Not as bad as I thought!

MarkShelley

Very similar to Paolo Maldini
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Was going to do my first valve job tonight on my 1100.
Had the idiots guide at the ready, 4 feeler gauges with bits of string and crocodile clips at the ready, Neil Young CD playing in the background and looking forward to some quality spannering time.
All was going swimmingly until I removed the 4 bolts to the alternator pulley cover. There was no way this was coming off with the engine bars in place. No bother, I had been thinking of removing them anyway (see items for sale!).
Had to lift and move the tank back a bit to get at two of the bolts.
This was followed by a minor bang and a white cloud of smoke. Reminded me of the dry ice at Youth Club discos back in the 70`s. I quickly lifted the tank. I was pretty sure I had shorted the battery with the tank, but it may have been something else. My priorities changed at this point. I finished removing the engine bars then put everything back together to see what I damage I had done. I fired her up and she sounded awful, ticked over OK but popped and banged when revved. Turned out that was just a throttle cable sitting on, rather than in, its little adjuster near the carb which I must have dislodged. Engine running perfectly after sorting that. I have checked all lights/indicators and all OK. The only thing that is not working is the fuel/temperature gauge. I have checked the main fuse box inder the seat and they all seem OK. What do you think I may have b*ggered up to make these gauges stop working?
 
Not sure what you'll have shorted to stop the gauges working but for future reference you don't have to take the alternator cover off in order to spin the engine over ;)

Just take the plugs out, stick it in 5th gear and turn the engine over using the back wheel (in the normal direction of rotation - don't turn it over backwards). If you sit facing forwards while doing this you can watch the valve gear of the side you're working on and see when the rockers both come up. Fine tune TDC by putting a long (clean) screwdriver down the plug hole :thumb
 
Not sure what you'll have shorted to stop the gauges working but for future reference you don't have to take the alternator cover off in order to spin the engine over ;)

Just take the plugs out, stick it in 5th gear and turn the engine over using the back wheel (in the normal direction of rotation - don't turn it over backwards). If you sit facing forwards while doing this you can watch the valve gear of the side you're working on and see when the rockers both come up. Fine tune TDC by putting a long (clean) screwdriver down the plug hole :thumb

I know you can use this method but I was trying to follow the idiots guide to the letter. Also I have bought a new belt and wanted to check mine out anyway as I have done about 7K since buying the bike. It is a little slack as it happens. I understand the rule of thumb is that you should be able to twist it 90 degrees when adjusted correctly
 
Possibly a stupid question, but have you re-connected/checked the plug on the right hand side of the tank? That is the connection between the tank and the gauges.

Good luck.
:thumb
 
I know you can use this method but I was trying to follow the idiots guide to the letter. Also I have bought a new belt and wanted to check mine out anyway as I have done about 7K since buying the bike. It is a little slack as it happens. I understand the rule of thumb is that you should be able to twist it 90 degrees when adjusted correctly

Go for the torque wrench method of setting :)
 
The clock and the gear indicator are working on the RID, but not the fuel/temp gauges. Does that narrow it down?
 
Took the tank off agian today to do the fuel filter and came across a very thin brown wire going into the connector that you have to disconnect to remove the tank which I had obviously managed to guillotine through yesterday. Crimped a bullet connector to each end and it all seemed to work when I put it back together. Result!:thumb2
Took it for a good test run and it seems a bit crisper now. The valve adjustment really is quite easy. Nice to have a bike so easy to work on.............so far!
 


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