first post/first valve adjust with shims...

[vtskier]

Hi everyone,

This site looks great. Checked valves on 450 and exhaust look tight.

First question.... Do the cam lobes need to be facing up on exhaust and intake valves to properly measure gap?

Thank you,


Andrew

[cowboyup3371]

Welcome to the site. Basscliff will be along later to give you the official welcome but here's a starter for you:

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/gs850valve_adjust.pdf

Also, look up a guy named Steve on here (username and real name) and email him for his spreadsheet. It will help you track your work. Also, do some searching on here by clicking on Search, Advanced Search, put in valve adjustment, choose titles only, and you'll come up with more information on doing valve adjustments than you know what to do with.

[7981GS]

There is a factory method that only requires the cam shafts to be at two positions for the mentally challenged.
It happens to be one of the very few factory methods used by some members that choose to use plastic zip ties
jammed into the combustion chamber rather than the factory shim tool.
Or use their calibrated hands to torque down the cam cover bolts rather than a click-type inch-pounds torque wrench.
And then have problems with stripped threads, go figure?

It is perfectly fine to adjust them one at a time with the lobes pointed up in a straight line with the valve stem.
I have been doing it that way for over thirty years on my GS's.

Eric

[Super]

Welcome vtskier....just one more person to add their 2 cents in. I did use the zip tie method and it worked just great!

HOWEVER...for whatever reason, when I tried multiple times to check the valves with the cam lobes straight up and down, I had trouble getting the measurements. For some reason, I couldn't get the readings I needed. The gauge tool wouldn't fit. But when I set the cam lobes at the angles the shop manual recommended, they measured out just fine. And the results were great and the engines ran fine.

Probably just me, but just in case you have a problem like me, go by the shop manual.

[vtskier]

Thanks everyone. The shop manual states that lobes need to be up, but I saw some conflicting info on the web. Just making sure.

I will attempt the zip tie method today!

Ride on....

[Steve]

Those that are advocating specific cam positions need to know that you are working on a TWIN, a 450, specifically. They are not quite so fiddly on where to set the cams when checking clearances.

For those with FOUR-cylinder engines, the cams need to be put in a specific position, then TWO valves checked without moving the cam.

.