Still Won't Idle! I think I'm done.

[salty_monk]

Yes, that's the lobe, the follower often looks like the head of a hammer (not sure on these bikes) but it's basically the bit the lobe contacts with and moves up & down as CAM goes round. You want to adjust the clearance at the base of the "egg" usually....

Dan

Thanks!

It's where the feeler gauge should be sliding in that's hanging me up.

For instance:

You want to insert the feelers between the cam lobe and the follower bearing surface.

I don't know what a lot of those words mean. I'm assuming "cam lobe" is the part of the camshaft that depresses the valves as it spins, and is shaped like an egg from the side?

[DimitriT]

So, anyone want to help me with 16v valve adjustment?

I've got the cover off and the crankshaft turned so that the T is showing through the window. The notches on the cams are pointing in at one another, if I'm looking at the right thing.

What I'm not sure of is what the hell Table 8 is supposed to be telling me, and where I'm supposed to be sliding the feeler gauge.

Table 8 is telling you which valves you can adjust with the cam markings in the given position. So if your cam markings are point in, you can adjust the #4 valves (and some others).

You want to insert the feelers between the cam lobe and the follower bearing surface.

Adjustment is very easy.

1. Loosen both jamb nuts and back out the screws until you can get the .10 mm feeler in there smoothly.

2. Tighten the screws until you find the point where any further tightening on either screw will cause the feeler to hang up. This takes some practice.

3. Without moving the screws, use a 10 mm socket to tighten the jamp nuts. They sell a special tool for this job but you can manage with a regular socket and a pair of needle nose pliers, IMO.

4. Turn the crank a few times and go back to the same cam position.

5. Check the clearance again. I like to have it where the .10mm fits evenly but the .11 doesn't. The range in the manual is .09 to .13

So, anyone want to help me with 16v valve adjustment?

I've got the cover off and the crankshaft turned so that the T is showing through the window. The notches on the cams are pointing in at one another, if I'm looking at the right thing.

What I'm not sure of is what the hell Table 8 is supposed to be telling me, and where I'm supposed to be sliding the feeler gauge.

Since we're going back over the basics:

1) Have you ever actually done a vacuum carb sync?

2) Have you checked that the screws plugging the vacuum ports on the intake runners are in there tight?

Yes and yes.

Thank you, Keith. Valves are next on my list, and then I'll figure out where the hell I've got an intake leak coming from.

Mike

Since we're going back over the basics:

1) Have you ever actually done a vacuum carb sync?

2) Have you checked that the screws plugging the vacuum ports on the intake runners are in there tight?

Mike, I haven't been able to stick with your thread because I've been busy. I'll be busy today and this weekend too but you're getting help anyway. Just letting you know so you don't think I'm ignoring you.
I too assumed the valves were adjusted, along with a few other things.
You guys know I always say to check all the basic maintanance things first, then troubleshoot. Basics are good compression/not burning oil, valve clearances set, good fuel flow/clean-rebuilt carbs/tank/petcock, clean air filter, good spark/timing/clean electrical connectors and good plug leads, etc.
Part of the problem as pointed out earlier is that this is a long thread and I believe this thread isn't the first one about this bikes problems. So people kind of forget what's been done to fix a problem.
Your compression reads, while not balanced, are still within spec but ideally the difference shouldn't be more than 10% unless the factory manual says different. I don't believe those reads would indicate/cause your problem though. Maybe a little uneven idle but not "intake leak" symptoms.
I've taken apart a few bikes that had their valve clearances all over the place with some at less than .02mm clearance and some more than .20 mm. They weren't running well but none of them had rpm's rising significantly with engine temp. But you should adjust those valves because it's part of the basic tuning. Adjust on a stone cold engine only, overnight is best.
I'd re-check the compression with a completely warmed up engine (same temp as when the rpm's rise up) and see what the reads are then.

Thank you, Keith. Valves are next on my list, and then I'll figure out where the hell I've got an intake leak coming from.

