Valve Clearance Guide

Forum rules
Please can you post items for sale or wanted in the correct For Sale section. Items / bikes for sale here will be removed without warning. Reasons for this are in the FAQ. Thanks
Haydn
Settled in member
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun May 06, 2012 10:03 am
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by Haydn »

Quick question. Ive checked the valve clearances on the rear today. This is what I found.

Cylinder 1

Inlet

0.20 - 0.18

Exhaust

0.30 - 0.33


Cylinder 3

Inlet

0.21 - 0.19

Exhaust

0.30 - 0.31

Now i thought the clearances would get smaller as the engine wears so why are all mine either on the upper tolerance or too large?? It has been a track bike for many years raced in Formula 400, would anyone have done this intentionally?

Cheers
Haydn
User avatar
CMSMJ1
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 7153
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 9:42 am
Bike owned: NC30-No9
Location: Chesterfield, United Kingdom
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by CMSMJ1 »

yes - the HRC manual has the clearances set pretty loose..though the exhausts on yours are bloody loose! I bet it is a noisy mofo.
IMPERATOR REX ANGLORUM

The V4 is the law..

NC30 - No9 - my old mate
Haydn
Settled in member
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun May 06, 2012 10:03 am
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by Haydn »

That's the strange thing, it isn't particularly noisy, sounds really well. I'm only checking as I had the carbs off. The tolerance is obviously there for a reason so is it worth re shimming to bring it in, the engine is spotless inside with no signs of wear due to loose clearances. I did check the clearance between cam and rocker and they are all bang on so I think somebody may have set the clearances that way in the past.

The HRC tolerances are:

0.15-0.20 for inlet. Making it 0.01 over on cylinder 3.
0.25-0.30 for exhaust. Which makes it 0.03 over on cylinder 1.

Appreciate your input

Haydn
User avatar
porndoguk
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 3293
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:17 pm
Bike owned: NC30
Location: Middle England
Contact:
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by porndoguk »

Carbon build up on the valve seats will cause the loosening/increase in clearance
NC30 & NC23 33BHP Restrictors For Sale
£25 Inc P&P and donation to 400GB PM for more details


http://www.bikerstraining.com

Like us on Facebook for more information - First Bike on Scene - Emergency Response Skills - UK
Haydn
Settled in member
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun May 06, 2012 10:03 am
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by Haydn »

The bike has been running excessively rich for some time so that may have contributed to it.
User avatar
CMSMJ1
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 7153
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 9:42 am
Bike owned: NC30-No9
Location: Chesterfield, United Kingdom
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by CMSMJ1 »

Haydn wrote:That's the strange thing, it isn't particularly noisy, sounds really well. I'm only checking as I had the carbs off. The tolerance is obviously there for a reason so is it worth re shimming to bring it in, the engine is spotless inside with no signs of wear due to loose clearances. I did check the clearance between cam and rocker and they are all bang on so I think somebody may have set the clearances that way in the past.

The HRC tolerances are:

0.15-0.20 for inlet. Making it 0.01 over on cylinder 3.
0.25-0.30 for exhaust. Which makes it 0.03 over on cylinder 1.

Appreciate your input

Haydn

You surely mean the finger and the shim? :ugeek:
IMPERATOR REX ANGLORUM

The V4 is the law..

NC30 - No9 - my old mate
Haydn
Settled in member
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun May 06, 2012 10:03 am
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by Haydn »

You've read that wrong. You didn't read the post before. I also checked between the cam and rocker after just out of curiosity, I thought the previous owner may of been mistaken by the Haynes manual photo and set the valve clearances between the rocker and cam. The measurements all came within the tolerances so I was suspicious thats all.

Thanks for the help
Haydn
hawk2993
Settled in member
Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:29 am
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by hawk2993 »

Does one have to replace the crankcase O-ring? I read in the haynes' that a new one must be used
User avatar
Cammo
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 4505
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 12:35 am
Bike owned: NC30
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by Cammo »

hawk2993 wrote:Does one have to replace the crankcase O-ring? I read in the haynes' that a new one must be used
You mean the timing inspection cover o-ring? Probably not absolutely necessary if yours looks fine.

Personally though I would replace it as it could be 20+ years old and it's only a few bucks new: http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/part ... mber_6957/
"It's just a ride" Bill Hicks
bizzle3
Settled in member
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:09 am
Location: South London
Re: Valve Clearance Guide

Post by bizzle3 »

hi
First of all thank you viper for this detailed guide it looks simple enough to do, my question is, excuse me if i missed it in previous post (ive been through all 18 pages) what to do if your valve clearances do not match up? some people have addressed this issue but nobody has said anything about the procedure to rectify this? im worried my exhaust valve are out. :|

Post Reply