Thoughts....

Hi.
I own 1982 xj650 maxim, with 8,000 miles, I am an auto mechanic by trade and a computer person now. I have printed out every pertinent article and read them forward and backwards, all from this web site. Had a small electrical issue but read, read and read some more, and have figured that one out. I have done the carbs, (SET THE FUEL LEVEL, setting the float height just don't cut it, learn that the hard way) done the petcock, (just flat out replaced that ), done the tires, done the brakes and hoses, done the fuses, got the parts for the clutch, colortune coming this week (yea), will be doing the steering because it aint like butter, it's a bit rough and will be doing the wheel bearings, all this pretty straight forward, I am mechanically inclined and love working on this bike and it don't run bad at all, could run better but not bad at all.....

I have the Haynes manual... took a pic of the manual valve clearance but it came out blurry, sorry....

vin #JYA5N8003CA019304
I am right to say that according to the vin this is a
1982 XJ650 J Maxim... right? ( this definitely will make a difference for clearances right?)

My questions and want input... I checked the valve clearance, have not checked the shim sizes, (that will be done tonight) but here are my clearances;

intake 1) .004 exhaust .005
intake 2) .005 exhaust .007
intake 3) .003 exhaust .007
intake 4) .004 exhaust .005

now according to the manual, under the section "All other models" inlets (.004-.006) exhaust(.006-.008)
and
the XJ650 (UK) and XJ650 J inlet and exhaust (.006-.008)
besides #3 intake at .003, all the rest of the numbers are in spec with the all other models...
so is this manual correct with its numbers for clearances for each styles? (I have seen errors in the manual)

Besides 3#, would you bother adjusting??? Please would love input.....

I want to give a big SHOUT OUT to Chacal (Len), for getting the parts I needed, I have read on here that you can go to ebay and the like, but I have to say everything I ordered was in my hands in less that 3 days... it was awesome... I ordered the seal for the gas cap from somewhere else 2 weeks ago and just got an email stating that it was finally on its way....dang!!!!!!
So a HUGE SHOUT OUT AGAIN to Chacal for having EVERYTHING I needed in stock, definetily hit the icon, upper right corner, if your looking for parts....

And lastly, I had no qualms donating to this site.. I wish to say THANK YOU to the "Heavy Hitters" on this site, a lot of damn good knowledge floating around.......

Gotta Love the XJ...

Luis G

 

1982-83 XJ650 Maxim USA: 5N8
did you read information overload? in it you will find links to valve adjustment
this is under airhead valve adjustment
http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/airhead-valve-adjustment-with-pics.14827/
"Per chacal, all the XJs have the same valve clearance spec except the "X" models and the XJ1100."

intake 0.11~0.15 mm
exhaust 0.16~0.20 mm
according to my phone unit converter this is the spec numbers
.11=.004 - .15=.0059

.16=.0062 - .20=.007

also church of clean is a must read ,

 

Correct:
Clearance ranges are :

Intake: .11-.15mm
Exhaust: .16-.20mm

Your clearances-- we're not gonna even bother looking at numbers til you give them to us in MM.

 

Good to know.. Thanks..
yes I have read church of clean
but have not read in it's entirety information overload (my first mortal sin)
reporting my clearances in thousands and not millimeters (my second mortal sin) (never said I was going to heaven)
intake 1) 0.10mm exhaust 0.13mm
intake 2) 0.13mm exhaust 0.18mm
intake 3) 0.08mm exhaust 0.18mm
intake 4) 0.10mm exhaust 0.13mm

 

Yes #3 has to be done

 

Number two intake is good

number two exhaust is good

number three exhaust is good

the rest must be swapped

 

^^^
And by swapped - it also means it is possible to do the shim dosey-doh:

Go through and verify what size shim is in each position.
Set yourself up with a simple spreadsheet (or some dear soul here will post an existing one that is floating about). You may be able to do the doesy-doh with shims and positions and only need to buy one or two. Don't want to buy them? - Contact Dave (hogfiddles) he runs a shim pool - send him your unneeded ones and he sends you what you need.

 

this might help..

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/shim-calculator-excel.46030/

 

FYI: If you have the side covers the correct valve clearances are located on the inside of the left cover. Also, don't rotate the engine without having a shim in every bucket. Rotate, measure, remove, replace, repeat. You'll need a extra shim marked "blank" to shim swap if the cams are still located.

Gary H.

@k-moe: thanks. I should've proofread that better.

 

That should be rotate, measure, remove (note shim size), replace, repeat. Measuring after removal can lead to measuring a shim that is not fully seated, and therefore getting a false clearance measurement.
I like to go through all the valves once for measurement and a second time for finding the shim size. After a bit of practice it gets easier and a body can start planning ahead so that you remove a shim to check its size, and measure another shim during the same crank rotation.

 

Good inputs and I appreciate it!!
Hogfiddles figured as much that was the road I had to go down, thanks for the conformation..
rocs82650, dont know how many times I have taken the side covers off and looked inside them and say, ahh, yea, thats cool.... nice little tidbit, thanks..
and I did read a post earlier about rotating without a shim and marring the cam lobe
k-moe, right there with you, went through measured again, and then popped the shim the second time around and quickly realized remove and measure during the same crank..
got ALL the shim sizes and I know what I need...took no more than hours time or so...
I will say and I am most certain it was hogfiddles who said it but I could be mistaken, definitely check the position of the bucket so if need be spin around by finger before placing the tool on.. I did it twice, once in the beginning and once at the end.....put the tool on and realize I had no access to the slot to pop the shim...duh
Thanks again..

 

Yup, I said it............I think I also said, at that time, that's one of the reasons I like the ziptie method, too. I don't have to worry about orienting the slot. Once the bucket is down, I can spin it freely.

 

When you get good, you will notice that you can always do 2 shims at once (1 intake, 1 exhaust) another plus to the zip tie methox