Bonneville America Forums: valve adj

Kenny,
Not really. Adjusting the valves is a methodical, time consuming process though. (I guess that is the definition of PITA, huh?!

) What is a beech is having to wait 24 hours for the cool down and then waiting for the dealer to get some shims in. It is real hard to not zip her up and ride then break her down again once the shims arrive. OK Tooling up for the job is a pain too, but once you do you are set. Some of the hondas allow use of a tool to remove the shims without having to remove the camshafts. That would make this job much easier.
Tooling up
A good electronic micrometer runs about 70 bucks.
The torx driver is round 10 bucks.
The locking pins and pretension tool cost about 85 bucks.
Yet most members have used a home boy fashioned tool of some sort to lock the backlash gears, and a non-digital micrometer can cost much less than 60 bucks (even taking the shims to the dealer will usually get them measured for free). Yet, then you have to do the math on the fly at the dealer.

But most of what we do takes mula. The front sprocket takes a 36mm socket. A torque wrench is a must and runs bout 70 bucks. Oversized sockets for the spindle cost money. Brass feeler gauges for the ignition pick up are real hard to find. Regular feeler gauges calibrated primary in metric units are tough to locate. The chain tool is about 80 bucks.

Those of you that go by the book on this job...Do yourself a favor and use the rear wheel to turn the motor over. Removing the RH engine cover will cost you an oil change at 60 bucks, and gasket at 5 bucks. It's outlined in Paul's thread. The cam cover gasket can be reused. The cam cover bolt washers can be reused as well.

Also you'll need the oil crossover tubeâ€™s copper washers and a little o-ring as well. The copper washers can be annealed, but the o-ring should be replaced.

What is important to note is that the adjustment cannot be verified by you if the dealer does it. You cannot see any of the area where he says he was. Sure you can remove the cam cover and take measurements, but then you ought to just do the job yourself! You have to take the dealerâ€™s word that he did the job. That he pretensioned the backlash gears, that he replaced or annealed the copper washers, that he replaced the o-ring. Even removing the cam cover will not show you those two things. I have yet to have a dealer be true to his word. grrr

The next time a hurricane threatens our fair land, we should have all the dealers get in a boat and sit 300 miles offshore. That way the hurricane won't approach as all the dealers I've happened upon SUCK!

Boy, where did all that pent up rage come from? lol!

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I’m riding baby. Just trying to get a place for the night…