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Red Ballz
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« on: February 16, 2019, 07:52:32 PM » |
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For months now, my Valkyrie has had a misfire at idle in the #6 cylinder. It would wake right up as soon as I got on the gas, but never wanted to idle correctly. I’ve replaced vacuum lines, cleaned the carbs as best I can, and fiddled around a bunch, but could never get it right. I’ve got a couple other bikes and they kept getting my attention. Well, today I finally got around to doing a valve adjustment...
The bike has about 85k miles on it, bought it with 81k this past summer, and I have no idea when the last time this service was done. It likely was never done given the condition things were in. I didn’t write down the numbers, but I adjusted 5 out of 6 cylinders (all but #3), and most of those required both intake and exhaust valve adjustments. None of the valves were too tight, but there were cases of valves that were extremely loose. Like on cylinder 1, the intake was a good .015 when the spec calls for .006! The locknuts were also so incredibly tight that it seemed like they must have never been broken free before.
So yeah, it was a fairly simple and straight forward service to complete, and the bike is running better than it has ever performed before! I was so ecstatic to take it out for a test ride that I didn’t bother to sync the carbs beyond using my earball on cylinder 5. It now fires on all 6 cylinders and has an exhaust note through the cobras like never before. Hopefully, I’ll find the time tomorrow to sync the carbs and get that all sorted out because it certainly will benefit from it. Might pull the baffles for the week too.
Basically the point of this is to brag about getting the damn thing working like it should, and to say that if you’re having weird misfire problems, check your valves!
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signart
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« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2019, 04:46:52 AM » |
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Congratulations on getting your Valk to run the way it can.  Sometimes they run so good when they are not running their best, you don't realize how good they can perform with the correct maintenance they need. |
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mark81
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« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2019, 04:58:39 AM » |
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Mine is near 80k and doesn’t run quite as well as it used to when I got it at 40k. As soon as I get the interstate off the lift the bumblebee is going on there for a desmog carb sync and valve adjustment.
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1997 Honda Valkyrie 1981 Honda CB750 Custom  |
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1NorthRyder
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« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2019, 01:24:08 PM » |
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This post prompted me to run out and check my valves. They did need some minor adjustments. Haven’t reassembled it yet as I want to do a few other things first. Next tim I’m home I should be able to get at it.
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MarkT
Member
Posts: 5196
VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"
Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km
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« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2019, 04:34:06 PM » |
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If your Valk is hard starting and it has been some time (miles) since a valve adjustment, some valves may have gotten too tight. In which case an adjustment may make it start easier. And have more power.
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Red Ballz
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« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2019, 06:34:59 PM » |
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If your Valk is hard starting and it has been some time (miles) since a valve adjustment, some valves may have gotten too tight. In which case an adjustment may make it start easier. And have more power.
I’ve done quite a bit of reading on here about valve adjustments, and it seems that most people experience them being too tight and having to adjust them accordingly. And here in your post, you mention them being too tight. I guess I find it odd that every valve I adjusted was too loose. I wonder why I experienced this. Edit: Also, I synced the carbs this morning, pulled the baffles and took it for a ride. Those pipes sound absolutely glorious, like a choir of angels being fisted. |
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« Last Edit: February 17, 2019, 06:40:42 PM by Red Ballz »
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2019, 06:42:01 PM » |
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If your Valk is hard starting and it has been some time (miles) since a valve adjustment, some valves may have gotten too tight. In which case an adjustment may make it start easier. And have more power.
I’ve done quite a bit of reading on here about valve adjustments, and it seems that most people experience them being too tight and having to adjust them accordingly. And here in your post, you mention them being too tight. I guess I find it odd that every valve I adjusted was too loose. I wonder why I experienced this. Edit: Also, I synced the carbs this morning, pulled the baffles and took it for a ride. Those pipes sound absolutely glorious, like a choir of angels being fisted. Every one that I needed to adjust was loose also. None were too tight. |
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mark81
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« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2019, 08:40:03 PM » |
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Those pipes sound absolutely glorious, like a choir of angels being fisted.
That is the most wonderfully descriptive phrase I’ve ever heard to describe a noise   |
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1997 Honda Valkyrie 1981 Honda CB750 Custom |
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MarkT
Member
Posts: 5196
VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"
Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km
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« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2019, 11:52:23 PM » |
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Depends on where the wear is. I usually find a couple too tight.
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1NorthRyder
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« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2019, 02:28:43 AM » |
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I couldn’t get the spacer in due to no gap on at least half of mine.
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..
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« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2019, 02:49:34 AM » |
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I couldn’t get the spacer in due to no gap on at least half of mine.
Feeler? |
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2019, 05:21:47 AM » |
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I couldn’t get the spacer in due to no gap on at least half of mine.
