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mustering the confidence to do my valve adjustment

  • Thread starter Thread starter growler
  • Start date Start date
The factory shim tool works effortlessly with the factory cams.
 
i think i can do this. gotta learn somehow, right?

i'll take some photos and start another thread when i do it. excited to dig into steve's elaborate spreadsheet!
 
growler said:
i think i can do this. gotta learn somehow, right?

i'll take some photos and start another thread when i do it. excited to dig into steve's elaborate spreadsheet!
Click to expand...

Awesome ! Be sure to load the pictures when you've finished.
We all can learn from this - more information is good information and I am a visual learner.
You can do it !
 
growler said:
i'll take some photos and start another thread when i do it. excited to dig into steve's elaborate spreadsheet!
Click to expand...

Big T said:
I'm sure it's been done, say, 5 or 6 times before
Click to expand...

Which are you thinking has been done a few times, the photos and thread or the digging into the spreadsheet?

Yeah a couple of us have done a valve adjustment a time or three, and I have sent out 886 copies of the spreadsheet, so far.

If I remember correctly (and that is happening far less, nowadays), it has gone to 47 of the 50 (or so) States, as well as 16 other countries. :encouragement:

.
 
Can this be done during winter? It's right around freezing here these days....should I wait until spring? I have the tank off and in a warm, dry place. Wanted to tackle valve adjustment with new gaskets, new spark plug wires, coils check, and some other odds and ends while I can't ride.
 
I think you can do the adjustments ; however you should also do a new carb synch when finished as well.
That would require a warm running bike...
I am waiting for Spring to do mine - because I like to be warm .
 
growler said:
i've been busy with projects and riding (instead of working on) my bike. it's time to get the valve adjustment done and stick a new valve gasket on. i've never done a valve adjustment before on any bike. i've read the tutorial on bikecliff's site, but still wish i had someone over my shoulder to make sure i don't screw it up. i have all the tools needed, now i just need the confidence to do it! hah!

am i supposed to sync the carbs again once the adjustment is done?

any last minute tips?[/QUOTE

Naw, you don't have to sync the carbs after a valve adjustment, though one thing to think of is when was the last time the carbs were sync if ever? IMO wouldn't hurt.
Click to expand...
 
No Need

No Need

mrbill5491 said:
Naw, you don't have to sync the carbs after a valve adjustment, though one thing to think of is when was the last time the carbs were sync if ever? IMO wouldn't hurt.
Click to expand...

I agree. No need to sync the carbs...I didn't when I did my adjustment/gasket replacement. Now, if you decide to change your dual exhaust to a 4-1 that's a whole other story.


Ed
 
GSXR7ED said:
I agree. No need to sync the carbs...I didn't when I did my adjustment/gasket replacement. Now, if you decide to change your dual exhaust to a 4-1 that's a whole other story.


Ed
Click to expand...

Aaah it wasn't that bad was it?? Just don't loose that little choke nut thingy lol. Oh and have the right boot clamps! What else. aaah don't leave your oil filter spring on the table 80 miles way...what a nite that was huh lol.
 
Leaving NM

Leaving NM

mrbill5491 said:
Aaah it wasn't that bad was it?? Just don't loose that little choke nut thingy lol. Oh and have the right boot clamps! What else. aaah don't leave your oil filter spring on the table 80 miles way...what a nite that was huh lol.
Click to expand...

This is the most we've chatted since I left Alamogordo in July. I miss hangin' out with you my GS buddy. We'll ride again someday!!!!!


Ed

EDIT: OP, sorry for replying on your thread...please let us know how your project turns out.
 
Last edited:
Wingsconsin said:
I think you can do the adjustments ; however you should also do a new carb synch when finished as well.
That would require a warm running bike...
I am waiting for Spring to do mine - because I like to be warm .
Click to expand...
Actually, you only need it warm enough to be running well with the "choke" turned OFF.
Yeah, fully-warmed up would be best, but off-"choke" will suffice.


mrbill5491 said:
Naw, you don't have to sync the carbs after a valve adjustment, though one thing to think of is when was the last time the carbs were sync if ever? IMO wouldn't hurt.
Click to expand...
No, you don't need to, but you would be silly to skip that step.


