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Valve Adjustment Step-By-Step

Antarius

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I have reached around 4500 miles, so it was time to do the valves, oil change, chain adjustment and a couple other things. I've done valve adjustments on numerousDecided to take pictures of the valve adjustment procedure for you folk who are on the fence of doing it yourself. This took me about 2 hours including taking pictures, drinking beer, etc. Honestly, rather than paying someone $400 to do the work, set a couple hours of your weekend aside and go for it. You'll surprise yourself and find that it's a lot easier than it looks. There are videos showing much of the same information, but I decided to do a more "wordy" step by step with pictures so people can print it out and use it if needed. Anyhow, let's get going here: Make sure the motorcycle engine is COLD. Let it sit OVERNIGHT before adjusting valves.

First, grab yourself some tools and the Honda Service Manual. This How-To will tell you the real world what you need to do / not need to do -- but if you get stuck, you'll want to refer to the manual and it'll walk you through the process. Plus, it has all of the specs on the valve gap that you'll need. The manual will tell you to remove the lower cowl -- but it is completely unnecessary. I skip that step.

Quick disclaimer: When I say "left side" I mean the NON-THROTTLE side of the bike. If I say "right side," I mean the THROTTLE-SIDE of the bike. In other words, LEFT and RIGHT are described as they are if you were sitting on the motorcycle.

Valve Clearance Specifications
Intake Valves: 0.17mm (+ or - 0.02mm) or 0.007in (+ or - 0.001in)
Exhaust Valves: 0.28mm (+ or - 0.02mm) or 0.011in (+ or - 0.001in)


IMG_0025.jpg
Rags / Towel (on floor and to clean up coolant)
Rubber Mallet
10mm Wrench
14mm Wrench
12mm Wrench
Rachet / Extensions
10mm socket
17mm socket
Size 10 HEX socket
Size 6 HEX socket
Small Flat Head Screwdriver
Medium Phillips Screwdriver
Wire Cutters / Needle Nose Pliers
Feeler Gauges
Torque Wrench
Flashlight
Zip Ties
Drain pan
Honda COOLANT

Now that you've got all that done....

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Put your bike on the center stand, or a rear stand (like I have). It makes it easier to work on the bike, and you'll be going from the right side to left side on a regular basis. It's nice to have the extra room.

Now we need to drain the radiator and take it off to access the valves.

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Remove the set-screw from the cap, and remove the cap. Remove the upper hose, as well as the smaller "overflow" hose behind the cap. Both will drain some fluid, so be sure to put it in your drain pan and put a rag below.

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Now remove the lower radiator hose by unscrewing the clamp as you did the other side. Twist the hose to remove it, or use the small flat blade to "assist" it off. Drain the coolant and zip tie it to the frame facing upward and out of the way.

Now the radiator is mostly empty, you'll need to remove it. There's only two bolts holding it in place.

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First, remove the small 10mm bolt that I / the red arrow is pointing to on the bottom. The bracket is held on by the bolt at the bottom and simply slides onto a post on the bottom of the radiator. There's no "bolt" on the top of the bracket.

IMG_0007_2.jpg
Now remove the 10mm bolt from the top of the radiator on the left side. The right side does not have a bolt. The "right side" of the radiator hanger is just a metal bar that slides through the grommet. Go ahead and slide the radiator (and wiggle it!) TOWARDS THE LEFT SIDE of the bike. This will separate it from the post and it will come off. Don't pull too hard, we need to disconnect some wires and plugs.

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You'll be disconnecting this plug (I used my finger for it), as well as a hose from the bracket the bottom arrow is pointing at, and a "clip" that is inserted in the hole. All you do is squeeze them and pull them through, pretty simple.

IMG_0009_2.jpg
Here's the parts that stay on the bike. The plug obviously plugs into, well, the plug. The arrow on the left shows the clip that snaps into the "hole" on the above picture, same with the arrow on the right, and the arrow on the bottom is pointing to the vent tube which is held by the circular piece on the above picture. It's easy once you get there, I promise.

