES_Shop_Manual_1983.pdf

[chuck hahn]

section two...........

[Big T]

To clarify, the small split collar popped off the top of the valve?

If that occurred, you have a bigger problem

But, if you mean you over adjusted the adjustment screw, that's a different problem

[rphillips]

Isn't that adjuster screwed way too far down? It looks like lock nut is barely caught on top threads.

[Nessism]

This thread on KZ Rider has some good ideas on how to make a tool to depress the spring so the keepers can be installed...

https://www.kzrider.com/forum/21-tools/613661-changing-valve-springs-w-out-removing-head-in-kz750-4#830122

[bwringer]

Sure, you can fix this with the head on.

First locate the missing keeper, if you haven't already.

As in that KZ thread, an air hold can work quite nicely to keep the valve from falling into the cylinder, assuming you have compressed air and the valve is in good shape. Keeping the engine from rotating is a good idea, and place it at TDC so the valve can't go far if you lose pressure. I made an air hold out of the assorted bits that came with my cheepie compression tester along with a wee cheepie regulator like this. I think I used 40psi... seemed like a good guess, and it worked fine. I wouldn't use higher pressure, since that greatly increases the chances the piston will move.

If you don't have squozen air, you can also put the engine at BDC, then feed in a length of reasonably clean, smooth rope (don't use the "hairy" stuff or old stuff that will shed contaminants) to fill the cylinder, then rotate the engine slightly and hold it to compress the mass of rope and hold the valve in place.

I can't find a pic of it anywhere, but I made a simple lever tool for compressing the valve springs a while back out of a hunk of PVC and some aluminum bar I had lying around; it bolts to the cam cap holes and allows you to compress the valve springs.