Had some strange noise been coming from the top end so I decided to adjust the ol' valves! Pretty sure I did it right... couldn't get the timing inspection pulg out so I just took off the side cover. Figured out the TDC for the Intake... and went to it! on I couldn't get a .002 in and one of my exhaust was .006. I got them all .004. Now to see how it sounds... Oh, I adjust the cam chain too! came out 1 click on the tensioner... tightened her right up. now I need to reassemble and take her for a ride. Will repost when I have news, either good or bad!

nah... just spending tiem with the little one... will test ride later tonight!

My '88 had a knock or would have a knock if I just put it back together.
Turned out to be a burnt piston.
We tried lot's of things to figure it out.  Compression test, feeling the piston go up and down, feeling the crank round and round, back and forth, using a screwdriver to push the cam forward and back.
After taking it all apart, the only evidence we found that you've might of seen if I had a borescope would have been a small indentation on the outside edge of the piston and the melted aluminum at the top of the cylinder.

Ok.... well tore it down to the frame.... Im gettin good at that... have the engine on the table (not the kitchen)! Only took me an hour!

Tear down engine tomorrow.... check piston, timing, cam chain (again)

Order new gaskets.... Crank Case both sides.... head.... head cover....

Wait on parts....

PAINT.... got a marbled bronze for the tank and tins... should look pretty good! Thanks for all help on here guys!

still a learning process... but I am pretty good with anything mechanical... I just got to figure out how to do it and keep the timing... thats a new one for me on these things... cars are easy!

I asume its stock... but there is grooves on the side....???? wierd then?

There is some thjought that one of the reasons for the variables in how long a cam chain lasts, aside from oil, is that the heating & cooling of the engine causing the cylinder to get taller & shorter, the cam chain adjuster "clicking", locking in place, then the cylinder "grows" stretching the chain hard. I am leaning toward removing alternate teeth on the adjuster & see how that im[pacts the chain wear.

diamond jim wrote on 03/24/09 at 20:51:23:


So I wonder what you think of a person that buys the bike with the engine in pieces, in boxes and the bolts in a plastic tub....  ((except the head bolts which were stuck in a pieces of cardboard...))