Valve Clearances

82 XJ650J Maxim
I’ve checked my clearances three different times with gauges that move in 0.02mm steps. (0.102, 0.127, 0.152, 0.178, 0.203, 0.229, 0.254mm)

Following @chacal extensive catalog clearances notes:
Valve Clearance Intake: 0.11 - 0.15mm (= 0.0043” - 0.0059")
Valve Clearance Exhaust: 0.16 - 0.20mm (= 0.0063” - 0.0079")

My “no” below means gauge it wouldn’t slide in.

I1: 0.178 no, 0.152 firm drag, 0.127 slight drag
I2: 0.254 no, 0.229 firm, 0.203 slight drag
I3: 0.203 tight, 0.178 slight drag
I4: 0.178 no, 0.152 slight drag

E1: 0.178 no, 0.152 slight drag
E2: 0.178 no, 0.152 slight drag
E3: 0.203 no, 0.178 tight, 0.152 slight drag
E4: 0.178 no, 0.152 slight drag

This tells me intake cyl 2&3 need adjustment, this seems clear to me.
The Exhaust I’m not so sure: the .178 would not slide in, and .152 would. Am I safe leaving the Exhaust? I assume the difference between .178 and .152 would leave me around .16 keeping me in spec. Am I right?
Thanks!

 

Seems fine to me.

remember that the lash will decrease as the valves wear into the seat. So if you’re going to cheat, cheat toward the higher end of spec

 

Dan,
do you feel that I should adjust my clearances on Intakes on 2&3? PO (said he was Yamaha mechanic) gave me the Haynes shop manual he had. I understand the manual was wrong for XJ650J, and showed .16-.20 for intakes, when should be .11-.15. So I suspect PO set spec in the .16-.20 range, I’ve only put 500miles on since bought it and it been sitting for two years.
Appreciate your response. Will want to add bucket tool to my order with Chacal for my carb rebuild kit.
Thanks!

 

Yes, it looks like they could stand to go up a size based on your numbers. Have you been able to pull them out to see what size is in there, or are you waiting for the bucket tool?

Yes, I would say so.

 

Have to order the bucket tool. I’ll be adding that to my carb rebuild order with XJ4ever. Thanks!