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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
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Message started by Chance on 06/22/19 at 09:04:30

Title: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Chance on 06/22/19 at 09:04:30

I followed the the valve adjustment procedure per this site, but now I'm afraid I did it wrong. Started the bike up and now it sounds like a ticking sound coming from the engine. I remember a ticking, sewing-machine sound before the valve adjustment, but now it seems louder.

I'm no mechanic, whatsoever.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/22/19 at 09:16:33

The ticking sound is important.
Otherwise the valves are too tight.
Did you put a 90 degree screwdriver in the adjuster to keep it from moving while you snugged the jam nut?
If the threads are sloppy, when you snug the nut it can increase the clearance between the cam and lifter by sucking the adjuster up, tight in the threads. Minimal change there, but if it's already on the loose side, it's just a bit looser.
What feeler gauge did you use?
Except for the ticking, how is it running?

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Chance on 06/22/19 at 09:28:35

No I did not put a 90 degree screwdriver in the adjuster. I used 0.004 / 0.10 mm feeler gauge.

Seems to run fine, other than the ticking. Haven't put it on the road yet, just started on the stand.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Chance on 06/22/19 at 10:02:00

I just re-read my reply and here is what I wanted to say: I did not use a screwdriver in the adjuster to keep it from moving, I left the gauge in place while tightening the jam nut. The gauge I used was 0.004 / 0.10 mm. Run fine, except for the ticking. Haven't put her on the road yet.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/22/19 at 12:50:14

When you pulled the feeler gauge out, if it was too tight to slip it back in, you may have accidentally tightened the adjuster as the jam nut was tightened.
IIRC, four thousandths is the tight end of the adjustment.
Wait for others to respond before you start kicking yourself..
You may be fine.
I always slide my feeler gauge around in there and see what it feels like before I pull it out.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Chance on 06/22/19 at 13:49:41

Just rode it about four miles to test it. Other than the ticking, she seems to run great.

Thanks Justin for your responses. Doing the valve adjustment made me a nervous wreck...just don't want to screw it up.

I bought this bike because I want to maintain it myself, even though I'm nothing close to a mechanic.

This site persuaded me that I could maintain it myself, thanks to the members and all their combined experience.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Ruttly on 06/22/19 at 14:13:17

Get yourself a couple different manuals , read both before doing a repair and then if your unsure ask your questions here. You have stumbled on to a great forum with even greater members. Welcome.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by batman on 06/22/19 at 19:07:53

A loose adjustment may make a bit more noise ,but it doesn't hurt anything ,(it may even provide a bit better performance at mid rpm /legal highway speeds) valve adjustment that is, to quite /to tight may not allow the valves to close fully and burn or warp ( they need to close as this is how they cool. giving up heat to the head thru the valve seats) valves set tighter than the .005 the books call for ,say .003 -.004 may provide a very slight increase in top speed due to the lift of the valve being higher ,but would be hardly noticed, and not something I would advise until your more at ease with setting them.
the Clymer book tells you to rotate the motor clockwise to TDC and is incorrect. the motor should be rotated in the same direction as the wheels turn to TDC , CCW.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Chance on 06/22/19 at 23:51:58

Thanks for the replies. I definitely turned the engine CCW to TDC, as advised.

I'm gonna run her like she is for a spell and see how I like it. I can readjust if I want/ need.

I have plans for this bike, so i'm sure I'll more questions in the future. I'm glad there is such a great community that loves these bikes as much as I love mine.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/23/19 at 08:23:34

Doing the valve adjustment made me a nervous wreck...just don't want to screw it up.

I remember my first time..

I decided I just had to go back in a week or so later. I got worried about the jam nuts.
Lotsa worry, lotsa hassle
FerNuthin.

Pick up an offset screwdriver.
They are not worth much as a tool, but they sure are handy for this job.
I grind the Phillips end to a flathead running opposite the other.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by batman on 06/23/19 at 09:23:42

Or a couple of old allen wrenches ,ground as JOG described above.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Chance on 06/24/19 at 07:19:12

Good ideas on the offset screwdriver and allen's.

When researching for a motorcycle to buy (took about four months to decide on the S40) I ran across this site and could tell the was a wealth of knowledge here. I did a lot of lurking, but suzukisavage.com was the tipping point to purchase the S40. I could learn to ride (I've only had my endorsement for about a year) and maintain my bike myself.

My good friend I ride with has a Road King and he's always preaching Harley. Now don't get me wrong, Harley makes fine motorcycles, I just don't want one. Why? Because everyone has one. Probably 80% of the bikes I see are Harley. I have yet to see a Savage or S40.

These bikes are special. I may someday get another bike, but I will always have my S40 and I'll pass her down.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Junker on 07/01/19 at 20:25:17

After a failed first attempt at adjusting my valves, I splashed out and bought a set of the "Motion Pro 08-0073 Tappet Tool Set" off Amazon. These have made the job a breeze.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Chance on 07/02/19 at 02:33:30

Good call, Junker. I was debating on buying these prior to adjustment and just ordered the set with some different feeler gauges. Thanks.

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Matchless G11 on 07/02/19 at 04:36:16

As the Guzzi guys say "If you don't hear them (the valves) there is something wrong"

But seriously not to chase rabbits down the hole, I assume you left the exhaust valve lifter untouched?

If I am not mistaken (I have been wrong many times) that can give a tapping sound?
(Others on this sight have more knowledge and can say if I am correct or not)

Title: Re: Valve adjustment questions. Help, please.
Post by Chance on 07/02/19 at 20:29:58

Matchless, no did the exhaust side as well. I've been crazy busy with work and haven't had any time to devote to the S40. I'm gonna carve out some time this weekend to getting it right...it's driving me crazy she ain't running properly.