Author Topic: Valve check  (Read 1297 times)

seabeegt

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Valve check
« on: March 31, 2014, 07:13:59 am »
So I just passed the 10k mark on the odo and I figure its about time to check/adjust the valves on the ol' pig. So, I've had my hands knee deep into a 530excr so im not completely blind, but I'd sure like to find a quality tutorial. Anyone got a good lead on one?  ???
Shay with tha guage and Nilla with tha nine.... word to your mutha.

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Dogfarm

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2014, 04:22:34 pm »
I just did the valves on my newly acquired 2009. The PO said he had done them before. The bike has about 11K miles. The exhaust were at the top of the spec but the intakes were a little tight,  just below the spec range. I put the intakes at the top of the spec with new shims. The PO gave me a hot cams kit so I had all the shims needed on hand.

I have done valves on a few other bikes (KLX250s, DR200 and KLR 650). I found the 690r to be easiest of all of the bikes. The hardest part, for me, was getting the valve cover in and out of the frame. You have to tilt and/or position it just so and it falls into place. Using the rocker arm bolts to extract the rocker arm shaft worked very well. I put in a new spark plug while I had the bike apart.

Here is the link to instructions I followed: http://ktm690.info/index.php/Valve_Check. I also watched this video: . The video is sort of funny but you might get dizzy watching it because he constantly moves the camera. I am not trying to be critical of video because it was helpful.
2009 KTM 690r
2009 KLR 650
2008 WR250R

seabeegt

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2014, 08:25:12 am »
Cool dude. Thanks fer the video. The shims are 10mm right? Don't Harleys use the same size? If so, I could just go on down to the dealership buy whatever I need for way cheaper than buying a whole new shim kit. Also, what plug did ya go with and how's the bike run now ???
Shay with tha guage and Nilla with tha nine.... word to your mutha.

coarsegoldkid

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2014, 10:01:04 pm »
Just did mine today.  Same scenario as above.  Bike has 6600 miles. Tight intakes at .0625mm.  Now all are 0.010mm.  I bought the Hot Cams kit because any dealer likely to have shims in 45 miles away.   I Popped in a new sparker same as OEM.  I agree the task is easier than shim under bucket type valve trains.  I didn't have a problem with the cover but you do have to give it a quarter turn here and there.  I've dealt with more difficult cam covers before.

seabeegt

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2014, 07:25:52 am »
So how long do valves usually last in an LC4 motor? I see that one of ur valves was too tight, that means u gotta put in a smaller shim to get back into spec. If that valve keeps on getting tighter, than how long can u go before its valve n' seat replacement time
 ???
Shay with tha guage and Nilla with tha nine.... word to your mutha.

coarsegoldkid

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2014, 11:06:18 am »
I think you can reasonably expect 30-40 K miles.  Unless the clearance keeps getting tighter and tighter.

Dogfarm

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2014, 10:10:44 pm »
Cool dude. Thanks fer the video. The shims are 10mm right? Don't Harleys use the same size? If so, I could just go on down to the dealership buy whatever I need for way cheaper than buying a whole new shim kit. Also, what plug did ya go with and how's the bike run now ???

If I hadn't gotten the shim kit from the PO I would have just gone to the dealer to get new shims too. Last time I went to get new shims at the dealer they just swapped them for free. I think the are 10mm. I put in the stock plug. I just got the one listed for the bike when I ordered some other stuff from Rockymountainatv. Bike is running fine, just need some decent weather so I can get out on it.
2009 KTM 690r
2009 KLR 650
2008 WR250R

seabeegt

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2014, 11:50:59 am »
Thanks fer the response Dogfarm. Picked up some 60w today. Gonna knock out a couple of tasks in one maintenance seasion. 1)check n' adjust valves 2)flush radiator/upgrade fan switch/new samco hoses 3)bleed brake fluid. Sounds like a bit, but I'm gonna do it during the week so all I lose out on is some commute riding during the week. ;D
Shay with tha guage and Nilla with tha nine.... word to your mutha.

seabeegt

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2014, 07:22:37 am »
So I opened up the bike yesterday and checked the valves @ 11k. Took my time and cleaned up the inside of frame real good before I proceeded. Didn't want any mysterious crud getting into the engine. Everything went according to plan except locking the motor @ TDC. It was kind of a bastard getting the markings lined up, took about 15 mins by myself. Anyways, I took out the bolt to lock the piston in place, but its not like my old 530excr where u just remove the washer and put the bolt back in. Apparently u gotta use a special tool to lock it. :-\ So I left her at TDC and checked the clearances. All is in spec. I need to get a more precise set of feeler guages though. Im gonna check my valves every time I do an oil change from now on. Its too easy to pass up. Also put a new sparkplug in. Put her back together and she fired right up. Purrs like a puma.  8)
Shay with tha guage and Nilla with tha nine.... word to your mutha.

rtodahl01

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2015, 10:40:02 pm »
tried to watch that video. :-\
wish somebody would make a good video

Streeter

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2015, 03:50:31 pm »
I tried the link above:

http://ktm690.info/index.php/Valve_Check

but it doesn't seem to work.    Any other write-up available?     

Thanks,

Paul Streeter
Minnesota

guest426

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2015, 08:26:07 am »

Streeter

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2015, 06:21:02 pm »
Perfect!  Thanks.


seabeegt

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #13 on: January 12, 2016, 08:35:48 pm »
So I haven't been putting slack in the timing chain prior to doing valve checks. Does that mean I'm getting a bad reading? I just have the stock chain adjuster, but it'll be replaced soon enough.
Shay with tha guage and Nilla with tha nine.... word to your mutha.

Streeter

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Re: Valve check
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2016, 08:08:09 am »
You don't need to loosen the cam chain to check the valve clearances, just be sure the cam lobes are pointing away from the rocker arms, or set it at TDC to get em both at once.    On the 690, you don't even have to loosen the cam chain to replace a shim, you can pull the rocker arm shaft instead to access the shims.    It's very convenient.    The 690 is easier to replace a shim than many other dual sports I've worked on.