Valve Adjustment Problem / Question

[m-cman]

Just doing a valve adjustment on my 1997 Max. Looking thru the small hole covered by a slotted screw on the left side just in front of the crankcase cover. I have rotated the flywheel at least 10 times and there are no T1, T2 or any marks of any kind on the flywheel. There is a pointer, just no marks. What am I doing wrong?? :confused2:

 

[maleko89]

Nothing, some flywheels don't have the marks....annoying isn't it? I recommend ignoring that piece and just remove the whole inner cover held on by 2 Allen screws. Rotate the crank with the flywheel bolt. I believe you'll need a 32 mm socket. Set the valves to all closed by making sure the cam lobes are all pointed up...like this: \ /

Mark
#1098

 

[m-cman]

Thanks for the reply.

The manual says adj in the following sequence, Cyl 1 (left rear), Cyl 3 (right rear), Cyl 2 (left front) and then Cyl 4 (right front).

So if I get all 4 lobes on each cyl pointing front 2 = \ and rear 2 = /, I will be at TDC for that cyl?

 

[m-cman]

Went with the old method of using a rod down the spark plug hole to find TDC (with the lobes pointed away from the buckets).

Had 3 measure at the exact tight end of the range and one slightly tighter. I usually shoot for the middle. Do the Max clearances tend to tighten with age? If so, I will change out the shims on the tight ones. I DO NOT want to do this again for a long time!! Way too much dismantling.

This was obviously the first time the valve covers were off and the bike has 24K+ miles.

 

[one2dmax]

yes, the valve clearance gets less with increased miles in most cases.

Sean

 

[one2dmax]

Forgot to add, It's a very rare case to not have the timing marks. Some are difficult to see and apear not to have them but you can't simply look straight into the hole. Most times the actual marks are located where you need to look at a 45 degree angle into the hole towards the flywheel to see it.

Sean