View Full Version : How many have found your valves out of adjustment?
steelpix
10-14-2013, 07:20 PM
I know the manual says the first 600 miles then evey 3,000 miles. I'm wondering how many of you have actually seen your valves out of adjustment.
I bought mine when it had 1700 miles and I'm getting ready to hit 3,000. One guy at a bike shop told me they were bullet proof bikes. Just trying to figure out if I should really bother or not.
Thx,
Ron
Water Warrior 2
10-14-2013, 08:55 PM
It is worth the bother to keep the bike happy and reliable.
5th_bike
10-14-2013, 10:04 PM
I'm at a good 10,000 miles and had to adjust my valves already twice. They didn't need it at 600 and 3,000, but did at 6,000 and 9,000.
Water Warrior 2
10-15-2013, 05:45 AM
Riding habits influence the valves too. If you are a faster rider and running higher revs the valves need more attention.
jonathan180iq
10-15-2013, 10:44 AM
Just do the clearance check. It's a small amount of time and price to pay for peace of mind.
These are bullet proof bikes. But that doesn't mean we can just ignore maintenance when we know it's recommended.
We've been seeing a lot more top ends fail lately and I'll give you 3 guesses as to why....
When you neglect something, even something that's bullet proof, it's going to fail.
Water Warrior 2
10-15-2013, 02:15 PM
If you take it to a shop it is usually an hour labor according to book time. It does take some $ to do the maintenance but is cheaper in the long run.
JohnC
10-15-2013, 10:14 PM
When we got ours it had 14,000 miles on it. the valves needed to be adjusted at that time; they were all too tight. I believe this is the leading cause of valve breakage.
That said, it also needed a new chain, the old chain was badly out of adjustment, a new rear tire, new fork seals and new front brake pads.
Get tapered feeler gauges that are the minimum and maximum for each valve. Bend the last inch or so to a 30 degree angle. Make sure the minimum fits and the max doesn't, otherwise, adjust them or have them adjusted. Checking should take less than an hour start to finish.
Water Warrior 2
10-16-2013, 12:48 AM
The engine should be cold to do the adjustment.
A recently running engine still retains too much heat to do a proper job.
bwader
08-04-2014, 05:32 PM
I'm half way checking mine. Then I made the realization that I adjusted the exhaust valves to intake specs.
Intake and exhaust on my bike have been tighter than .08 mm
I might use gallons and miles but I love and prefer using metric tools so much easier.
So back out I am doing the intake and then fixing my F up on the front exhaust.
Its about time I got to this, its been 4,000 miles I've had this bike and who knows when it was done before I got it at 5,000.
bwader
08-05-2014, 10:46 AM
I spent 3 hours yesterday adjusting valves to get them right. I started on the 2 exhaust in the front and had a hard time adjusting them.
All on a cold engine.
Anyway, after some breaks in between, I checked adjustments after rotating the engine 720 degrees and stopping on the T in the middle of the sight port. (or is the line to the right of the T need to be in the middle?)
When I got done, I had front 2 exhaust valves adjusted to .127 mm ( I could push it in and out with bite )
And 2 intake valves adjusted to .076 mm again enough to slide in and out with some bite.
Started up bike and chattering. I know some chattering is normal for so many miles then it goes away.
But my first "bike" was a 150cc Chinese scooter and the valves chattered after adjusting them right and within 3 miles of gentle 35mph riding the engine threw a piston rod! At 3,200 miles and I took care of it.
Im going to make a video and post the sound when I go to start it up next.
Sounds like its only the exhaust valves chattering and its not soft.
jonathan180iq
08-05-2014, 11:06 AM
If you're getting valve clatter then go back and do it again. They may have altered their positioning when you were locking them down or you could have done intake and exhaust in reverse like so many people before you :)
bwader
08-05-2014, 02:49 PM
Took a little spin in the back yard and it seems to have more power to it.
Yeah at first I had the intake and exhaust valves backwards then changed it right.
Just got done push mowing for 1.5 hours did front and back yard. My "old lady" is bitching about I don't pull weeds around the house and keep the yard kept up and she went on about it for an hour. Then on about her sister's husband keeps up their yard beautifully and she was going to pay him to do our yard since I haven't been doing that on my own.
Shit, I work at least 40 hours a week and 15 hours is commuting. I get 4 days off once a month and I donate plasma too, to make extra money. Then I don't keep the house looking nice.
Anyway this is my last day off and I'm told I wasted all day yesterday working on my motorcycle when I could have gotten so much more done. She even said she would been fine with me just relaxing all day. What? I got to take care of my bike I don't have money to pay a mechanic to do things I can do and willing to spend some time doing it right.
I'll check the adjustment again when I can get some more chores done. Women
Water Warrior 2
08-05-2014, 03:54 PM
She even said she would been fine with me just relaxing all day.
No insult intended to any gals on the forum but that is a crock of s**t. An idle man will drive a woman nuts. 2 ex-wives and their mothers proved that to me.
Take one of your days off each month as a "Me Day" and do what you want. Go for a ride and regain all the lost sanity. My 1st wife didn't understand when I said my bike saved her from sure death.
jonathan180iq
08-05-2014, 04:07 PM
HAHAHAHa...
This is so fu(#!&*! true.
bwader
08-05-2014, 05:36 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhosTiHR5aM&feature=youtu.be
The sound is good enough you can hear it.
My voice isn't that high at the beginning. Just did it quick off my tablet.
When I say "rear one" I meant the exhaust one in the front. I think of the exhaust being in the rear when really its in the front of the engine and goes to the muffler in the rear.
bwader
10-28-2014, 02:07 PM
Finally got my valves adjusted yesterday. It was tedious for me, I ended up getting it at the lower end for exhaust and intake settings.
Frustrating to get it adjusted and rotate the engine a few times and back to TDC and check it again and its the same but when I would let the starter rotate it.
It would be off too loose so once I got it to .004 mm or .008 I'd just starter bump it and just adjust it slightly tighter until it would be the right adjustment.
Now when I get another day off I can take my turn signals and get it inspected like I did the previous year.
Haven't yet had time to take for a good test ride but I know the engine sounds good now starts up easy. For my case three tappets' threads were messed up and needed replaced. At least its all good now with new stuff
Vegas Street Rider
08-09-2016, 11:01 PM
After 12,500 miles, I finally adjusted my valves on the GZ. I got the general impression that over time the valves tightened up. My intake valves were at .003 and my exhaust valves were at .005. What gives? I adjusted them to .002 and .004 respectively. I can tell the difference for sure. I also tinkered with the carb as it was running a little lean. I had noticed the coloration on the exhaust tubes and now it is running much better. The plug also looked a little grey in color and I think it might have been loose. What is the torque required to install the plug? Someone suggested 15lbs. Anyone have any advice or input
wacio
08-09-2016, 11:19 PM
Manual says 13 lbft.
spldart
08-10-2016, 09:26 PM
I've adjusted mine once since I picked my bike up used 1.5 years ago. Valve lash to loose. I really need to adjust again. Will update when I do.
Vegas Street Rider
08-10-2016, 11:29 PM
Thanks. I thought I used about 15lbs torque and the plug still came loose after about 4000 miles (daily rider). I guess I should reread the manual.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.