Valve rocker clearance .020 OVER nominal - Impending doom or user error ?

[normzone]

Clever lad that I am, I decided to change plugs and adjust valves before the rally next weekend.

I usually measure and log my valve clearances before I change them, against the day when such data becomes highly valuable and I can sell at the peak of the market.

So imagine my shock when the right side intake valve, which was set at .006 " about twenty thousand miles ago, was at .026

Everything else was within a few thousandths of where it was supposed to be.

So is something dramatically wearing, or did I simply set that valve at the incorrect portion of the cycle ? I can't see how I could have used a feeler gage that was that far off - I looked through them all and found no logical error modes.

[oldbike54]

 Zucchini ?

 Dusty

[yogidozer]

you're off your rocker? 

[oldbike54]

you're off your rocker? 

 There is no tolerance for that here 

 Dusty

[yogidozer]

There is no tolerance for that here 

 Dusty

actually, I thought I fit right in 

within a few thousands, anyway

[guzzisteve]

I kan't believe you didn't hear an awful racket. I vote operator error last time set.

[lti_57]

Bad Clams
No yak Fat

[normzone]

I DID hear an awful racket.

But you may be relieved to know that it was just a Guzzi engine running.

Seriously, no scary noises. Just the usual handful-of-change-in-a-soupcan sound.

Well, better no yak fat than to be yak stomped, I always say. Actually, Christopher Moore said.

[Ncdan]

I was fixin to attempt to adjust my Calvin�s valves but now I�m Skeered:(

[normzone]

Go for it, [Ncdan] - it's simple. I almost always get it right. The trick to remember is that it's better to get them too loose than too tight.

Not as loose as I did, of course. But the bike was still running great.

[oldbike54]

I kan't believe you didn't hear an awful racket. I vote operator error last time set.

 No need to lash out Steve 

 Dusty

[normzone]

Now [Dusty], he needs an outlet valve for his feelings. He shouldn't try to stem them. Of course, if somebody has deep seated feelings, counseling may help.

[yogidozer]

whenever you adjust valves, on any engine, rotate the crank by hand at least one full rotation, and check again. takes only a few extra minutes

[guzzisteve]

Well, he did ask---  wasn't trying to lash out, my ears are sensitive to the rocker noise. I would think over 20 thou play gap would show metal in oil or pan if it was impending doom. I'v let my adjustment go 20Kmi and was only 2 thou big.
Sorry Norm if I came across different than intended

[oldbike54]

Well, he did ask---  wasn't trying to lash out, my ears are sensitive to the rocker noise. I would think over 20 thou play gap would show metal in oil or pan if it was impending doom. I'v let my adjustment go 20Kmi and was only 2 thou big.
Sorry Norm if I came across different than intended

 Steve , it was a pun , "lash" out 

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

So Norm.. you are saying you haven't checked the valves for 20000 miles?? Hello. Earth calling.
Just the same.. if there isn't some operator error involved.. it's most likely a cam lobe. I'd set it properly and check it in 1000 miles. If it's a cam lobe, you'll find out pretty quickly..

[LowRyter]

bet it ran pretty poorly on that cylinder.  Was any air getting in there?

[canuck750]

I bet the Ferrari driver was wishing he could one day own a Guzzi

[LowRyter]

I think that Maserati has a Ferrari V8 engine.

[Ncdan]

Go for it, [Ncdan] - it's simple. I almost always get it right. The trick to remember is that it's better to get them too loose than too tight.

Not as loose as I did, of course. But the bike was still running great.

Lol, ok norm, I’ll call you if I run into any unusual happenings;)

[Ncdan]

whenever you adjust valves, on any engine, rotate the crank by hand at least one full rotation, and check again. takes only a few extra minutes

Now that’s one I’ll use,yog, thanks for that tip!

[fotoguzzi]

Clever lad that I am, I decided to change plugs and adjust valves before the rally next weekend.

your now entering the Normzone.

[normzone]

Sorry, [guzzisteve] - valve/stem/lash/seat were all valve puns, but as they say over on the Halfbakery, " if you have to explain it, it wasn't funny ".

[Chuck], that's what my logbook says, but now I doubt my sanity and my eyes, so I'll re-check the log .... after a beer. That's how you pilots do it, correct? I like the operator error theory much better than a cam lobe.

Thanks, [yogidozer], I'll buy a socket. I turn the crank over with a wrench, which doesn't fit very well between those charging doohickey fins, and is a minor pain to finesse. Then I'll be cool with doublechecking. Mayhaps that contributed to my getting it off location in the first place. Yes, you fit right in - what are the classes of fit? Clearance, interference, and something else?