You're more than halfway done! Kind of.... now we need to remove the valve cover.

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Use the smaller HEX head (size 6) socket, and remove the three valve cover bolts. Be sure not to lose the rubber grommet inside the hole.

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Be careful not to damage the rubber gasket. It's pretty strong, but just take notice of it. I use a rubber mallet to remove the valve cover gasket to avoid prying on anything.

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Congrats! Now you can see the rocker arms, valve springs, locking nuts and adjustment screws!

Each cylinder will need to be done "one at a time" to check the valves. The valves need to be in a specific position to check them -- technically they need to be TOP DEAD CENTER on the COMPRESSION stroke. Never mind all that jazz though, there's a very simple method to make sure you are in the right position. So lets get to it.

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Remove both "access covers" from the left side of the bike. The big one is a 10mm HEX, the small is a 6mm HEX. The big one covers the crank shaft bolt -- which is a 17mm bolt. You will only use this to "turn the crank" to get the motor into position to adjust the valves for each cylinder. The smaller one is a sight-window, which will let you see marks to make sure the alignment is correct.

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Remove the camshaft inspection cover from the right side of the motorcycle. It's a plastic-type material, so be careful when removing it (and when reassembling it!). You will also use the guides behind this cover to make sure the motor is in the correct position.

So now, I'll try to explain briefly the process before I add pictures:

What you will be doing is putting a 17mm socket on the LEFT side bolt -- the one behind the big cover a couple pictures up. You will turn that nut COUNTER-CLOCKWISE while looking at the picture below.

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There are marks on the flywheel inside there that will show up and say "1/T" or 2/T" (some say 2/S or 1/S -- the 1 or 2 is what's important). In either case, there will be a flat and straight very obvious LINE below the numbers (the number is telling you what cylinder you're lining up). You line that line up with the CENTER of the notch on the right.

Got it? Okay, great! You have now moved cylinder NUMBER ONE to TOP DEAD CENTER. You now need to make sure it's on the compression stroke. How do we do that? Remember that plastic-like cover we just removed from the RIGHT side of the motorcycle?

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Make sure the line on the inside of the inspection cover lines up with the raised mark placed on the outside of the cylinder itself. The "outside mark" you should be using is the one on the bottom, or farthest to the rear of the motorcycle. Some manuals have this information incorrect. In a lot of motorcycles -- mine included -- there's a "range," in other words, two lines on the camshaft itself. Just center them over that mark. This isn't rocket science here, so just take your time and do your best, it will be good enough.

If they don't line up, go back up a step and rotate the crankshaft with that 17mm socket 180 degrees and LINE up the stuff on the LEFT side AGAIN (make sure it's the #1 cylinder, not #2) and then come back to the RIGHT side of the bike and check.

It's okay if it takes you three or four tries, just keep turning the crank clockwise until you find it, then go counterclockwise to fine-tune it and make sure you've got the #1 --- mark lined up on the left. Check the RIGHT side inspection window to see if it the line is there, and if so, you're good to go.

I said it once before, but I'll say it again: The left side nut only moves the piston up and down through each "stroke." When you line up the "line" just below the "1/T/S" mark, you're merely placing the piston all the way to the top of the cylinder. The right side cover that you removed -- the plastic one -- makes sure that you're on the compression stroke. So you have to keep going back and for worth between sides of the bike until BOTH SIDES ARE LINED UP. Okay, got it? Now it's time to check the valve!

IMG_0018_2.jpg
Grab your feeler gauge -- read the specification, and make sure you are using the correct marking. I use inches, not mm. Whichever you use, make sure you are using the SAME MEASUREMENT TOOL on all the valves. Do not use INCHES on one, MM on another, etc.

Since we've lined up Cylinder #1 -- which is ON THE LEFT -- we're going to check those first. The valve is under the valve spring there. The ones "on top" are your intake valves, the ones on the "bottom" (farther forward towards the front wheel) are your exhaust valves. There are four valves per cylinder, so the two TOP LEFT ones are #1 cylinders INTAKE valves and the two BOTTOM LEFT valves are the #1 cylinders EXHAUST valves.