You cannot adjust them all at the same setting. If the valve is open there would be no gap. I sure hope you didn't adjust every one that you could at whatever crank setting it happened to be at when you took the covers off |
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« Last Edit: February 18, 2019, 05:25:54 AM by Chrisj CMA »
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indybobm
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« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2019, 05:43:35 AM » |
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I think that the reason valves become tight is that valve seat is wearing and allowing the valve to go a little deeper into the head. As the valve stem rises it takes up the clearance.
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So many roads, so little time
VRCC # 5258
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« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2019, 06:00:36 AM » |
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I couldn’t get the spacer in due to no gap on at least half of mine.
You cannot adjust them all at the same setting. If the valve is open there would be no gap. I sure hope you didn't adjust every one that you could at whatever crank setting it happened to be at when you took the covers off  |
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gordonv
Member
Posts: 5760
VRCC # 31419
Richmond BC
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« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2019, 08:54:15 AM » |
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Those pipes sound absolutely glorious, like a choir of angels being fisted.
That is the most wonderfully descriptive phrase I’ve ever heard to describe a noise +1 Still chuckling.....  A choir of angels - Heavenly! then, being fisted - Hellish! what a flip-flop! |
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« Last Edit: February 18, 2019, 09:05:39 AM by gordonv »
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1999 Black with custom paint IS   |
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Bambam650
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« Reply #15 on: February 18, 2019, 09:31:19 AM » |
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I read a saying once that "tappy valves are happy valves" implying that it's better to have valves that are too loose than too tight.
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1997 Standard (Black) original owner, bought new in August 1996
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indybobm
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« Reply #16 on: February 18, 2019, 12:08:08 PM » |
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Too tight and you stand the chance of burning valves.
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So many roads, so little time
VRCC # 5258
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1NorthRyder
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« Reply #17 on: February 18, 2019, 05:00:44 PM » |
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I couldn’t get the spacer in due to no gap on at least half of mine.
You cannot adjust them all at the same setting. If the valve is open there would be no gap. I sure hope you didn't adjust every one that you could at whatever crank setting it happened to be at when you took the covers off I adjusted one at a time turning the crank as per the instructions each time. |
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #18 on: February 18, 2019, 05:32:37 PM » |
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Well, it makes no sense then. You said only minor adjustments were needed but half were so tight you couldn't get the guage in. That's not minor
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Red Ballz
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« Reply #19 on: February 18, 2019, 06:24:33 PM » |
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Those pipes sound absolutely glorious, like a choir of angels being fisted.
That is the most wonderfully descriptive phrase I’ve ever heard to describe a noise +1 Still chuckling..... A choir of angels - Heavenly! then, being fisted - Hellish! what a flip-flop! I still can’t bring myself to put the baffles back in yet. Maybe Wednesday. I’m sure my neighbors love me. |
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Jersey
Member
Posts: 545
VRCC #37540
Southern Maryland
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« Reply #20 on: February 19, 2019, 03:51:09 AM » |
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Those pipes sound absolutely glorious, like a choir of angels being fisted.
That is the most wonderfully descriptive phrase I’ve ever heard to describe a noise +1 Still chuckling..... A choir of angels - Heavenly! then, being fisted - Hellish! what a flip-flop! Someone needs to put that on a vest patch! |
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Jersey
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #21 on: February 19, 2019, 07:06:37 AM » |
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Those pipes sound absolutely glorious, like a choir of angels being fisted.
That is the most wonderfully descriptive phrase I’ve ever heard to describe a noise +1 Still chuckling..... A choir of angels - Heavenly! then, being fisted - Hellish! what a flip-flop! Someone needs to put that on a vest patch! I’ve seen worse things on patches. I’m not a particularly religious person, but that just seems wrong on many levels. I understand it is intended as humor. But the idea of Angels being violated just seems disrespectful to Christianity. |
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Gryphon Rider
Member
Posts: 5227
2000 Tourer
Calgary, Alberta
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« Reply #22 on: February 19, 2019, 08:40:24 AM » |
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I’ve seen worse things on patches. I’m not a particularly religious person, but that just seems wrong on many levels. I understand it is intended as humor. But the idea of Angels being violated just seems disrespectful to Christianity.
Do Hells Angels have choirs? |
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #23 on: February 19, 2019, 09:40:56 AM » |
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I’ve seen worse things on patches. I’m not a particularly religious person, but that just seems wrong on many levels. I understand it is intended as humor. But the idea of Angels being violated just seems disrespectful to Christianity.
Do Hells Angels have choirs? I don’t rightly know. |
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MarkT
Member
Posts: 5196
VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"
Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km
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« Reply #24 on: February 19, 2019, 09:45:36 AM » |
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If they are so tight that the stem holds the valve partly open when it's supposed to be closed you can burn valves and lose compression making it hard to start and loses power. This happens when the valve seat wears faster than the valve linkage contact points. I have seen this MANY times. Usually 1 or 2 valves per adjustment session. And no, I don't adjust as often as I should. Supposed to be every 12k miles.
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« Last Edit: February 19, 2019, 09:48:39 AM by MarkT »
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