Valve clearances with H&B bars ?

[Big Lad]

I've got H&B bars fitted to my 1100GS. I'm going to have a go at the valve clearances for the first time. Can anyone confirm if the bars can stay on, or will they need to come off or just be loosened a bit ???. Cheers

 

[MikeO]

On the 1150 they have to be loosened quite a bit, but not removed....

Mike

 

[Gecko]

I think you will find the problem is not getting the valve covers off but rather getting the front cover panel off. It needs to be lossened and then pulled forward where the H&B bars join at the front. I have an 1100 too and although I haven't done the valves myself I can't see that it would be possible without removing them. You could find TDC by rotating the wheel rather than removing the front cover but then you'll need someone to help you because you can't turn and look for TDC at the same time on your own ....unless you can bend your body in very odd ways .
Let us know how you get on. Good luck
Gecko

 

[andy malton]

TDC

Has the 1100 no bung that you remove to find TDC with the marks on the flywheel like the 1150 and other GS's before it?.Andy

 

[stan]

no need to touch the bars at all

 

[Gecko]

Re: TDC

Has the 1100 no bung that you remove to find TDC with the marks on the flywheel like the 1150 and other GS's before it?.Andy

Yeah it has but you need to crank the engine over to get TDC and that's when you need the front engine cover off or somehow turn the back wheel while looking in the little hole....

 

[Deak]

Valve clearances with H&B bars

Had to actually remove my H&B bars to get the valve covers off. Tried every way to get the things off without removing them but with no success. They must be made to different tolerances I guess as some people have no problems at all.

To fine top dead centre I remove the plugs, put the bike in 4th gear and put a plastic drinking straw or similar down inside the cylinder just touching the top of the piston. As you rotate the wheel its a doddle to find TDC by finding the high point with the straw as it pushes out of the spark plug hole.

 

[Greg Masters]

I think that Deak is right - finding TDC is not critical - all you're doing is putting the cams into a position where you are measuring the clearance between the valve stem and the cam's base circle (as opposed to the lobe or opening/closing ramps).

A straw or pencil down the plug hole will do just fine. Even if you're a little bit out, the cam position is only going to have half the error.

By suggesting that you should measure the clearances when the piston is a TDC on the firing stroke is just a simple arrangement for ensuring that all cam lobes are on their base circles.

There really is no need to start getting dial-guages and dismantling the bike ensure that you are on the exact TDC. It just isn't that critical.

Greg

 

[Timolgra]

suck, sqeeze, bang, blow.

At the other end of the scale - I second the above - for my Airhead I have always used a straw plus a finger over the plug hole to find out which stroke the piston is on (i.e. compression).

OR check which valve shut last, if it was the inlet obviously next time the piston is at TDC then............ and if were the exhaust.......

Tim

 

[Chris G]

re tdc,

I ahvent done it yet [cos I found out afeter I did my last valves] that the bmw logo on the front cover on the 1150's is spot on for the position of the nut you yurn for getting to tdc, this log can be cut out and access then gained to do yer nut spinning, then at the end of the job the hole can be filled by an electrical type grommet [to keep the muck out]


I will post fotos when I have done it in about 2months

 

[littleredrooster]

re tdc,

I ahvent done it yet [cos I found out afeter I did my last valves] that the bmw logo on the front cover on the 1150's is spot on for the position of the nut you yurn for getting to tdc, this log can be cut out and access then gained to do yer nut spinning, then at the end of the job the hole can be filled by an electrical type grommet [to keep the muck out]
I will post fotos when I have done it in about 2months

I'm sure this made sense to someone out there.
Translation, anybody?

 

[Big Lad]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to try it without taking the bars off and take it from there. I'll post the result as soon as I can. Wish me luck ! Valve clearances look easy in the manual.......................

 

[Chris G]

I'm sure this made sense to someone out there.
Translation, anybody?

Ah, that'd be the Chilean red talking, I will try agin in a week or two