Grab the correct size feeler gauge and slide it between the bottom of the rocker arm and the top of the valve spring seat. I can't take a picture of it, but you'll see it when you get there. Use your flashlight. If it fits, but it's real tight, that means the valve is a tiny bit tight. If it slips right in and has very little "drag" on the feeler gauge, that means it's too loose. You want a fair amount of drag on the feeler gauge, but not a lot.

The valve specifications will have a RANGE of what's acceptable. Since we're here, lets just reset them right back to the factory perfect specification, no reason not to.

IMG_0019_2.jpg
This picture is me adjusting the #1 cylinder inside EXHAUST valve. (The arrows are pointing to Cylinder #2's valves). The method is the same for all the valves. Loosen the lock nut with a 10mm wrench. Use your flat head screwdriver -- left makes the valve "loose," right makes it "tighter." Depending on what your valves were at, will determine which way to turn it. It's simple trial and error here, using the feeler gauge, screwdriver and wrench until you achieve the factory specification. Tighten the locknut when you're done, but don't over tighten it. Make sure to check the valve again after you tighten the nut as the screw can move.

I recommend doing both of cylinder #1's INTAKE valves first. Then grab your torque wrench, and tighten them to the specified 14ft-lbs. Then do cylinder #1's EXHAUST valves next. When done with that, grab your torque wrench and tighten them to spec as well. Remember to check ALL of cylinder #1's valves when you are done. Make sure they are "good to go" when you say they are "good to go."

Now you need to do cylinder #2.

You will go back to the LEFT SIDE of the motorcycle where the 17mm crankshaft wrench is. This time you will turn it until you see 2/T/S --- in the window on the left. Line it up just like you did the #1, then remember to check the RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE and look in the camshaft inspection hole and make sure it's lined up there too.

Repeat the same steps above for Cylinder #2 as you did for Cylinder #1. Be sure to double check everything before you're "done."

IMG_0022_2.jpg
Place the valve cover back on the head. Make sure the gasket is in line and not sticking out anywhere. Put the top bolt in first, then bottom LEFT, then bottom RIGHT. This will keep it aligned. Do not over tighten, spec is only 7ft-lbs I believe.

Be sure to re-attach the crankcase breather tube.

Congrats! You have officially adjusted your valves! Now put all your inspection covers back on!

Now all you need to do is reattach your radiator in the opposite steps you removed it! Be sure to plug the fan wires in BEFORE you mount it, or it'll be a real pain in the but. Make sure all the hoses are reconnected and tight (but do not over tighten!)

Grab your factory Honda HP Coolant and fill the radiator to the neck. Leave the top off and start the motorcycle. The motorcycle will idle and it will cause some bubbles and "burps" to come out of the radiator. It will start to over-flow a little, that's okay. Rev the motor a little bit to help "burp" the air out of the system. After a minute or two of this, turn the engine off and the fluid level will likely drop. Refill to the neck, and repeat process. Do this until two or three times, until there's no more bubbles coming out. Refill to the neck and put cap on.

You have done it, you are all done!

Final note (edited):
Quick edit for anyone who does this. (I added it to the top, but I'll write it here too).

In most cases you may find that your valves are slightly TIGHT prior to adjusting them. They may be within spec, but on the tight side of spec. As a valve gets "loose," it gets louder. As in, more actual "ticking" noise coming from the top end of the motor.

Why am I telling you this? If you take the time to ensure your valve clearance is set properly, the odds are you will have INCREASED (loosened) the valve clearances from their prior position, so you may hear a slight INCREASE in top end engine noise. Don't panic, trust that you did your job correctly. If it's excessively off, it will be excessively LOUD as well as alter the idle and the way the engine runs under load (as in, how much power it makes).

