DIY 16 valve adjustment tool,...

[Katarat]

I took a short flat blade screwdriver and ground a hole with a hand grinder that fits the square headed adjuster screw, works good for me

[TiiMuch]

The screwdriver idea has made me think I can improve on my diy tool design.
Something that would have a bit more leverage to resist the torque/rotation of the lock nut being turned down.

[TeamNeal]

For making carbs easier to put back on the engine, I like to loosen the carb to engine boots and rotate them until the line up with the carb outlet just right then tighten them back down. Then a little moly lube helps to slip them in and out each time. Air box is a little tricky.... Kind of angle the carbs and air box down sort of in a V shape and get the box boots "started" then pop those suckers on the motor. The air box should follow with a little "prostate check" motion from your fingers. Works for me, every time. No 2x4s or ratchet straps needed. Also helps if you straddle the bike while doing so.

[TiiMuch]

OK.
After getting so wrapped up in trying to get a GS1100E to run without an air box on and struggling with that whole frustration and thinking maybe it was the valve clearances I had to revisit this clearance checking again.
Why so difficult. Small, bent tip thickness gauges, trying to bend them in there. The clearances changing when the nut was being tightened. Back and forth.
I wanted the clearances DEAD on. Damn it?!.

Then I thought back to all my Small Block Chevy motor builds. With a hydraulic lifter the "lash" was always a 3/4 turn in from zero.
Lightbulbs went off.
I pulled out my dial Guage and set it up with the magnetic base on the frame rail above the 1100 head.
Oriented the dial arrangement of the Guage was so that it was in line with the valve stem.
Put the tip on the end of the rocker and just started testing the clearance based on tilting the rocker on/off the tip of the valve stem.
Turns out .004" is slightly less than half a turn on the adjustment screw.
.006" is slightly more than half a turn.
And no kidding. You could asertain a .0005 difference on the Guage between settings.

Do you not think the Suzuki motor builders where using a similar technique building dozens of motors a day?.
So easy.
I'm putting this out there.
And someone should get back here with what they find trying similar.
But just saying. I'm pretty confident I've got my valves set bang on perfect. At least Valve to valve using this idea.

ie. I turn the adjustment screw down to get to zero gap. Back off a 5 hour turn or 7 hour turn and make sure that the screwdriver stays in that "clocking".

Comments?

[posplayr]

Seems you figured out that +/- a small amount is +/-001.

i don't know what good enough is but I bet I get within +/- .00025. I make sure for example the .004 mm fits with a tug and the .005 mm does not slide in. The point is the proper tool and technique will be closer.

This is not to say the technique is invalid. I use the same technique on swing arm/chain adjustments following wheel alighn mints. The problem of course is the thread pitch makes this technique for valve adjustment debatable but probably passable.

[turbojonn]

Fantastic post! I'm makin' this for my next adjustment. Don't let the naysayers bother you, there are some in every crowd.

[TiiMuch]

Hey thanks.
Yes.
Naysayers.
Im certain someone/anyone could post just a picture of a cartoon baby unicorn with a rainbow behind it and someone would have a negative comment or be offended.
(Im on my phone. Can someone try and we can test my idea?!).
Ive been on net forums for a long time now.
If you read enough posts and/or get flamed innapropriately you figure out who to ignore.
Not respond to at least.

In this case I find it interesting that an "engineer" would suggest that his "feeling" method would be superior to a method that uses the very mechanical instrument that would be used to verify the measurement numerically.

So to continue to try and be a positive contributor here let me suggest this TurboJohn.

We/someone/anyone could have a "lash off"
You lash your valves using feeler guages. Then use the method I described.
And measure your results each time.

In my experience with the GS1100 16v engine. Valve clearance adusting with feeler guages the working space was tight. The lock down screw and rocker tip would sometimes but not always effectively seize together during the procedure. I found it aggrevating.time consuming and inaccurate.

[posplayr]

Ever heard of backlash in gearing? Same applies on screws. How far can you turn the nut without affecting the depth? There has to be backlash else there would be no thread clearance to rotate the nut. The finer the thread the more backlash .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backlash_(engineering)

Having become relatively proficient adjusting valves on my 1100ED I understand the frustration as trying to adjust valves with a set of needle nose vice grips and a flat feeler; it is difficult. Buy the correct tools and it becomes much easier and certainly predictable to the point that while patience is required there is little difficulty to warrant frustration.

[posplayr]

I'll be a little more clear. The relatively large backlash of the fine pitched thread of the adjuster screw is what causes the difficulty. There are actually two cumulative backlash errors. The screw in the rocker and the nut on the screw. The lower end of the screw is being pulled down by the rocker and the upper end is being pulled up by the tightening nut.

Even with a feeler gauge, when you go to tighten the nut, the square headed screw turns with the nut. The uncertainty of whether what side of the thread you are on is what makes this loosening method difficult.

What I have found to work very reliable relies on a simple trick. You lightly turn the screw and the nut down onto the feeler gauge. Make sure that the proper thickness feeler slides smoothly but not loosely. Check with the next size up to make sure that it will not go in at all.

THIS IS CRITICAL: Turn the square screw head with the proper adjuster tool while turning the nut in the opposite direction by equal amounts.

This does a couple of things.

1.) it maintains the zero clearance inside of the threads (top and bottom),
2.) it adds to the preload in equal and opposite directions of forces and thread deflections.

This tends to minimize any moving of the screw and nut in the same direction (which will happen if the square headed screw holding tool is not strong)

and more importantly, the ability to twist the screw while you turn the nut is required to avoid changing the clearance. A tool mounted in wood or the diameter of a pencil will never provide the leverage to create the same torque as the tool used to turn the nut.

As far as a "lash off", you would be the only one that could do that as using a feeler gauge I know exactly what my clearances are, you on the other hand would never know without using one.

[TiiMuch]

Ok. Im not going to far with this.

Ive seen/read where you will defend the side of any argument/opinion.


With a dial guage I can actually show/prove the clearance.

Case closed.

When I have a chance I will post a video.

[posplayr]

Ok. Im not going to far with this.

Ive seen/read where you will defend the side of any argument/opinion.


With a dial guage I can actually show/prove the clearance.

Case closed.

When I have a chance I will post a video.

OK but I think it is you that are ignoring everything I have mentioned. I don't think a mathematical proof will help you any more than what I have already stated. You have ignored every reasonable argument

Actually at this point I'm only posting this for anybody else that might be deluded into thinking this is a "better way".

[TiiMuch]

You must be retired with nothing better to do than argue online.

Im an enthusiast looking for better/easier ways to enjoy these bikes.
I have two. And one extra motor.
Do you have any?.
And if not, then ?

You could have taken the high road and used the dial indicator idea to prove you had a reliable way to set the lash.
But as usual you argue your opinion. With no way to actually prove your "feeling method" is superior to anything.
Anything.
Hey. The Blues fest and the Fringe fest is happening here, last big summer weekend here in Canada.
You steam.
Im gonna chill.

[posplayr]

Im gonna chill.

Promise?..........

[JJ]

Behave, children... LOL

I mean, even if there is a thousandth or two difference between the two methods, it's no biggie.

Sheesh......

[posplayr]

Behave, children... LOL

I mean, even if there is a thousandth or two difference between the two methods, it's no biggie.

Sheesh......

Thanks that was a very informative post. Did you realize that 2+2=4?
Set for 4
Get -2 due to bad technique
End up with 2 on the gap..............

Do the maths; course No Biggie.