To those who checked own valve clearances..

[mattb200]

okay I'm really considering checking the valve clearances on my bike as its approaching the 15k mark. Now looking in the manual just checking the clearances looks straightforward enough (famous last words!) for even me to attempt.

There is no way I would even think about changing them however if they are incorrect - this would be left to a proper mechanic.

Now my question to those who have done this is how likely is it I would need new gaskets? is it a definate you need to or sometimes can re-use the old ones. Now normally something like this i would have just used new ones but the price of them shocked me a bit - about 20 each!

thanks

[yorkie_chris]

Nah you don't need new ones, they're not gaskets they're closer to O rings so so long as you don't rag them into 10 pieces you'll be right.

[mattb200]

Just what I wanted to hear, thanks Yorkie Chris.

[yorkie_chris]

P.s If you put it back together and it leaks, not my fault :-P Just because I've never needed to replace them doesn't mean you won't.

[mattb200]

Of course:).
There is always a risk with these things that they will fall apart i was just interested as to what others had experienced, 20 each seemed a lot of money!

[mattb200]

Once radiator removed and tank up and valve covers off is access to the shims (checking only) very good or is it a bit fiddly (confined space?).

thanks

[yorkie_chris]

With the radiator off its fine, put the steering over to one side, a bit of carpet on the floor and lean on the wheel to do the front one, quite comfy lol.

Rear one, remove the tank entirely and its easier than having the head sat on a workbench for you.

[northwind]

They do very occasionally need replaced- though I reckon that's often down to mishandling, I'm sure not always but often. Mine have been on and off a fair few times and never needed replaced. You're spot on though, actually changing shims is a bit more complex. It's not exactly difficult, just high stakes- if it goes wrong you could basically demolish your engine. It'd be oh so easy to drop a bolt or shim down the cam tunnel too. So yeah, sometimes discretion is the better part of valour ;)

If you can change the front plug you can check the shims, access is the only fiddly part.

[yorkie_chris]

I always assume myself to be a ham fisted numpty and put rags down anything which may attract engine demolishing stray parts...

[mattb200]

thanks again Yorkie Chris!

northwind
You're spot on though, actually changing shims is a bit more complex. It's not exactly difficult, just high stakes
Yeah I just KNOW that I would start something like that and regret it but checking I should be ok.

Don't think there is but anything else I should be aware of / plan for?

Cheers!

[northwind]

Own good quality allen keys or better, allen sockets- the 3 bolts in each head can put up a bit of a fight, and you don't want to strip the bolt hole. Not common but I've seen a couple, always with people using cheap rubbish or unsuitable tools (at least one of the SV Rider ones was trying to use an imperial allen key...) Good quality allen sockets will pay you back a hundred times over!

[mattb200]

thanks northwind, funny was thinking about getting the allen sockets the other day - couldn't see allen keys being ideal and unable to use the torque wrench with them.

[yorkie_chris]

Allen keys are the devil.

I've a set of draper expert 10mm hex and torx bits with 3/8" and 1/2" driving sockets and they get loads of use. Really advisable to get some.

[northwind]

My good ones are Teng Tools, they're better made than the bike :cool: Not that this is especially hard. Usually I stand by Clarke as a sensible balance of cost and quality but their allen key sockets aren't very good IMO, a couple of mine are undersized.

[mattb200]

Not that this is especially hard. Usually I stand by Clarke as a sensible balance of cost and quality but their allen key sockets aren't very good IMO, a couple of mine are undersized
Doh! I was just looking at some of these on the machine mart website! maybe i will look at a different make then...

[Razor]

I got some halfords allen sockets, cheap enough and they've been going years. I'd also recommend getting a magnetic pick up tool in case you drop a shim.
My valve clearances were ok, all within tolerance.

[Marksv]

what i would say just as a word of advice is write them down once you have checked em and the date they were checked, its so easy to forget, well is for me anyway, whats my name again?:rolleyes:

[ejohnh]

I got Halfords pro hex sockets and I believe Toolfix torx sockets (couldn't get a set with up to 55T anywhere else)

[jambo]

Checking isn't hard. My one gem would be to check them with the lobe facing 180 degrees away from the bucket, and then at a couple of other points. If you look at a cross section of a cam, the lower 180 degrees of it should be uniform, but I have met at least one set of cams which were not, so they seemed fine, then when checked again seemed very tight. You will want to adjust the clearances to be correct for the tightest spot in that lower 180 degrees.

Shouldn't make any odds, but make sure where you measure them from is entirely repeatable, measuring somewhere else and finding the clearance is 0.05mm different AFTER you've had the cams out and in again is intensely annoying.

Jambo