First time doing a valve check - Is this normal?

Armor · April 21, 2009, 10:38:03 AM

In 4,000 miles your valves can't be that far off. You have to be on the compression stroke. Remove the plugs and put your finger over the hole. Turn over the engine and when you feel presure then you are on the compression stroke.

Paegelow · April 21, 2009, 01:13:57 PM

That's what I did! Where'd you get 4000 miles? It has 6900

EDIT: Oh yeah, I said before they were adjusted 4000 miles ago by the dealer. Or so they told me at least

Paegelow · April 21, 2009, 01:57:56 PM

Ok I tried messing with it some more and I'm confused again. I can't get any of the rockers to slide back over the shims! I got the engine turned to the spot where the rocker can slide back and forth, but when I put the opener shim back on top of the valve, I can't get the rocker to slide back over on top of it. It seems way too tight!

EEL · April 21, 2009, 02:11:30 PM

You need to push down on the closer rocker arm and on the valve a bit. Are you doing all this with the belts on?

Ddan · April 21, 2009, 02:49:27 PM

Quote from: Paegelow on April 21, 2009, 01:57:56 PM
Ok I tried messing with it some more and I'm confused again. I can't get any of the rockers to slide back over the shims! I got the engine turned to the spot where the rocker can slide back and forth, but when I put the opener shim back on top of the valve, I can't get the rocker to slide back over on top of it. It seems way too tight!

Unless the shim is way too tight, you should be able to turn the cam back and forth a bit to find the spot where the rocker will slide over.

Paegelow · April 21, 2009, 03:22:10 PM

OK OK OK I gave it another look, and yeah I just had to push down on the closer rocker a little harder. So I got that figured out.

Yeah, the belts are on for all this.

So I was able to swap my opener shims around and get measurements for both intake valves. Both exhaust openers are still to tight to measure with my smallest shim though, so I'll have to figure that out next.

How do you guys get the closer shim loose from the valve? I wasn't able to move the shim down without the valve moving. Looks like the collets are a little stuck!

EEL · April 21, 2009, 03:46:20 PM

Have you seen the videos from ca-cycleworks? If not, I think you need to do this first.

I want to be as honest as possible with you. I'm worried you're going to drop a valve into the head.

1) You should not be adjusting closers with belts on. You need to spin the cam to test drag.

Please go watch the videos..I'm getting the distinct feeling you havent.

http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/videos/

Paegelow · April 21, 2009, 04:23:05 PM

I have watched the videos... Do you really need to have the belts off?

Speeddog · April 21, 2009, 04:30:43 PM

Quote from: Paegelow on April 21, 2009, 04:23:05 PM
I have watched the videos... Do you really need to have the belts off?

It's really a *tremendous* amount easier with the belts off.

Paegelow · April 21, 2009, 04:38:39 PM

Ok now that I think about it you guys are probably right, it would be a lot easier with the belts off.

So what do you guys use to hold on to the valve stem?

scott_araujo · April 21, 2009, 04:45:34 PM

Quote from: Paegelow on April 20, 2009, 12:17:10 PM
I think what I'm going to do is go to the dealer and just buy one opener shim. I'll get a thin one.

You can just take one out, sand it down, and then use it. No need to buy new ones. Sand on 600 grit wateproof paper on a glass plate with some oil to lubricate and rotate often to make sure you keep it flat. Measure often so you don't go too far.

To hold the valve stems I use a set of surgical forceps with heat shrink tubing over the tips. Take care not to damage the oil seals. Also, if you're at TDC the valve can only go so far. I don't think it can fall all the way into the cylinder.

Scott

Dietrich · April 21, 2009, 04:52:41 PM

I've been adjusting valves with belts on. It is nerve racking about dropping a valve, but my other concern is binding the valve on a piston since you have to move the cam around to get things freed up for such things as moving the rocker over and droping the closer down to free the collets. I'll probably pull the belts next time and try it because the forcepts are a PIA also, and like to slip off when oily.

EEL · April 21, 2009, 05:45:02 PM

YOu dont need squat to keep the valves from falling in. Since ducatis are interference motors you can rest them on the piston. Thats part of the reason I pull the belts.

I only recommend doing this if you can do a valve adjustment blindfolded with one hand..

Paegelow · April 21, 2009, 08:01:05 PM

Couldn't a valve fall in if the piston went down far enough?

ducpainter · April 21, 2009, 08:12:24 PM

Quote from: Paegelow on April 21, 2009, 08:01:05 PM
Couldn't a valve fall in if the piston went down far enough?

Yes, but that's why you only remove closers with the piston at TDC.

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First time doing a valve check - Is this normal?