Post rebuild valve clearance check

[Guest]

Along with the top end rebuild I did on my 1980 GS850, I had S&K Racing do the valve job. After a break in ride, at 25 miles or so, I checked valve clearance, for my own curiosity and all were at the upper end or slightly above spec. Now I'm at 155 miles on rebuild and all seems well, but I was just wondering what the general consensus was on WHEN I should recheck clearances after a valve job/top end rebuild? Manual says 1st check at 600 miles for a new engine, so does the same apply for a rebuilt cylinder head? Like I said, it looks like they initially shimmed on the upper end of clearance, maybe to extend the service interval..

[fastbysuzuki]

25 miles is too soon to check being they are on the upper end. Quite a lot of us on here set them to .004" personally I would recheck at 1,000 miles then at 3,000 mile intervals, although the manual says 3,500 miles

[Steve]

As you mention, the manual suggests 600 miles for the "first" service interval. Part of that service was to check valve clearance, part was to change the oil to remove all the bits and shavings from all of the parts that were moving across each other for the first time.

The oil change is not as critical this time around, but the valve clearance is. I would wait a few hundred more miles.

It's good to know that they set the clearance near the max, as it always gets tighter with use.
Do you have any idea what shim sizes were used? I would be remiss in my duties if I neglected to invite you to take advantage of the offer in my signature.
The spreadsheet is a handy tool to keep track of clearances and shim sizes that can help you predict adjustment intervals.

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[JHook]

Steve, you actually sent me a copy of the spreadsheet awhile back, shortly after I joined GSR. Thanks again for that, and I will check valves again in a few hundred miles!

[Nessism]

Be sure to torque the cylinder head each time you check the valves. It's important to break the nubs loose ever so slightly before reversing direction and torquing them to spec. This is critical after a rebuild because the gaskets typically set some and compress. If the torque falls off dramatically I'd go back in after a few hundred miles more until you find the torque stabilizes and stops falling off.

[JHook]

Thanks, Ed. Will do

[Steve]

Steve, you actually sent me a copy of the spreadsheet awhile back, shortly after I joined GSR. Thanks again for that, and I will check valves again in a few hundred miles!

With over 1000 recipients, it's easy to lose track of who all I have sent it to.

Besides, somebody else that is new might see the invitation.

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