One small question about the valves I just finished adjusting Saturday night. I got really different results with the feeler gauges and was wondering if this was normal.

For the front:
- left valve: didn't need adjustment, fine at .1mm
- right valve: too loose and adjusted to .1

For the rear:
- left and right valves were too tight, couldn't get in the .076mm feeler, so adjusted out to .1

Just wondering if it's normal to see this kind of differing tolerance? As far as I know the valves have never been adjusted, and I thought it strange that the rear valves should be too tight over time.

Bike is a 2001 with about 6100 miles on it.

Still haven't started it yet, kind of afraid to. Looking for confirmation taht I put the starter idler gear back in correctly.

Thanks,
Derek

metric vs. sae Yonuh  

.1mm = .004" (or thereabouts)
.076mm = .003"
.127mm = .005"

Yonuh Adisi FSO wrote on 03/31/08 at 21:41:52:


I almost did the same thing but caught myself before I posted.

Right side looser....    

1) Make sure you use full synthetic oil ASAP.  

2) Plan to tear the head apart next year for full inspection.  (sooner if you want).

Reason: If the previous owner abused the bike and/or neglected oil changes, there is a possibility that the cam journal may be starting to wear.   The journal wears most on the right side, so the cam itself sits down a little lower in the head on that side.  Sitting lower in the head would manifest itself as a looser right side valve clearance.