Wilsons Sandbox

On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:34:18 -0700 "Vick Mackey" writes:

> How do I check for bent valves? > Can you please give me a brief step by step. > Is this easy or difficult to do? > I need to know how to access the valves, how to take them out, and > how to > tell if they're bent (even slightly). > Basically I need to do this in my garage, in a low-tech way! > > If I replace a bent valve, do I need to start over with the valve > adjustments (check at 500 miles, 6000 miles, 12000 miles, etc.?) > My bike has 23,000 miles on it and I'm at the point where I seem to > no > longer require valve adjustments. I would hate to have to start over > with > all that, but if necessary I will. > > Thank you.

<><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><> Vick, The short answer is checking for a bent valve will be easier than replacing a bent valve. It takes some special equipment for the replacement and might for the checking. It's not the kind of thing a guy normally does in his garage with any success. Pull the head and with the cams in the valve clearance checking position you could invert the head and pour some light oil in the combustion chamber. Check the intake and exhaust ports for oil. If you find some you have a valve that's not sealing and could be bent. You could also use some special measuring devices but again that's not the kind of stuff you'd probably have in your garage. If you did have them you wouldn't be asking the list for help. : ) If the valve is really bent you might be able to see it during a visual inspection. Replacing a valve and guide is a whole other story and I won't go into it here. I will explain I have a mill and lathe and some other equipment and I normally wouldn't change valves in my shop. To get a valve change correct it takes some special tools and skills. Send it to a machine shop that does that kind of work on a regular basis. It will be well worth the money you spend. Now, what makes you think you have a bent valve? Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ____________________________________________________________ Sweepstakes!!! Enter for your chance to WIN one of hundreds of daily prizes. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/JKFkuJi7UnnUU2kjTurYclG16BUFU7s9zBcdK3lXfla5I2ip5pietm/

If a valve is bent the face of it will not line up properly with the valve seat. Get a compression tester, pull out the spark plug, put the compression tester in the spark plug hole and turn the engine over several times. Note the reading on the compression gauge. Check this reading against specs. If it is low put about a table spoon of oil in the spark plug hole and re-check compression as above. If the compression goes up it is the piston rings are bad and the oil sealed the rings. If the compression remains low it is because of the valves. If you are in the Metro I have a compression gauge. Greg 651-436-2644 To: vick.mackey1975@...: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.comFrom: salinej1@...: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:40:31 -0600Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] How do I check for bent valves? On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:34:18 -0700 "Vick Mackey" writes:> How do I check for bent valves?> Can you please give me a brief step by step.> Is this easy or difficult to do?> I need to know how to access the valves, how to take them out, and > how to> tell if they're bent (even slightly).> Basically I need to do this in my garage, in a low-tech way!> > If I replace a bent valve, do I need to start over with the valve> adjustments (check at 500 miles, 6000 miles, 12000 miles, etc.?)> My bike has 23,000 miles on it and I'm at the point where I seem to > no> longer require valve adjustments. I would hate to have to start over > with> all that, but if necessary I will.> > Thank you.<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Vick,The short answer is checking for a bent valve will be easier thanreplacing a bent valve. It takes some special equipment for thereplacement and might for the checking. It's not the kind of thing a guynormally does in his garage with any success.Pull the head and with the cams in the valve clearance checking positionyou could invert the head and pour some light oil in the combustionchamber. Check the intake and exhaust ports for oil. If you find someyou have a valve that's not sealing and could be bent. You could alsouse some special measuring devices but again that's not the kind of stuffyou'd probably have in your garage. If you did have them you wouldn't beasking the list for help. : ) If the valve is really bent you might beable to see it during a visual inspection.Replacing a valve and guide is a whole other story and I won't go into ithere. I will explain I have a mill and lathe and some other equipmentand I normally wouldn't change valves in my shop. To get a valve changecorrect it takes some special tools and skills. Send it to a machineshop that does that kind of work on a regular basis. It will be wellworth the money you spend.Now, what makes you think you have a bent valve?Best,Jeff SalineABC # 4412 South Dakota AirmarshalAirheads Beemer Club www.airheads.orgThe Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT__________________________________________________________Sweepstakes!!! Enter for your chance to WIN one of hundreds of daily prizes.http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/JKFkuJi7UnnUU2kjTurYclG16BUFU7s9zBcdK3lXfla5I2ip5pietm/ _________________________________________________________________ The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i m Talkathon. http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_SeasonOfGiving [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I talked to a guy on this list one time that had a either trailer or rack that had a folding Kayak with sailing rig that he used to take from Arizona where he lived to Baja Mexico and sail around various coves there and drink beer at local seaside establishments. That was before the drug war heated up. What a life. Criswell

On Jun 23, 2008, at 7:50 PM, Tumu Rock wrote: > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Michael Silverstein" > wrote: > > So while I really enjoy the VStrom I've started mixing in the KLR > for > local riding, and it is going to become a platform for transporting my > mountain bike to the trails once I weld up a rack. > > > > > > Mike, there was a guy selling racks for bicycle (and kayak among other > strange items) transport on KLR's a looooong time ago on this list. > Maybe someone else recalls the link??? Or maybe you want to weld your > own in which case, carry on. > > da Vermonster > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]