Valve adjustment

[ddaniels]

When changing shins in an adjustment, is it preferred to shoot for the middle of the acceptable range or the top of the range?

[Grimly]

When changing shins in an adjustment, is it preferred to shoot for the middle of the acceptable range or the top of the range?

I leave them at the looser end, to buy more time between adjustments.

[Brendan W]

Go loose. They are tight enough already and going on the high side will take care of tolerances in the measurement and provide a bit of insurance.

[ddaniels]

Ok thank you. One more and we'll have a consensus

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I’ve always read that you should adjust to the higher end of the spec as clearance will get tighter over time.

[ddaniels]

Ok I just ordered some shims. I'll get close to the upper end but since I can only get shims in .05 mm increments, I can't get right on. This is for the FZ1 by the way.

[Steve]

I am guessing that the valves and seats will wear much like the GS bikes, always going tighter, so start with them on the looser side.

Many of us will go just past the spec on a GS, you might be able to do that, as well.

What are the specs for your engine?

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[ddaniels]

I am guessing that the valves and seats will wear much like the GS bikes, always going tighter, so start with them on the looser side.

Many of us will go just past the spec on a GS, you might be able to do that, as well.

What are the specs for your engine?
.

Intake: .11 to .2 mm gap
Exhaust: .21 to .25 mm gap

[Steve]

At least you have more than one increment below your minimum clearance.

GS engines are 'fun' because the minimum clearance is below most feeler gauges, and just below the minimum clearance is ZERO, where things start to get 'interesting'.

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[ddaniels]

I went and measured all my shims with a micrometer last night. Every single one of them was less than what was marked on them. I will still be ok with what I ordered but will be .01 mm over the max on a couple of them. I'm guessing that will still be ok, but maybe some ticking as a result?

[Steve]

If you can hear the ticking with that little bit of extra clearance, just turn down your hearing aids.

I can't really hear any difference with the extra clearance in my valves, can't say that I really feel any difference in power, but I do go longer between needing to make any changes.

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[bwringer]

It's pretty common to go .02mm over on GS shims, up to .10mm. And there's absolutely no difference in engine noise; that's not enough added clearance to make a ticking sound, even if you didn't have the general cacophony of a running engine.