Bottom line: If your valves were "tight" prior to adjusting them back to spec, expect them to be slightly louder than they were before. That's completely normal. You won't harm anything (well, generally speaking) with an overly LOOSE valve; But you will cause all sorts of problems with a TIGHT valve.

Take the time to check, tighten, recheck, recheck, torque, recheck and recheck the valve clearance before buttoning up the valve cover. No matter the "sound," you will KNOW, without a doubt, it is in spec. Remember, USE THE SAME MEASUREMENT METHOD FOR ALL VALVES.














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No problemo, hopefully someone uses it. It took me a while to post it, lol.
 
Superb job - I was thinking of doing that when I got to 8000miles - you beat me to it.

The most informative "how to" I have seen in a while!
 
There's better pictures in the Garage section, but a little more written detail here. On YouTube there's a pretty well produced how-to video as well, but it's not quite as in depth -- still very good.

Between the three out there, hopefully we'll persuade someone to become a mechanic!
 
My manual says the first valve adjustment should be done at 4k. Then 8000 mile intervals from that point forward.

How curious! The Shop manual has the first inspection at 8,000 miles and the same for every one after that.

Is this in your owner's manual? I can't honestly say I remember what was in mine, but I find that 4,000 mile number to be rather strange and not corresponding with any valve checks I recall seeing.


No complaints by me to follow along with your great step by step anyway, though :D
 
How curious! The Shop manual has the first inspection at 8,000 miles and the same for every one after that.

Is this in your owner's manual? I can't honestly say I remember what was in mine, but I find that 4,000 mile number to be rather strange and not corresponding with any valve checks I recall seeing.


No complaints by me to follow along with your great step by step anyway, though :D

You know what? I must have just mixed up the numbers. It's common for motorcycles to have an EARLIER valve adjustment in the beginning and then a larger interval afterwords, so I must have checked the "check mark" and figured the valves were at 4000.

Closer inspection, you are correct. Both the service manual and the owners manual say 8000. Oh well, I'll do it twice by 8000 haha. It's a short enough process that it doesn't really matter, and coolant at $7.00 a bottle isn't the end of the world.
 
By the way: Quick edit for anyone who does this. (I added it to the top, but I'll write it here too).

In most cases you may find that your valves are slightly TIGHT prior to adjusting them. They may be within spec, but on the tight side of spec. As a valve gets "loose," it gets louder. As in, more actual "ticking" noise coming from the top end of the motor.

Why am I telling you this? If you take the time to ensure your valve clearance is set properly, the odds are you will have INCREASED (loosened) the valve clearances from their prior position, so you may hear a slight INCREASE in top end engine noise. Don't panic, trust that you did your job correctly. If it's excessively off, it will be excessively LOUD as well as alter the idle and the way the engine runs under load (as in, how much power it makes).

Bottom line: If your valves were "tight" prior to adjusting them back to spec, expect them to be slightly louder than they were before. That's completely normal. You won't harm anything (well, generally speaking) with an overly LOOSE valve; But you will cause all sorts of problems with a TIGHT valve.

Take the time to check, tighten, recheck, recheck, torque, recheck and recheck the valve clearance before buttoning up the valve cover. No matter the "sound," you will KNOW, without a doubt, it is in spec. Remember, USE THE SAME MEASUREMENT METHOD FOR ALL VALVES.
 
This is great! The youtube video version is great too, but this works better for step-by-step checking on a tablet while doing the work.
 
My manual says the first valve adjustment should be done at 4k. Then 8000 mile intervals from that point forward.
yep. same here. wonderful DIY guide. exactly what i was asking for a very long time.

Thank you!
 
There's better pictures in the Garage section, but a little more written detail here. On YouTube there's a pretty well produced how-to video as well, but it's not quite as in depth -- still very good.

Between the three out there, hopefully we'll persuade someone to become a mechanic!

+1 - There's a lot of really good info floating around on this board and YouTube. For the short time this bike has been around, the answers are coming before most of the questions are even asked.

Well done, it'll help many people down the line. :cool:

trey
 
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