Adjusting valves for the first time - need help

[tkent02]

Compression issues can arise from the valve clearances closing AND a shorter shim might fix this...

Yes, it might fix it, sometimes does. If it's been run hard and long with no clearance, exhaust and maybe intake valves will eventually burn. I'd guess you have much better than a 50/50 chance of having good compression after the valve adjustment.

Definitely shim them all correctly and try it again.

[legaleli]

Yes, it might fix it, sometimes does. If it's been run hard and long with no clearance, exhaust and maybe intake valves will eventually burn. I'd guess you have much better than a 50/50 chance of having good compression after the valve adjustment.

Definitely shim them all correctly and try it again.

Man you just made me feel a whole lot better about my future work on my engine! I'll cross my fingers that the new shims fix her up for this season. Any newbie (like me) reading this post... don't be like the guy who owned my bike before me... adjusting the valves is easy; you need some wrenches, a ziptie, and a couple of hours of spare time for God's sake!!!!

[Sparky]

I still havent got around to doing this to my bike but there is a link to this video on cliffs site that helped me fully understand what needs to be done.

Yes the video is LOOOONG but if you let it load and fast forward past the nonsense of how to disassemble the bike you can get to the real how-to part

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2015554469142545363&q=kerry+valve+adjustment&total=1&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0#

[Steve]

... adjusting the valves is easy; you need some wrenches, a ziptie, and a couple of hours of spare time for God's sake!!!!

Actually, once you get the hang of it, you can get it down to about 45 minutes.

Then take another 10 minutes or so to sync the carbs.

Toss in some new spark plugs and you will have a NEW BIKE.

.

[legaleli]

I still havent got around to doing this to my bike but there is a link to this video on cliffs site that helped me fully understand what needs to be done.

Yes the video is LOOOONG but if you let it load and fast forward past the nonsense of how to disassemble the bike you can get to the real how-to part

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...rch&plindex=0#

In the video he uses a magnetic tool to fish out the shims... I understand that this is a "no no", and can understand why - you don't want to have metal shards building up on your cams... the video does show a lot though!