How long to do a valve clearance check?

For those who have done this, how long does it take a) to do it the first time and b) how long it takes you once you have done it a couple of itmes?

 

First time, 2 hours. Second time, 1 hour tops.

 

2 hours , thats with popping a couple of new shims. 2nd 3d time maybe 1.5 hours.

Pull the tank, clean every thing so no dirt drops down in, remove horn bracket, pull valve cover, pull left crank cover. Locate feeler gauge and 19mm wrench. Turn over and record clearences, Look at chart. Try not to cofuse yourself. Pick out the right shims and now find the tool from the last time you used it. Install with lifter bucket down. back off the proper direction. Find hymostats and change shim. Clean gasket and surfaces and reinstall covers and tank. think that should do it.

 

Thanks guys.

 

IF you are working on the X it's a completely different story!

The time requirements will depend on how many shims you'll need to replace.
I'd give it 3-4 hours to measure them if you have all the stuff right there.

 

While you have checked all the clearances. Record the shims also, so when you check them the next time and find a tight one, you would have the shim for it, that you will need. Instead of waiting for them. Just to save time and be able to ride sooner.

 

Yeah, the Maxim X will take a much longer time with 20 valves, but no, I am just looking at those of a 550 and a 650 right now.

 

Don't you want to do a compression test first? I have been under the impression that if you get good results from a compression test then your valves are not out of whack.

 

Well, on the one, I have to replace the valve cover gasket anyways so I might as well do that too while I am in there.

 

What would be considered a good result on the compression so you shouldn't have to check the valve clearances?

I was thinking about doing the check, as I am completely rebuilding a rack of carbs and I figured it'd be good so I can sync the whole thing.

I did a compression check today and got the following results:

Dry: (right to left) 125 130 120 130
Wet: (right to left) 210 200 210 220

Would those number warrant the need for a check?

Thanks in advance for info ;-)

 

The specs are in the books. If you search Chat, you should find it. I know I have seen them. I think around 145-170? I remember something about a significant change dry/wet not being a good thing. Worn rings?

 

Worn or stuck rings indeed. The oil in the cylinder fills the gap when wet, thus the higher reading. Time for a ring job. (And look up the proper compression per cylinder for your model/year for reference.)

That's a good point about the valve cover gasket, though. I need to replace mine as well. I wonder what I did with those feeler gauges...

 

Those are HUGE numbers! Something's not right. Your dry numbers are at the lower end of the scale, the factory spec for the 750's is:

Minimum: 128psi
Standard: 156psi
Maximum: 171psi

Max. difference between highest and lowest cylinder: 14psi

 

Maybe i put a tad too much oil in for the wet test? (didn't exactly measure.. looked to be about 2 tablespoons give or take)

The dry tests are solid numbers - I redid that a few times.

The wet could be user error.

I have a leaky gasket as well, so I will probably check the clearances anyways. A noob in this part of the bike though ;-)