Valve clearance. Notes and questions.

BonChaton · 06-21-2012, 10:19 PM

Did the valve clearance adjustment on my (new to me) 2006 GZ250 today.
Few NOTES:
I bought a set of feeler gauges at Kragen for around $7. I used a pair of scissors to cut pieces out of the 0.13mm, 0.08mm, and 0.04mm pieces to make myself a personal set of +/- gauges for the GZ. (Too annoying to get the full feeler gauge in there. Exhaust valve clearance 0.13mm - 0.08mm, Intake valve clearance 0.08mm - 0.03mm. The set didn't have a 0.03mm feeler. )

Made my own valve adjuster tool (09917-14920). Robertson screw (also known as a deck screw) with a #2 head, screwed into a piece of wood. I stole the screw from the hardware store. (I spend a lot of money there anyway. Didn't want to buy 100 to use 1. I have no moral compass. I sleep well.) Was a little long but worked great.

QUESTIONS:
The valve adjustment I encountered was way way too screwed down in. Couldn't get any feeler gauge between anything. In had to back everything off a bunch. (Yes, I was at top dead center. Yes the engine was cold. ) There was gasket sealant on the the valve cover seals, so I feel pretty certain someone did this job before me.

Q's: Would this be the way the valve clearance moves naturally? Would there be any reason to tighten the clearance this much? Could there have been a problem a shady mechanic was trying to hide with this adjustment?

Anyway. After it was adjusted to spec, it picked up very noticeable horsepower! This makes me think none of the valves had been closing the whole way.

Q: Having been run this way for some amount of time (who knows), is there anything I should check/look out for that comes to mind?

Thanks,
Bon Chaton

(A few more pics for kicks.)

JWR · 06-21-2012, 10:33 PM

Looks like you did a good job.

Valves always get tighter and you can only guess when somebody has worked in front of you.

:2tup:

blaine · 06-22-2012, 12:21 AM

As JWR stated,The valves get tighter.As the valves wear into the head the clearances between valve stem & rocker arm get smaller resulting in the valve not closing tightly,causing lost compression & power & burnt valves if left unattended.

:cool:

**jonathan180iq** · 06-22-2012, 10:23 AM

This is a pretty healthy way to introduce yourself, by being thorough and informative.
And photos make everything better.

There is really nothing else you can check, since you have already taken care of the issue that would have been the biggest bugger. As far as the gasket sealant stuff, I would just check the condition of the oil when you change it, just to make sure that some of that gunk isn't floating around in there. But, that stuff looks old enough that I'm sure whatever made it's way into the engine is long gone by now.... assuming the PO did oil changes

BonChaton · 06-27-2012, 01:14 AM

By the way the part # 09917-14920 valve driver (with shipping) is only $4.74 from Power Sports Plus
http://www.powersportsplus.com/parts/de ... 14920.html

06-21-2012, 10:19 PM	#1
BonChaton Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Francisco Posts: 12	Valve clearance. Notes and questions. Did the valve clearance adjustment on my (new to me) 2006 GZ250 today. Few NOTES: I bought a set of feeler gauges at Kragen for around $7. I used a pair of scissors to cut pieces out of the 0.13mm, 0.08mm, and 0.04mm pieces to make myself a personal set of +/- gauges for the GZ. (Too annoying to get the full feeler gauge in there. Exhaust valve clearance 0.13mm - 0.08mm, Intake valve clearance 0.08mm - 0.03mm. The set didn't have a 0.03mm feeler. ) Made my own valve adjuster tool (09917-14920). Robertson screw (also known as a deck screw) with a #2 head, screwed into a piece of wood. I stole the screw from the hardware store. (I spend a lot of money there anyway. Didn't want to buy 100 to use 1. I have no moral compass. I sleep well.) Was a little long but worked great. QUESTIONS: The valve adjustment I encountered was way way too screwed down in. Couldn't get any feeler gauge between anything. In had to back everything off a bunch. (Yes, I was at top dead center. Yes the engine was cold. ) There was gasket sealant on the the valve cover seals, so I feel pretty certain someone did this job before me. Q's: Would this be the way the valve clearance moves naturally? Would there be any reason to tighten the clearance this much? Could there have been a problem a shady mechanic was trying to hide with this adjustment? Anyway. After it was adjusted to spec, it picked up very noticeable horsepower! This makes me think none of the valves had been closing the whole way. Q: Having been run this way for some amount of time (who knows), is there anything I should check/look out for that comes to mind? Thanks, Bon Chaton (A few more pics for kicks.) __________________ "Att'y: It's sort of a wild goose chase, more or less, but personally, we're dead serious. " - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-22-2012, 12:21 AM	#3
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Re: Valve clearance. Notes and questions. As JWR stated,The valves get tighter.As the valves wear into the head the clearances between valve stem & rocker arm get smaller resulting in the valve not closing tightly,causing lost compression & power & burnt valves if left unattended. :cool: __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-22-2012, 10:23 AM	#4
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Valve clearance. Notes and questions. This is a pretty healthy way to introduce yourself, by being thorough and informative. And photos make everything better. There is really nothing else you can check, since you have already taken care of the issue that would have been the biggest bugger. As far as the gasket sealant stuff, I would just check the condition of the oil when you change it, just to make sure that some of that gunk isn't floating around in there. But, that stuff looks old enough that I'm sure whatever made it's way into the engine is long gone by now.... assuming the PO did oil changes
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06-27-2012, 01:14 AM	#5
BonChaton Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Francisco Posts: 12	Re: Valve clearance. Notes and questions. By the way the part # 09917-14920 valve driver (with shipping) is only $4.74 from Power Sports Plus http://www.powersportsplus.com/parts/de ... 14920.html __________________ "Att'y: It's sort of a wild goose chase, more or less, but personally, we're dead serious. " - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-21-2012, 10:33 PM	#2
JWR Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 1,413	Re: Valve clearance. Notes and questions. Looks like you did a good job. Valves always get tighter and you can only guess when somebody has worked in front of you. :2tup: __________________ Jerry Truth is there are lots of great bikes available and not nearly as many good riders out there riding them... "A man's got to know his limitations..."
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