Hi all - checked valve clearances for the 1st time yesterday.
Found the front left exhaust valve measures between .08 and .1 so it's above the standard spec. All other valves measure between .04 and .06.
How urgently should this be addressed? I havn't got the valve tool / shims etc but I'd like to ride it in the meantime.
Can I get away with it and if so how long?
So a .10 feeler guage will go in, but a .12 will not, right? Hmmm...I would say you can get away with it, but I would change it as soon as possible. Keep the rpms down as much as possible. And be smooth on the throttle.
To clarify - a .08 gauge will go through easily. A .1 gauge will not.
Not too far out of spec but out of spec none the less.
Mmmmm, last time I changed an exhaust valve shim I changed it to give .005" clearance which equals .127 mm. It's since gone to .004" (.102 mm) and has been that way for 40k miles. If you want 100k miles from your engine without doing valve work at least keep the exhaust valve clearances to the wide side of the standard tolerance. Intake clearances rarely change, exhaust valves burn up with tight tolerances. I've mentally reduced the redline for my stock engine to 9-10k rpm.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/valveclearances.jpg
Its fine, put it back together and don't check it til next winter. Whats your year/mileage? I'd only change it if it starts to run poorly, but you are good to go!
Nice one.
It's a 2003 with 30k on the clock - I'm a 2nd owner and have put the last 8k on it.
More responsive since I changed the plugs and oil especially at freeway speeds.
It always had the odd fuel smell around it - found out why, putting the tank back on and the fuel hose ruptured. Suspect it had a pinhole in it for some time. Cut a bit off and had just enough to get tank back on.
Was my first go at servicing the bike - good experience.