Triumphrat

retrobiker

Hi all

I think the valves have too much clearance and need to adjust them.I would appreciate a refresher on the pitch method. Since I need .002 and .004 ( inlet and exhaust ) would I be correct if I got them finger tight (so the rocker arm can't move up and down ) and then back off a little less than half a flat for the exhaust and about half that for the inlet?
Thanks in advance.I want to get it right this time.

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pogue54

well, I dunno much but it seems they might be louder if you use half a flat to make .002. I don't think the thread pitch is any finer than 20 per inch. As long as you're at it, why not use a feeler gauge? Every dime store has em. Those valves are gonna be loud anyway, but if you use a gauge, you at least know they are close to spec. BTW, I thought .002 and .004 was the spec for 500's, but I never worked on a 650.
oops, just re-read your post and see you mean half a flat is .004, but unless the pitch is about forty-something you will still be over on the clearance. But better over than under, ain't it?
uh, ok, if the pitch is 20, you are close. Had to pencil this out. I should stick to asking questions!

Red1959

engine cold; .004 is half a flat on the square adjusting nut.

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retrobiker

Thanks,Red1959. That reply was timely.

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TR6

You might want to read the many posts on Brit BIke Forum regarding tappet clearances. Gurus there recommend .004 and .006 for inlet and exhaust valves, respectively. John Healy's has a particularly good post about tappet clearances for Triumphs.

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retrobiker

Thanks TR6, but the deed is done for now. Might reconsider when I change the gaskets for the rocker caps.( Can't believe that new the new ones I put on are leaking.)
It would help to know what problems to look for when the clearances are smaller.( .002 and .004)
Thanks.

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mike T150

If the tappet clearance is too tight you will end up burning out a valve. The valve will fail to seat correctly while running allowing burning gasses to pass it also the loss of compression will have a negative affect on performance. You also risk damage to the valve seat, it's better to have the gap a bit wide than a bit tight. I always have it so you can just slide the blade of a feeler gauge rather than nip the blade.

retrobiker

Now that is cause for concern.
Does anybody have a pictorial representation of exactly where you measure the clearance? I've seen it mentioned that you can bend the end of the gauge to access the gap but I don't think I really understand where the gap is.All I can access is just below the rocker arm.
Thanks,Mike T150.

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Just music and my motorcycles. Thats all I need.

TR6

John Healy's Sept 13, 2006 post on BBF:

"Some notes: Although the factory figures were .002" and .004" for the 650, west coast distributor, Johnson Motors, recommended running the 650's with .004" and .006". At these figures the valves were not particularly noisy.

On full turn of the valve adjuster, or 4 full flats, is .040." So it is easy to back check you feeler guage adjustment. A tad less than 1/4 turn is your .008" and a tad more than an 1/8 turn is your .006".

If you get more than the proper figures after using your feeler guage using the above technique I would suspect the tips of your valve stems are worn or indented.

When you move the adjuster so that you can just slide the rocker arm freely against the pressure of the rocker shaft spring (not valve spring) and have NO rocking motion of the rocker arm when you try to rock it, you will have .002."

Adjust the rocker so it slides sidewayas against the rocker shaft spring and start to rock the rocker arm. When a click is first audible you will have .004" clearance. At .004" is just when you start to feel the rocker arm start to rock. The click and the movement come at the same time. It is about the smallest movement most people can detect.

Using a feeler guage can be problematic in that the tip of the valve stem could be worn where the adjuster rubs on it. The feeler guage is unable to compensate for this, and although you have .006" on the guage you could have .010" or more between the tip of the adjuster and the top of the valve stem. = noise!

[ September 13, 2006, 19:09: Message edited by: John Healy ]
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retrobiker

Thanks,TR6. I'll keep all that in mind when I adjust the settings.

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Just music and my motorcycles. Thats all I need.