Valve clearance check

[silverfz]

When you guys check your valve clearances do you have  special feeler gauges? mine and new one i can find are to broad to check the middle of the three on the inlet side, do these have to be genuine yam tools?

[red98]

Standard DRAPER feeler gauges work for me....bit of a fiddly job but no special tools needed, just time consuming....

[dickturpin]

Wonder if some clever Foccer could post a 'how to' with pictures for this maintenance task?

[SkidT]

Just had a look on Pats website to see if there was a guide on there. Sadly there doesn't appear to be.


http://www.cartestsoftware.com/fz1/

[Falcon 269]

You need tapered feeler gauges, not a special Yamaha part - something like these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yato-professio...XQh8NTc9op

As for a 'how to' guide, you have to remove the AIS to get the cam cover off.  Plan on leaving the AIS off if you haven't already removed it.  This is covered on Pat's Site. 

I would suggest that if you're unsure what to do after that you invest a few quid in a Haynes or Clymer manual.  Considering how much you're going to save in labour charges going DIY on all your routine maintenance, it's a small outlay for all the detailed information you need to do the job(s) right.

[PieEater]

The Haynes manual tells you to remove the carbs which I later found out you don't actually need to do :o
From another thread I don't think you have to remove the timing cover either as long as you can turn the rear wheel with the bike in gear and make sure the cam lobes are opposite the relevant buckets when you measure the gaps.

I'm going to be doing my 50k check next month so might take some notes / photos.

[dickturpin]

Thank you PieEater.
Mike, I have the Haynes manual but experience tells me that they suggest so many tasks that aren't always necessary...hence the request from the many knowledgeable folks on here. Photos are not always that clear these days in the Haynes publications.
The AIS was removed long ago when I persuaded Justy to manufacture the caps ??

D

[Falcon 269]

Fair enough.    I'd forgotten that the Haynes manual had the weird idea about removing carbs to do the valves - I have the Clymer manual instead.  With the AIS already out the way, doing the valve clearance checks is a lot quicker job.  Just be sure to remove any debris from the deep plug holes and hose connections to prevent it dropping into the valve gear.

[PieEater]

Last thing - the clearance for the exhaust valves is 0.21 to 0.30 not 0.21 to 0.25 as stated in the Yamaha service manual and the Haynes manual - http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,18746.msg216402.html

[silverfz]

Thanks mike and everyone else, yeah i know how to do it i just didnt have tapered gauges, and it a lot easier with the engine out!! (but i didnt take it out just to do the valve settings)