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Adjusting Valves

  • Thread starter Thread starter greggo2208
  • Start date Start date
G

greggo2208

Guest
Once again I find myself begging for information from the mechanical wizards on this ever so helpful website.[-o<

I'm about to try to adjust the valves on my GS750ES. Is this going to require any specialized tools or are there any helpful hints anyone can give me.. Like a how to do it hint... I always have the option to put it in the shop, but I'd like to learn about it too rather than just pay someone to take care of it for me and I figure with the harsh Texas winter coming up I'll have all of about 3 weeks that it'll be too cold to ride so that will be the perfect time to try it.. My bike seems to tick,tick tick,tick, when running and also makes a popping noise when I let off the throttle. The guy at the shop I go to said maybe a stretched exhaust valve?

Thanks for you help and input.
 
greggo2208 said:
Once again I find myself begging for information from the mechanical wizards on this ever so helpful website.[-o<

I'm about to try to adjust the valves on my GS750ES. Is this going to require any specialized tools or are there any helpful hints anyone can give me.. Like a how to do it hint... I always have the option to put it in the shop, but I'd like to learn about it too rather than just pay someone to take care of it for me and I figure with the harsh Texas winter coming up I'll have all of about 3 weeks that it'll be too cold to ride so that will be the perfect time to try it.. My bike seems to tick,tick tick,tick, when running and also makes a popping noise when I let off the throttle. The guy at the shop I go to said maybe a stretched exhaust valve?

Thanks for you help and input.
Click to expand...

That sounds to me like you're running a lean. What do your plugs look like?
 
I'll check plugs this weekend when I have a chance to tear into it. I believe I've read some of your previous reply's or posts. The plugs should
be a grayish color right?
 
greggo2208 said:
I'll check plugs this weekend when I have a chance to tear into it. I believe I've read some of your previous reply's or posts. The plugs should
be a grayish color right?
Click to expand...

If they are grayish you're running too lean. You want tan or brown.
 
A stretched exhaust valve? :rolleyes: Where did he get that?

My first hint would be to not let that guy touch your bike...

My second hint would be to get the repair manual for your bike. If more than one is available, get them all. At least, that's what I did.
http://repairmanual.com/

Therein, you will find complete and fairly clear instructions for checking valve clearances. With pictures and everything.

I find it much less confusing to use a metric feeler gauge, available at any auto parts store for cheap, but you're welcome to use one marked in inches as long as you promise to never get confused as to which units you're using.
 
I wasn't going to comment on that particular example of verbal diarrehea,...funny stuff though.

Of course, it could be swollen,...or maybe just strained.
 
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll start with a manual or two and see where it goes from there. Maybe my bank account will stretch next?
 
greggo2208 said:
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll start with a manual or two and see where it goes from there. Maybe my bank account will stretch next?
Click to expand...

Yes, tortured screaming from a stretched credit card/savings account is a sure sign of a GS owner...

Let the winter spend/rebuild season BEGIN!
 
bwringer said:
Yes, tortured screaming from a stretched credit card/savings account is a sure sign of a GS owner...

Let the winter spend/rebuild season BEGIN!
Click to expand...

Wait!? WTF!?!

You mean you're not SUPPOSED to do it all over the summer and finish just as the cold weather sets in?

F*ck me!
 
bwringer said:
Yes, tortured screaming from a stretched credit card/savings account is a sure sign of a GS owner...

Let the winter spend/rebuild season BEGIN!
Click to expand...
What he means is he will "stretch" the work out all winter so he can put his kid in college!!!!
 
I'm about to adjust my valves, as well. I was told by a salesperson (like he knew anything) at the local Suzuki shop (absolute dung heap of a place, I wouldn't take a bicycle there and have never returned) that to adjust the valves I would need a special tool that ran $80-120 and was only available from 'Zuki. I assumed he was full of crap and ignored him. I know that Motion Pro and others make specialty tools for specific motorcycles. Is there a special tool (yes, I'm trying to get a manual) and if so, anyone got a link to a reasonably priced one?
 
txironhead said:
I'm about to adjust my valves, as well. I was told by a salesperson (like he knew anything) at the local Suzuki shop (absolute dung heap of a place, I wouldn't take a bicycle there and have never returned) that to adjust the valves I would need a special tool that ran $80-120 and was only available from 'Zuki. I assumed he was full of crap and ignored him. I know that Motion Pro and others make specialty tools for specific motorcycles. Is there a special tool (yes, I'm trying to get a manual) and if so, anyone got a link to a reasonably priced one?
Click to expand...

Ridiculous. I've heard the tool can help, but it ain't $80-120. Try closer to $15.

Plus, I just adjusted my valves and the only special tool I needed was a feeler guage. Other than that I used a pair of needle-nosed pliers and a small wrench. Easy-peasy-japaneasy.
 
txironhead said:
I'm about to adjust my valves, as well. I was told by a salesperson (like he knew anything) at the local Suzuki shop (absolute dung heap of a place, I wouldn't take a bicycle there and have never returned) that to adjust the valves I would need a special tool that ran $80-120 and was only available from 'Zuki. I assumed he was full of crap and ignored him. I know that Motion Pro and others make specialty tools for specific motorcycles. Is there a special tool (yes, I'm trying to get a manual) and if so, anyone got a link to a reasonably priced one?
Click to expand...

Well there is some truth to his statement. The special tool is a very small 3mm square drive socket with a handle. It does make a valve adjustment go WAY easier, but you can use a small pair of needlenose vice grips (just be EASY with the vice grips). It takes way longer, but can be done.
 
The key is to hold the adjuster screw steady (after setting clearance) while you tighten the locknut.

Once you use the Motion Pro tool, you will never go back to using a pair of needle nose or vice grips. Set it one time and its done. period.

Not very expensive either and the same tool will work on any tappet adjuster Suzuki valvetrain (incl my Bandit 1200).


g8070.jpg
 
"Stretched valve" sounds like bike-mechanic-speak for "strained sphincter".

In other words, he's talking out of his rear.
 
The toughest part of the valve adjustment job is cleaning off the old gasket material from the valve cover gasket.
 
oldschoolGS said:
The key is to hold the adjuster screw steady (after setting clearance) while you tighten the locknut.

Once you use the Motion Pro tool, you will never go back to using a pair of needle nose or vice grips. Set it one time and its done. period.

Not very expensive either and the same tool will work on any tappet adjuster Suzuki valvetrain (incl my Bandit 1200).


g8070.jpg
Click to expand...

I usually see those for around $30-40.
 
Special tool

Special tool

The 'special tool' the half-wit at the shop almost has to be talking about is the 3mm nut driver that someone else mentioned. I have one and even though it's an official Suzuki tool, the thieves at the shop only charged me $5.65...(It's worth about $1.50).8-[
 
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