Mike

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Mike, I haven't been able to stick with your thread because I've been busy. I'll be busy today and this weekend too but you're getting help anyway. Just letting you know so you don't think I'm ignoring you.
I too assumed the valves were adjusted, along with a few other things.
You guys know I always say to check all the basic maintanance things first, then troubleshoot. Basics are good compression/not burning oil, valve clearances set, good fuel flow/clean-rebuilt carbs/tank/petcock, clean air filter, good spark/timing/clean electrical connectors and good plug leads, etc.
Part of the problem as pointed out earlier is that this is a long thread and I believe this thread isn't the first one about this bikes problems. So people kind of forget what's been done to fix a problem.
Your compression reads, while not balanced, are still within spec but ideally the difference shouldn't be more than 10% unless the factory manual says different. I don't believe those reads would indicate/cause your problem though. Maybe a little uneven idle but not "intake leak" symptoms.
I've taken apart a few bikes that had their valve clearances all over the place with some at less than .02mm clearance and some more than .20 mm. They weren't running well but none of them had rpm's rising significantly with engine temp. But you should adjust those valves because it's part of the basic tuning. Adjust on a stone cold engine only, overnight is best.
I'd re-check the compression with a completely warmed up engine (same temp as when the rpm's rise up) and see what the reads are then.

Dont ever give up,just get even!

Endeavor to persevere.

I see. Time to learn something else!

Thanks, everyone!

Dont ever give up,just get even!

When you poured oil in the compression raised on even the non-low cyls. And it actually raised (I think) to abnormally high levels for the non-low cyls. That means the oil is either sealing "too well" or you put too much oil in (as somebody already mentioned), and you're getting basically bogus readings.

Even if you are losing a bit of compression past the rings, you have no idea how much compression you're loosing due to too-tight valves. Get the valves in spec (which you can easily adjust), then you can do another compression check and find out the health of your rings (which you can't adjust).

Your compression and your carb sync could both be significantly off with misadjusted valves. This could easily the the cause, or at least an aggravation of the cause, of all your trouble.

I see. Time to learn something else!

Thanks, everyone!

Okay, okay. One more thing to tackle.

Although, I thought if you poured oil in and the psi's rose, that indicated that it wasn't valves.

When you poured oil in the compression raised on even the non-low cyls. And it actually raised (I think) to abnormally high levels for the non-low cyls. That means the oil is either sealing "too well" or you put too much oil in (as somebody already mentioned), and you're getting basically bogus readings.

Even if you are losing a bit of compression past the rings, you have no idea how much compression you're loosing due to too-tight valves. Get the valves in spec (which you can easily adjust), then you can do another compression check and find out the health of your rings (which you can't adjust).

Your compression and your carb sync could both be significantly off with misadjusted valves. This could easily the the cause, or at least an aggravation of the cause, of all your trouble.

HOLY HANNA...Yes!!! Thought that was done! That just might be THE PROBLEM... Always get additional opinions. T3rmin, you may have just saved the "Remove the arm to cure the hangnail"!!! Valves, baby, valves!! 8O

Okay, okay. One more thing to tackle.

Although, I thought if you poured oil in and the psi's rose, that indicated that it wasn't valves.

[Dave8338]

=; STOP!

Why eye aughtta... ;-)

Get those valves adjusted, ya goof! Aside from possibly fixing your compression (it did mine), misadjusted valves can cause you all kinds of headaches. I wouldn't spend another minute on this until those valves are in spec.

I put it off for a long time, too, but it's really quite easy PROVIDED you have the right tools. That means a tappet depressor so you can get the shims out, and a digital caliper so you can accurately measure them (the markings are often way off). I got the "shim tool" (tappet depressor) on eBay for $18 but they can be had retail for $25-$35 at any parts website. Digital calipers are like $10 at Harbor Freight.

DO IT!

HOLY HANNA...Yes!!! Thought that was done! That just might be THE PROBLEM... Always get additional opinions. T3rmin, you may have just saved the "Remove the arm to cure the hangnail"!!! Valves, baby, valves!! 8O

=; STOP!

Why eye aughtta... ;-)

Get those valves adjusted, ya goof! Aside from possibly fixing your compression (it did mine), misadjusted valves can cause you all kinds of headaches. I wouldn't spend another minute on this until those valves are in spec.

I put it off for a long time, too, but it's really quite easy PROVIDED you have the right tools. That means a tappet depressor so you can get the shims out, and a digital caliper so you can accurately measure them (the markings are often way off). I got the "shim tool" (tappet depressor) on eBay for $18 but they can be had retail for $25-$35 at any parts website. Digital calipers are like $10 at Harbor Freight.

DO IT!

I plead innocence here. I've been doing what people tell me to do.

The good news is that as a 16v machine, it doesn't have any shims!