[LowRyter], it was running great, and the plug looked normal. I'm beginning to suspect that no matter what is really going on in the inside of the engine, when the plug tips hears the socket slide over the end of the spark plug caps, the electrode ends hurriedly put on their makeup and pretend like everything is normal and they've been working hard. Those lazy things probably don't even bother to fire half the time, and just pass the impulse from the coil on to the cylinder and let the two of them sort it out and make it happen.

[fotoguzzi]

Sorry, [guzzisteve] - valve/stem/lash/seat were all valve puns, but as they say over on the Halfbakery, " if you have to explain it, it wasn't funny ".

[Chuck], that's what my logbook says, but now I doubt my sanity and my eyes, so I'll re-check the log .... after a beer. That's how you pilots do it, correct? I like the operator error theory much better than a cam lobe.

Thanks, [yogidozer], I'll buy a socket. I turn the crank over with a wrench, which doesn't fit very well between those charging doohickey fins, and is a minor pain to finesse. Then I'll be cool with doublechecking. Mayhaps that contributed to my getting it off location in the first place. Yes, you fit right in - what are the classes of fit? Clearance, interference, and something else?

[LowRyter], it was running great, and the plug looked normal. I'm beginning to suspect that no matter what is really going on in the inside of the engine, when the plug tips hears the socket slide over the end of the spark plug caps, the electrode ends hurriedly put on their makeup and pretend like everything is normal and they've been working hard. Those lazy things probably don't even bother to fire half the time, and just pass the impulse from the coil on to the cylinder and let the two of them sort it out and make it happen.

Enzo, is that you?

[normzone]

(echo on)      " After further review on the field of play, the valves were last adjusted only five thousand miles ago "     (echo off)

I don't know where I got the 20K figure - last time I looked at the log was a few weeks ago.

Then again, my alternate universe syndrome could be flaring up again. There is no cure, but your generous donation helps fund research for treatment.

[yogidozer]

Sorry, [guzzisteve] - valve/stem/lash/seat were all valve puns, but as they say over on the Halfbakery, " if you have to explain it, it wasn't funny ".

[Chuck], that's what my logbook says, but now I doubt my sanity and my eyes, so I'll re-check the log .... after a beer. That's how you pilots do it, correct? I like the operator error theory much better than a cam lobe.

Thanks, [yogidozer], I'll buy a socket. I turn the crank over with a wrench, which doesn't fit very well between those charging doohickey fins, and is a minor pain to finesse. Then I'll be cool with doublechecking. Mayhaps that contributed to my getting it off location in the first place. Yes, you fit right in - what are the classes of fit? Clearance, interference, and something else?

[LowRyter], it was running great, and the plug looked normal. I'm beginning to suspect that no matter what is really going on in the inside of the engine, when the plug tips hears the socket slide over the end of the spark plug caps, the electrode ends hurriedly put on their makeup and pretend like everything is normal and they've been working hard. Those lazy things probably don't even bother to fire half the time, and just pass the impulse from the coil on to the cylinder and let the two of them sort it out and make it happen.

you can turn the engine over by removing the plugs put the bike in 5th, and turn the rear wheel by hand

[Zoom Zoom]

Well firstly, you mentioned .006 on the intake valve. 2 intake and 4 thou ex. were the us specks. 4 and 6 are the euro specks.

What **might** have happened was that you had two feeler gauges stuck together?????

As previously noted, reset and check in 1K miles to see if things are changing. 004 intake/006 exhaust.

John Henry

[Dukedesmo]

What's the compression like?


I ask because I had a piston to (exhaust) valve incident on my LM2: Compression was down a little on one cylinder and a lot on the other. Valve clearances had mysteriously grown due to the (lightly) bent valves not fully closing.


Bike was running, just a little down on power and wouldn't idle...

[acogoff]

     My limited 40 years experience of running my T3 has had the right hand intake cam follower start spalling two different times. The way oil is flung around may be why it manifested with that follower. A few thousandths (about 5) extra clearance was the give away and was caught early each time. 5 thousand miles is a good valve lash checking point, I would say. But .020 inch is a whole lot of lash. If it were mine and I had eliminated the possibility of measurement error, I would just pull the head off and raise the cylinder up enough to pull the followers out for an exam, but that is just me.

[normzone]

Well, I figured out where the 20K miles came from at least.

That was the last time the heads were torqued.