Dumb question

[Jimbob]

Can you check the valve clearances with no oil in the bike or should it only be done with oil in it?

[twocool]

What do you mean by "no oil".

If you mean a completely dry engine, like just assembled,  or sat for years...I'd say no, don't check the valves in that condition...

If you mean an engine which is up and running...and you just drained the oil out of the crankcase...I'd say...ok to check the valves.......

In fact, you want to get the oil out of the valve shim vs cam..so you get an accurate reading of the clearance...

But don't go rotating a completely dry engine...will damage moving parts without oil film on them..

Cookie

Can you check the valve clearances with no oil in the bike or should it only be done with oil in it?

[Big Rich]

+1.

If you just drain the oil for an oil & filter change, there's still residual oil throughout the engine. Matter of fact, there are usually little pools of oil around the valve shims.

Now if the oil was drained 2 years ago or something and never filled back up, I would think twice about spinning the engine parts.

[Jimbob]

Ok cheers, I'll be draining the oil today and checking the clearances at the same time

[Joolstacho]

Do it the other way round... Do clearances first, then drop oil afterwards, just so that any dirt that drops down inside while you're doing the shims should flow out with the old oil.

[yamahonkawazuki]

Do it the other way round... Do clearances first, then drop oil afterwards, just so that any dirt that drops down inside while you're doing the shims should flow out with the old oil.

agreed with this

[Jimbob]

Great, thanks