Looking at doing my first valve check on my 2013 Twin Cam, can someone recommend a set of feeler gauges please. I have a set a 4 from Nippy Norman’s that I used on the Hexhead but I know the gaps are a bit different, also I am not sure if I would be able to work out what size shim I need without a full set of gauges
Cheers
As Steptoe says just buy a normal full set of feeler gauges as you will need quite a few different sizes to check go no go and allow for manufacturers tolerances.
My twin cam has done over 110K miles checked every 6K service and they have not moved a thou.
As Steptoe says just buy a normal full set of feeler gauges as you will need quite a few different sizes to check go no go and allow for manufacturers tolerances.
My twin cam has done over 110K miles checked every 6K service and they have not moved a thou.
Looking to make the job as easy as possible as I have the sidecar attached and it’s going to be a pain with adding to the job or having to close up and revisit it due to missing tools etc
first step is understand the flat bits so you know you have the lobes in the correct place - then just measure and document all 8 of the clearances
then over tea, you check vs the allowable tolerance which is crazy wide - and note which can be left and which need attention
then you pop out the follower, measure or read the shim its got - and write that down - and do the maths aiming to land in the middle of the range of tolerance on each valve
or where in the range you want it - tight is worse than loose - but whilst can be engine dependent, many tighten
if it needs to be tighter you need a shim x mm bigger
if it needs to be looser you need x mm thinner...
having established what it needs, you might be able to pay mix and match - but no doubt you'll need one - and then its a trip to the dealer who will take 2 days to get it in - plus meant to use new circlips even though no hope in hell you could damage one
do not muddle up your parts or you'll be in a right mess - it's a 1hr job that takes them three days before you have your parts to complete - so if you need the bike you'll have to put it back together waiting for parts at £9 a pop !
If you go shopping for a set of feeler gauges, be sure to check the available feelers in the set. I had a set (never sure where they came from, but i decided they were for something different!) only to find there was no 0.05 feeler and another missing also. Ended up buying a proper set!
