1st attempt at Valve Adjusting with H&B Bars

[Bikergary]

Well I decided to have a go at my first valve Adjustment on my 1100GS (with H&B Bars)
Did all my homework and all ready,

1st issue, getting the lug out of the view hole, bit difficult with the bars in the way, but managed, just with a very long screw driver.

2nd, Just couldn't turn the back wheel to turn it over, bugger, lets take the cover off..... damn, Bars are in the way, so I loosened all the bolts (Except under thank tank), finally managed to pull the bars forward enough to drop the cover of the front.

Glad i loosend the Bars otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get the cyclender covers off

3rd, after finding TDC, which have to say was very easy by turning the crank at the front, found valves to tight ???? instead of 15mm they were 13mm and less than 30mm for the others, mmm I was expecting valves to loosen not tighten, or am I wrong. Any way adjusted them to the book 15mm & 30mm. didn't find this too difficult, thank fully. The other side 15mm, and less than 30, at least one pair were right.

Put it all back together, Putting the lug back was pain... bars in the way, and the front cover.... again bars in the way.

3 and a half hours later, moment of truth,...... yep it starts


So what have i learnt,
...... Take the Bars off , even if I get a garage to do it

Question though, would you expect the valves to get tighter?

 

[Noddy]

Was your engine cold, and who adjusted them last time ?

 

[Steptoe]

I've never had to take the bars off to adjust the valve clearences

- Also you don't know if the gaps have closed, because you didn't set them the last time - now you've set the gaps, you can check and find out if they are closing up -

you should also check and adjust rocker arm end float ( axial play)

Valve gaps can, and do get tighter, if the valves/valve seats are wearing

 

[Gecko]

you should also check and adjust rocker arm end float ( axial play)

Oh great.....now you've gone an dunnit ....just as I was getting confident and enjoying doing my own servicing you throw in 'rocker arm end float' and diappear off to another thread.....WTF
Where do I find one of these and can I live without ever knowing what it is , where to find it and how to jiggle it's axial play ?

 

[carbold]

2nd, Just couldn't turn the back wheel to turn it over, bugger, lets take the cover off..... damn, Bars are in the way, so I loosened all the bolts (Except under thank tank), finally managed to pull the bars forward enough to drop the cover of the front.

Try in 5th gear next time...Make sure you don't drop the bike off the stand when you do it

 

[Mzokk]

Take the plugs out and the engine will turn over rotating the back wheel easily, good idea anyway as you can check your plug colour and make sure they havant seized (water can gather in the right cylinder plug after washing the bike and it makes it difficult to get out unless squirted with wd 40 or plusgas). Can shine a torch down the plug hole and see if the piston is at TDC. Saves fiddling about with that stupid plug thing.

 

[Bikergary]

you should also check and adjust rocker arm end float ( axial play)

?????? Oh ekk, what??????

Yes engine was cold, bike was cold... garage was cold.... I was cold

Try in 5th gear next time...Make sure you don't drop the bike off the stand when you do it

.. tried that, obviously didn't do it hard enough.

Well it's done 50,000 miles so i suppose it's possible that they have worn, don't know when they were done last.
As for the engine bars, I suppose if I Manage to turn back wheel to to frlywheel that whould help, have to practice that, and yes I did take the plugs out