Ladies and Gentlemens, may I have your attention please??
Is your bike hard to start?
Have you been chasing a carby issue you just cant fix?
Has your engine recently lost a bit of compression?
Is your bike running a bit hot?
Is your missus dis-satisfied with your “performance”?
Do you kids no longer think you’re “cool”?
Has your dog stopped coming when you call it?
Chances are, your valves clearances are WRONG!!!!
The above symptoms can all be effected by poorly gapped valves, and despite “doing your valve clearances” sounding scary, it is actually a very simple process, and hard to get it wrong…
With the right tools, you can do valve clearances in under fifteen minutes with a bit of practice, just like Uncle Thump…
Your missus will once again find you attractive, the kids will go riding with you again, and the dog will stop stealing your stubbie holders..
Naturally you will need a bike first up, and remember.. you’re working on the head… make sure it’s clean…and the following tools…
17mm ring spanner.
Large flathead screwdriver.
8, 10, and 14mm sockets, extension bar and ratchet.
Feeler gauges (.003 and .004 for inlet and exhaust valves respectively)
9mm ring spanner
Needle-nose pliers (or special valve-tool thingy if you are fortunate enough to have one.)
15-20 minutes of shed time away from the kids and missus if you have them, or PS3/X-Box 360 if you’re a young fella.
Not all engines are equal in the valve caps or engine cases used. The engine I have used for the tute, is a 107cc FYM motor, as found in 04 Hungeten Thumpstars. It has the CRF style “screw-in” valve caps, and the stator cover has removeable plugs for the stator nut, and timing marks. Other “solid” type stator covers will need to be removed beforehand to allow you to find TDC.
Is your bike hard to start?
Have you been chasing a carby issue you just cant fix?
Has your engine recently lost a bit of compression?
Is your bike running a bit hot?
Is your missus dis-satisfied with your “performance”?
Do you kids no longer think you’re “cool”?
Has your dog stopped coming when you call it?
Chances are, your valves clearances are WRONG!!!!
The above symptoms can all be effected by poorly gapped valves, and despite “doing your valve clearances” sounding scary, it is actually a very simple process, and hard to get it wrong…
With the right tools, you can do valve clearances in under fifteen minutes with a bit of practice, just like Uncle Thump…
Your missus will once again find you attractive, the kids will go riding with you again, and the dog will stop stealing your stubbie holders..
Naturally you will need a bike first up, and remember.. you’re working on the head… make sure it’s clean…and the following tools…
17mm ring spanner.
Large flathead screwdriver.
8, 10, and 14mm sockets, extension bar and ratchet.
Feeler gauges (.003 and .004 for inlet and exhaust valves respectively)
9mm ring spanner
Needle-nose pliers (or special valve-tool thingy if you are fortunate enough to have one.)
15-20 minutes of shed time away from the kids and missus if you have them, or PS3/X-Box 360 if you’re a young fella.
Not all engines are equal in the valve caps or engine cases used. The engine I have used for the tute, is a 107cc FYM motor, as found in 04 Hungeten Thumpstars. It has the CRF style “screw-in” valve caps, and the stator cover has removeable plugs for the stator nut, and timing marks. Other “solid” type stator covers will need to be removed beforehand to allow you to find TDC.