Best bike workshop in Auckland? Valve adjustments

[jimmy 2006]

firstly this is for a suzuki rmz250 2006.

I have measured my valve clearances, and the front exaust valves (correct me if i am wrong!) seem tight. from the manual it looks like they can go down to 0.1, from my gauges i believe they are about 0.08.

so i am looking for a workshop to do the work, i have been recommended spectrum in takapuna, but they are so busy it would not be done before next friday......

closer to takapuna the better, i would take it out to Puke to Mrmotorcycles but its a bit of a drive from the north shore.

where do you get work done that you can't do yourself?

or if anyone knows how to adjust the clearances and wants some beers to show me how it's done!!!

[Disco Dan]

Go see Kerry at Motohaus - westernsprings road

only noobs use others..

[cheese]

Mt eden..... Ba ha ha ha JOKES!!!!!

Not sure but what about Colemans? they are near your house.

What about the Yamaha shop on the shore? They would work on a Suzi wouldn't they?

[jimmy 2006]

[QUOTE=cheese;1514561]Mt eden..... Ba ha ha ha JOKES!!!!!QUOTE]



only if i wanted it to blow up afterwards!

[chop]

Watson Racing in Kumeu. Matt is on to it. Never heard or seen a bad thing bout his work

[jimmy 2006]

cheers chop. will look him up.

[barty5]

go see Troy down at motoworld north shore 3 D Saturn Pl Albany Auckland 0-9-442 5052

[Buddy L]

The exuast side (front) or the intake side (back)?
we messured the exuast valves on your bike James, and one of them was over size and the other was fine.
Left hand exaust cam clearance was larger then spec tolerance
Right hand exaust cam clearance was within spec tolerance

The intake valves were to tight for my feeler gauge to measure.( But will be getting another gauge tomorrow) as the gauge didn't go down to the correct mesurances.

If their is no clearance between the cam lobe and the valve tappet, then they will not close propperly and preform as desired.

If their is too much clearance then, the valve will not open fully and also not preform as desired.

Correct me if im wrong as im still learning as well.

[jimmy 2006]

Hey Cam,

Cheers for the comments...

i checked the manual and it said that we should have been checking the valve clearances with the cams at TDC. ??? (again please correct me if i am wrong) this is going to sound absolutely crap, but here goes my explanation. it said line up the lines to check TDC, then the cams are pretty much sideways. then check clearances. where as we had the cams pointing vertical to check them..... (does this even make a difference??? not sure)

my kx125 was so simple, all i am concerned about is doing damage that is going to hurt me in the pocket. Cam, so you think it is sweet to keep riding it as it is? at least for the weekend? ??
spectrum can do it next week if thats the case.


the fancy gauge i bought is actually the wrong one so i need to go return it and pick up the right one.

[jimmy 2006]

go see Troy down at motoworld north shore 3 D Saturn Pl Albany Auckland 0-9-442 5052

sorry to diss troy, but he gives me crap service.
i have looked at buying 2 bikes off him and each time got put off by his attitude.

[Steam]

the fancy gauge i bought is actually the wrong one so i need to go return it and pick up the right one.

Aren't clearance feelers about $6 from supercheap?

[jimmy 2006]

yea but wrong sizes for what i needed.

[Quicker_with_age]

Its really easy to adjust the valve clearances, You could do it yourself if you wanted. The idea with the valve clearances is that they leave the clearance as small as possible so that the valves open as much as possible but also leave the clearance big enough so that when the bike is hot and everything expands that the valves are not staying slightly open. I am just doing my bike at the moment as a matter of fact and both my inlet valves are slightly tight and one exhaust is in spec but the other one has too much clearance, Go figure...
When you check your clearances the bike doesnt have to be at TDC just make sure the cam lobe is pointing up when you take your measurements if that makes sence. Good luck.

[Buddy L]

i don't think you will have a problem with your bike, as you have been riding it like it is for "X'' amount of rides. not knowing if anything is wrong.
I will have to have another check at my cam's as well, they might not be a exact tear drop shape after all.

[camchain]

I've just re-shimmed my valves and found it a very straight forward job. I was worried about getting the cams timed right, but this is easy to do. Happy to give you step by step on how I did it if you like (about 6 steps). I'm glad I did it myself, it's easier to do than it looks at first glance. Fear not your 4 stroke engine.

Was going to take it to a shop but mechanics from 2 local dealers (Mt Eden) were very unhelpful re ballpark figure on hours/cost to do it. I was slow and v careful 1st time. Next time I reckon inside an hour half easy. If you get the shop to do it can you post cost on here? Curious to know.

As far as cam position for checking clearances goes, as long as the lobes are well clear of the top of the buckets (part that cam lobe pushes directly onto), which you can see visually, and they will be off when at TDC compression stroke anyway, you'll get an accurate feeler reading. The valves stay closed a few degrees back or forward off TDC anyway. You only have to be aware if you have a valve lifting auto decompressor on an exhaust valve (If you have one, its the fancy little contraption on the end of your exhaust cam. If it's engaged you'll get a false and very large clearance on one of your exhaust valves. keep rotating engine to observe when it's not engaged. (Also, removing spark plug makes it easier to turn engine over easily and accurately)

BTW and FYI other 4 strokers: Just read some interesting info on modern valves. Standard OEM titanium valves are apparently not as reliable as stainless. The stems are welded to the heads and can fail at the weld (stainless are one piece). Also hardness layer is also very thin, hence need for lots of adjustments once through layer.