How-to : Valve Adjustment

Maggie · 06-11-2014, 06:00 PM

Have just taken a motorcycle tune-up class from one of the local community colleges and decided to attempt the valve clearance adjustment. Thanks for the sticky post, Jonathan! Woohoo!

Had a lot of frustration because I was using flat feeler gauges and just so much difficulty getting the right angle and feeling the "drag". However, finally got the job done and am definitely hearing more valve noise (there was NO gap at all at the intake valves when I checked).

I have ordered the Motion Pro angled feeler gauges for the next go around. I was actually surprised to read in the manual that the clearances should be checked every 3,000 miles. My teacher said, in general, for this type of valve system (post and locknut, as opposed to shims), it should be done every 5,000 miles. I hadn't had any kind of valve check by a shop for much longer and I am feeling grateful I haven't seemed to destroy anything!

06-11-2014, 06:00 PM	#40
Maggie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Fernando Valley, CA Posts: 135	Have just taken a motorcycle tune-up class from one of the local community colleges and decided to attempt the valve clearance adjustment. Thanks for the sticky post, Jonathan! Woohoo! Had a lot of frustration because I was using flat feeler gauges and just so much difficulty getting the right angle and feeling the "drag". However, finally got the job done and am definitely hearing more valve noise (there was NO gap at all at the intake valves when I checked). I have ordered the Motion Pro angled feeler gauges for the next go around. I was actually surprised to read in the manual that the clearances should be checked every 3,000 miles. My teacher said, in general, for this type of valve system (post and locknut, as opposed to shims), it should be done every 5,000 miles. I hadn't had any kind of valve check by a shop for much longer and I am feeling grateful I haven't seemed to destroy anything!
	0