Valve clearances

[joedchippy]

I have just clocked up 6000kms on my 09 K9 and checked my valve clearance and came up with the following Left Exhaust 0.038 Right, Exhaust 0.076, Left Intake 0.038 and Right Intake 0.000. I think this may be the first time the valve clearance has been checked but am a bit shocked that in 6000kms, one has no clearance and two are just within tolerance. Anyone have a similar experience? Also my bike only has one pickup?? so i'm trying to locate the RT mark with where I imagine the pickup should be and then aligning the two crank sharft notches.

[gsJack]

[twocool]

If they stayed in tolerance, you wouldn't ever have to check them.  They don't, so you must!



Cookie

PS: how do you measure 0 ?  (my feeler gauge set doesn't go down to 0)  Does the bucket still turn?  Probably still a bit of clearance in there, although too tight if the .03 feeler doesn't go in

I have just clocked up 6000kms on my 09 K9 and checked my valve clearance and came up with the following Left Exhaust 0.038 Right, Exhaust 0.076, Left Intake 0.038 and Right Intake 0.000. I think this may be the first time the valve clearance has been checked but am a bit shocked that in 6000kms, one has no clearance and two are just within tolerance. Anyone have a similar experience? Also my bike only has one pickup?? so i'm trying to locate the RT mark with where I imagine the pickup should be and then aligning the two crank sharft notches.

[G.Rossman]

What's it cost if you just have this done at a shop instead?

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[smokestack]

It took me an hour and a $7 shim.

[G.Rossman]

I've got almost everything apart just never done that work before.  I'm probably going to have to check the Aprilia too.

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[smokestack]

I did it with a telescopic magnet, the valve tool and a small flathead to pry the shim out.

Followed this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgm4dwy0TJ4

[G.Rossman]

I have watched a couple of videos on YouTube including Baltimore GS and went back to work this evening.  I'm just now realizing that my feeler gauge starts at .003 not the .03 I thought it was.  And .003 won't fit under the cam lobe and the valve ship.  The tool won't go under to compress it down either.  So I am going to have to figure something out, or I am doing something wrong.  My gauge goes up to something around .029 and that seems pretty large.   

[G.Rossman]

Well I figured out part of my problem...duh.  my gauges smallest set only goes down to
.127mm.  I was looking at it all wrong.  That seems awfully small so I can only imagine .03mm.  Guess I will have to go to an auto parts store, the local Menards didn't have anything that small I don't think but definitely didn't have any curved sets. 

I tried again and still can't get the shims to press down with the tool.

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[twocool]

Wow!  Now you have me confused!

Make sure you understand the markings on the feelers...you don't need curved feelers...most sets at local auto parts stores go down to .038 mm...you can get .03mm but hard to find and you don't need..

The valve tool takes some practice..but once you get it...it will work just great.

Cookie

Well I figured out part of my problem...duh.  my gauges smallest set only goes down to
.127mm.  I was looking at it all wrong.  That seems awfully small so I can only imagine .03mm.  Guess I will have to go to an auto parts store, the local Menards didn't have anything that small I don't think but definitely didn't have any curved sets. 

I tried again and still can't get the shims to press down with the tool.

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[lucas]

a .03mm feeler gauge is roughly equal to a .001 inch feeler gauge.  Thin but commercially available.

https://www.amazon.com/uxcell%C2%AE-0-02-1-00mm-Metric-Measure-Feeler/dp/B00DC3VB96/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465526663&sr=8-1&keywords=.03mm+feeler+gauge

[twocool]

Yes..but you don't need that......   .038mm = .0015"...common in most auto stores.

You don't really want to set any valve to .03mm    as this is the minimum, and really too tight for intake or exhaust...

.038mm should be the "go"...and .090mm should be "no go"...(or a bit bigger on exhaust)

But if you want to get "fancy"...you can buy thinner gauges..

Cookie

a .03mm feeler gauge is roughly equal to a .001 inch feeler gauge.  Thin but commercially available.

https://www.amazon.com/uxcell%C2%AE-0-02-1-00mm-Metric-Measure-Feeler/dp/B00DC3VB96/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465526663&sr=8-1&keywords=.03mm+feeler+gauge

[G.Rossman]

Okay just left Advanced Auto with four quarts of Valvoline 4T 10w40 for the oil change and a feeler gauge that starts at .038mm and I made sure to look at the metric range this time lol.  No bends in this kit but they are pretty short.

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[lucas]

What are bend?  Do you want curved gauges?  I don't think those are necessary, I used straight ones on mine and had zero problems making them fit/reach.

[G.Rossman]

What are bend?  Do you want curved gauges?  I don't think those are necessary, I used straight ones on mine and had zero problems making them fit/reach.

I just personally preferred using the gauges with a bend for tight places, that is all.

[G.Rossman]

Okay here is what I got and I triple checked everything best I could. 

From what I am getting, they are all within range so I'm not sure I am even going to mess with them.  My gauges jump from .076 to .1 something so I do have a bit of a gap there. 

For the exhaust - Left was .076 and Right was .076
For the intake - Left was .063 and Right was .051

The consistency is making me wonder if the previous owner maybe had this done already, plus I found some RTV around the ends of the cams in the dipped area.  The bike has 6,961 miles on the odo.

[twocool]

You've still got me confused!  I thought you had a gauge set that started at .038mm ?

Anyway, the concept of measuring a gap, to specification...is not to measure what the gap is...rather you measure what it isn't!

This is done by means of "go" and "no go".

Your .038mm feeler should be a "go".....if it is a go...that means the gap is greater than .038..

Since the min spec is .03mm....greater than .038 is within spec on the low side.

Next you should try the .09... feeler...this should be a "no go"...if it is a no go, that means the gap is less than .09mm....since the spec is .08mm on the high side, this is within spec..

So greater than .038 and less than .09...that's all you need to know....within spec...no need to try to measure the actual gap...you can make yourself crazy doing that!



Cookie

Okay here is what I got and I triple checked everything best I could. 

From what I am getting, they are all within range so I'm not sure I am even going to mess with them.  My gauges jump from .076 to .1 something so I do have a bit of a gap there. 

For the exhaust - Left was .076 and Right was .076
For the intake - Left was .063 and Right was .051

The consistency is making me wonder if the previous owner maybe had this done already, plus I found some RTV around the ends of the cams in the dipped area.  The bike has 6,961 miles on the odo.

[lucas]

You can combine feeler gauges.

.038 + .051 = .089


That gives you loads more options.

But looking at the numbers you posted seems like your clearances are fine.

[G.Rossman]

I agree going to start buttoning it up tonight.  Deciding if I want to order a slip on and k&n or not.  Also need to run a new ground wire one in there I stripped more back and it is starting to fall apart inside.

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[G.Rossman]

Got the valve cover and breather back on tonight.  The gasket was a bit of a pain and caused some choice words to be spilled.  Once I get a few more parts I will work on putting the rest back together.  Already not looking forward to all the hoses and lines to hook back up.