Valve clearances after 11.7k miles ++

[faffi]

Checked the valve clearances for the first time on my V9 Roamer today. Inlets was both a tight 0.006 in. / 0.15 mm, the numbers being the greatest value according to the Internet. Strangely, the service manual does not contain any information on the valves, be that clearances or how to adjust or torque values. Anyway, I left them there. The exhaust valves had a clearance of 0.009 / 0.23 mm. According the the master of information, the Internet, Guzzi spec say the clearances for the exhaust should be the same as for the inlet, but that many set them in the 0.006 to 0.008 range / 0.15 to 0.20 mm. I set them to 0.007 in / 0.18 mm. The valve train was fairly silent before the adjustments, nothing to suggest anything was clicking and clacking particularly loud, and as far as can tell the sound have not changed over the 9k miles I have owned the bike.

One thing that really puzzled me, however, was the spark plug gap listed in the service manual; 0.6 to 0.7 mm. Or 0.024 to 0.028 in. Last time I saw such numbers was back in the 1960s. Well, I was too young to be interested in these things then, but at least for bikes made in the '60s. The sparkies came adjusted tom 0.8 mm / 0.032 in, and I left them at that. The old ones were at 1 mm / 0.04 in. Not sure the new spark plugs are genuine, despite the high cost; the resistance came out at 4.74 and 5.74 kOhm respectively for the two new. Perhaps that is close enough the the 5 kOhm specified.

The shield covering the inlet tract on the RHS was just held in place with the front bolt. The rear bolt was screwed tight into the mount on the tract. I found this especially strange since you cannot accidentally miss the shield when fitting the bolt - it must have been screwed in before the shield was mounted up in the front. So either the cover came off at some stage before I bought the bike, or it came like the from the factory.

[Dirk_S]

Valve clearance and torque specs are actually in the engine manual for some (all?) of the hemi head small blocks; here’s a screenshot from the earlier V9 engine manual (listed as intake: 0.10 mm; exhaust: 0.15 mm)

[michaell32]

I haven't worked on a large variety of bikes but every one I have had a larger clearance for the exhaust. Reason being the exhaust valve gets hotter and expands more.

[toomanybikes]

I haven't worked on a large variety of bikes but every one I have had a larger clearance for the exhaust. Reason being the exhaust valve gets hotter and expands more.

I have set valve clearances on various bikes from BMW, Guzzi, Honda, Triumph, Yamaha, and Suzuki. Virtually all of them have exhaust clearances > intake clearances. One bike/family, a Suzuki GS850 and perhaps other GS's, spec'd equal setting ranges, but that was the outlier and I let the exhaust clearances error towards looser since that bikes used shims to set the clearances.

The largest clearances I recall were BMW boxer's at 0.15 intake and 0.3 exhaust.

[faffi]

Valve clearance specs are actually in the engine manual for some (all?) of the hemi head small blocks; here’s a screenshot from the earlier V9 engine manual (listed as intake: 0.10 mm; exhaust: 0.15 mm)

Thank you! I must check page 61 in my manual if it is the same as yours - I looked at the service section, where the other specs were found, and it was not there. Overall, the only manuals I have found that were worse, was the OEM Triumph of the old T300 series. Almost useless.

Anyway, my valves are set slightly on the loose side, which is what I have always done on my cars and bikes. I do not think it is overly critical, either, as long as there is clearances. The old KZ series from Kawasaki listed a permissible range of 0.05 to 0.20 mm for both intake and exhaust.

[toomanybikes]

Thank you! I must check page 61 in my manual if it is the same as yours - I looked at the service section, where the other specs were found, and it was not there. Overall, the only manuals I have found that were worse, was the OEM Triumph of the old T300 series. Almost useless.

Anyway, my valves are set slightly on the loose side, which is what I have always done on my cars and bikes. I do not think it is overly critical, either, as long as there is clearances. The old KZ series from Kawasaki listed a permissible range of 0.05 to 0.20 mm for both intake and exhaust.

FWIW, I couldn't find a valve clearance spec in my 2023 V7 owners manual. Dirk described his source as an engine manual, so that could be a more thorough service manual rather than an owner's manual, which at least has a detailed description of all the warning stickers.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I haven't worked on a large variety of bikes but every one I have had a larger clearance for the exhaust. Reason being the exhaust valve gets hotter and expands more.

Several mid-'80s Guzzis had the same clearance for both - .009".

[davethewelder]

FWIW, I couldn't find a valve clearance spec in my 2023 V7 owners manual. Dirk described his source as an engine manual, so that could be a more thorough service manual rather than an owner's manual, which at least has a detailed description of all the warning stickers.

on my 2024 there’s info under the seat, valve clearance, oil weight and spark plugs.

[guzzisteve]

If you look around there is a sticker on your bike, under seat or sidecover or on rear fender. Dave beat me

[Kev m]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but those labels are US or Canadian emissions control certification labels no? If so, they may not be on world or EU models, though I would think they could have their own versions

[toomanybikes]

on my 2024 there’s info under the seat, valve clearance, oil weight and spark plugs.

Yup, but not exactly the most durable sticker. Mine is faded and the bike has only been out of the dealer for two years. It lived outside under a bike cover for most of that time.