GSXR7ED said:
I agree. No need to sync the carbs...I didn't when I did my adjustment/gasket replacement. Now, if you decide to change your dual exhaust to a 4-1 that's a whole other story.
Click to expand...
I am trying to figure out why an exhaust system change would require a carb sync, but a valve adjustment doesn't. :-k

If you change the clearance of any valve(s), the amount of air that that cylinder can ingest will change. The opening through which it is trying to draw that air (the carb slide or butterfly) has not changed, so the vacuum level will change. If the carbs were perfectly synchronized before the valve adjustment, they will be off afterward. If they were off just a little bit, they might have gotten better or they might have gotten even worse. The only way to tell is to ... do a carb synch.

.
 
To sync or not

To sync or not

^^Hey steve,
I hear ya...on the sync thing...I took the easy way out and fortunately for me, had no issues with the carbs.

Heck, all we did was change the Main Jets when the 4-1 pipes were R2'd. Thank goodness, I had no issues.

Feedback is important and all I was saying was, the bike operated without doing the sync. It's not a habit to get into but thanks for reminding me it's important.


Ed
 
No problem, Ed. These engines are forgiving enough to tolerate a moderate amount of mis-tuning,
but they run SO much better when tuned. :encouragement:

.
 
!! be sure to clean off the top of engine before !!!

!! be sure to clean off the top of engine before !!!

ahhh . I remember the fear and apprehension before my very first valve adjustment .. Not wanting to wreck/ hurt/damage anything. The mystery inside of the internal combustion engine . A thousand little pieces parts moving -- and my mind already reeling from just removing the fuel tank and seat.. I have never been this far before....better draw a diagram so I won't forget... Forbid anyone to get near it while it is apart because I put every bolt and bracket in exact order...

ok just like my first date way back when- -

and now we get down to business.. dig in, seat off, tank off, windjammer or front body off, coils tied up, clean it all out BEFORE you remove the cover or sparkplugs, expose the cams, check out how the sprockets line up revolution after revolution. learn to use feeler gauges ,, which means get the feel of go and -no go -

I'd rather have a loose valve lash than a tight one - if I had to choose and my only choice was a valve out of spec.

I'm in Kenosha , if you get in a pinch I'll help.
 
thanks all!

gonna build a motorcycle table/stand and then get going with this maintenance. :D
 
trippivot said:
ahhh . I remember the fear and apprehension before my very first valve adjustment .. Not wanting to wreck/ hurt/damage anything. The mystery inside of the internal combustion engine . A thousand little pieces parts moving -- and my mind already reeling from just removing the fuel tank and seat.. I have never been this far before....better draw a diagram so I won't forget... Forbid anyone to get near it while it is apart because I put every bolt and bracket in exact order...

ok just like my first date way back when- -

and now we get down to business.. dig in, seat off, tank off, windjammer or front body off, coils tied up, clean it all out BEFORE you remove the cover or sparkplugs, expose the cams, check out how the sprockets line up revolution after revolution. learn to use feeler gauges ,, which means get the feel of go and -no go -

I'd rather have a loose valve lash than a tight one - if I had to choose and my only choice was a valve out of spec.

I'm in Kenosha , if you get in a pinch I'll help.
Click to expand...

Same here when I did my first valve adjustment on 16 valves!! When I took the valve cover off and said damn, look at all those valves!. Two hours later and no blood spilled. Now I can do it in about 45 minutes.
 
Adjusting the valves was the first time I used my cheap Harbor Freight hydraulic bike lift table. It took me twice as long to scrape the petrified gasket off than it did to adj the valves. It really isnt to bad once you get the tank off. Be carefull and dont strip out the bolts. They dont need much torque to tighten them down. Run it a few miles and change the oil in case you get any trash in from the gasket in the engine.
 
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