My homemade valve vlearance adjuster tool

[Theo]

Edit: Darn I messed up the title of this thread. Can I fix that?

I don't know if a tool like this has already been posted but if not, this is the tool I made to adjust the clearance on my valves. Total cost was zero dollars since I had the stuff laying around and took me no more than a minute to make. I used some flat aluminum stock and cut a notch the width of the clearance adjuster screw. Sorry for the blurry in action shots, the engine is all buttoned up so I won't be able to retake them. Enjoy.
-Theo

The Tool:

Close up:

In action:

 

[rapidray]

Kind of hard to get a wrench under that for the jam nut? Ray.

 

[almarconi]

What you want to use is a tappet wrench. Loosen the lock nut, adjust the screw for the proper valve clearance, hold the screw and tighten the lock nut. Don't try to adjust the screw with the lock nut tightened.

I realize you are on a tight budget, you could use the correct size square drive screw driver and an open end wrench if you don't want to buy the tappet wrenches.

 

[Guest]

What you want to use is a tappet wrench. Loosen the lock nut, adjust the screw for the proper valve clearance, hold the screw and tighten the lock nut. Don't try to adjust the screw with the lock nut tightened.

I realize you are on a tight budget, you could use the correct size square drive screw driver and an open end wrench if you don't want to buy the tappet wrenches.

A Robertson screw of the appropriate size screwed into a 2" long wood dowel works well, and cheaply too.

Edit: Someone else (tkent?) came up with this excellent idea!

Tony.

 

[almarconi]

you could use the correct size square drive screw driver

What I meant to say was correct size square drive screw..I failed to edit the post after I typed it. The word driver should have been deleted. Sorry if the statement was misleading.

 

[Theo]

Thanks but I already adjusted the valves no problem. I was able to adjust the valves and then while holding the screw, tighten the lock nut without any difficulty. I know I could have used the square drive screw but that would have entailed me going to the hardware which I was too lazy to do. Anyways, the valves are all good and adjusted. Thanks.
-Theo

 

[Turtleface]

What you want to use is a tappet wrench. Loosen the lock nut, adjust the screw for the proper valve clearance, hold the screw and tighten the lock nut. Don't try to adjust the screw with the lock nut tightened.

I realize you are on a tight budget, you could use the correct size square drive screw driver and an open end wrench if you don't want to buy the tappet wrenches.

Just buy the wrenches! You'll be doing valve adjustments all the time if you ride with any frequency, and they really do speed things up, at least for me. Much easier to hold and torque down those nuts as well. Takes maybe half an hour to knock an adjustment out.