Help! Valve job gone bad!!!!!

[uclabiker06]

Hello and Hi,

So it was time for the old valves to be done at 12K.  I stuck an allen key inside the vertical hole (where the spark plug goes) to keep the valves from droping while I fit a new closing shim on.  Then as I was reveling in my sucessfull attempt to get the keepers on to the valve I turned the engine turning tool to get to tdc!  However I forgot to get the allen out. Now, my question is: Can I turn the tool a bit backwards clockwise so that I can get the jammed allen out?  I know that the tool is supossed to be turned only in one direction.  Hopefully I didn't do to much damage to the aluminium casing or mess up the timing.....   Any advice greatly needed

[Düb Lüv]

Take your other spark plug out if you haven't and carefully put the bike in 6th gear and slowly spin the wheel the the direction you want. Should be very easy to spin the engine in case you're worried about damaging your tool.

When doing valves, I tighten a small zip tie around the valve above the valve seal on the valve stem. Keeps the valve from dropping, also if you use a small enough zip tie you can rotate the engine over without problems in case you have to pull the shims off again. I haven't been able to find the plastic forceps like Chris @CA , but I really haven't looked for them.

[uclabiker06]

Thanks Dub Luv, got it out! That was not cool! Funny that you mention the zip tie b/c that thought did cross my mind.  However, you leave me with a question: how do you take the zip tie off the valve?  Okay so I will put it in 6th and spin it backwards a bit....I really hope I didn't do any damage.  I knew something was wrong from the second I started spinning the engine tool.  For that reason I went slowly, but still it was too late.  Thanks Dub Luv.  

[Düb Lüv]

To cut the zip tie I just use diagonal cutters and cut the ratcheting part.

If you caused scratches on the piston head you'll be fine. I work at a vw/Audi repair shop where broken timing belts seen almost a weekly trend and even with gouges to some extent are still safe.

The allen wrench shouldn't have damage the threads, but you can chase the threads with an old spark plug with grease on the threads to be safe.

[uclabiker06]

Well thats good to know!  I was actually worried that there is some coating or something on the piston that may have been scratched but like you said probably not since it was an allen.  Okay good to know that tip about chasing the threads?  So you see that stuff on a weekly basis huh?  U a mechanic or somethin? or just a wannabe like me? 

[Düb Lüv]

A little bit of everything. Mechanic, used parts, helping customers out. Whatever to get the job done.

[extra330]

The zip tie method will work but is really unnecessary. It's a far better approach to just remove the belts and just rotate the crank until the cylinder you're working on is at TDC. The valves will only drop a little before they touch the top of the piston.

cheers
Mike