1. Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

Valve Clearance Help!

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Palmer650#2, Mar 19, 2016.

  1. Palmer650#2

    Palmer650#2 Member

    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Middletown, MD
    Hey Gurus! Need your expertise. I'm checking valve clearances w my older set of K&D Feeler gauges. My gauge sizes/choices are: .051 mm, .064mm, .076 mm, .101 mm, .127 mm, .152 mm, .177 mm, etc. w no sizes in between.

    My measured clearances are freaking me out/confusing! Bike has 9k on the odometer.

    EXHAUST:
    #1 Clearance .101 mm w/ 275 shim
    #2 Clearance .152 mm w/ 265 shim
    #3 Clearance .076 mm w/ 275 shim
    #4 Clearance .127 mm w/ 280 shim

    INTAKE:
    #1 Clearance .076 mm w/ 270 shim
    #2 Clearance .038 mm w/ 270 shim
    #3 Clearance .076 mm w/ 270 shim
    #4 Clearance .076 mm w/ 275 shim

    With these installed intake shims I'm off the chart right? Please help!

    Thanks Gurus!
    Chris
     
    Palmer650#2, Mar 19, 2016
    #1
  2. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    13,199
    Likes Received:
    3,855
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Great North Woods
    you go thinner with the shims not thicker
    valve clear.PNG
    exhaust is front bank intake is rear bank
    EXHAUST:
    #1 Clearance .101 mm w/ 275 shim to 265 = .201 mm
    #2 Clearance .152 mm w/ 265 shim to 260 =.202 mm
    #3 Clearance .076 mm w/ 275 shim to 265 =.176 mm
    #4 Clearance .127 mm w/ 280 shim to 275 = .177mm

    INTAKE:
    #1 Clearance .076 mm w/ 270 shim to 265 =.126 mm
    #2 Clearance .038 mm w/ 270 shim to 260 = .138 mm
    #3 Clearance .076 mm w/ 270 shim to 265 =.126 mm
    #4 Clearance .076 mm w/ 275 shim to 270 =.126 mm


    get a metric KD tools 2274 feeler gauges any auto parts store can order you a set

    edit on exhaust #3 thanks K-moe
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2016
    XJ550H, Mar 19, 2016
    #2
    jmilliken likes this.
  3. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,613
    Likes Received:
    6,707
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    You are using SAE gauges with metric equivalents etched on them. Metric feeler gauges only go to the thousandth's place. Round your figures to two significant place values and it will make sense.

    After rounding your measurements:

    EXHAUST:
    #1 Clearance .10 mm w/ 275 shim- needs a 265
    #2 Clearance .15 mm w/ 265 shim - needs a 260
    #3 Clearance .08 mm w/ 275 shim - needs a 265
    #4 Clearance .13 mm w/ 280 shim - needs a 275

    INTAKE:
    #1 Clearance .08 mm w/ 270 shim - needs a 265
    #2 Clearance .04 mm w/ 270 shim - needs a 260
    #3 Clearance .08 mm w/ 270 shim - needs a 265
    #4 Clearance .08 mm w/ 275 shim - needs a 270

    None of your valves are extraordinarily far out, but it is clear that no valve adustments have been done to it in a very long time (if ever).

    Also note that you can stack the feeler gauges to get those sizes that are in-between the others, though that only is of use when using a set of metric feeler gauges since the SAE equivalents don't split the difference when stacked. Get yourself a set of KD tools 2274 feeler gauges.


    BTW, how did you measure 0.038 mm (#2 intake) if your thinnest gauge is 0.051 mm?
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2016
    k-moe, Mar 19, 2016
    #3
    XJ550H likes this.
  4. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,613
    Likes Received:
    6,707
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    Double check your figure for #3 exhaust.
     
    k-moe, Mar 19, 2016
    #4
  5. Palmer650#2

    Palmer650#2 Member

    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Middletown, MD
    Thanks guys! K-Moe, I did have one smaller gauge at .038. Sorry! But I'm going to get the 2274 set you recommended for increased accuracy. Mines the No. 161 set.

    Speaking of accuracy... I was reading the chart wrong. Instead of ".076" I was reading it as ".75" and getting overwhelmed with how bad the situation was looking. A decimal point goes a long way. :)

    What is the best way to get shims around here?
     
    Palmer650#2, Mar 19, 2016
    #5
  6. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,613
    Likes Received:
    6,707
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    Start a conversation with Hogfiddles. He runs one of the shim pools. If he doesn't have what you need Chacal has new shims in stock.
     
    k-moe, Mar 19, 2016
    #6

Share This Page