Parts to have on hand for valve check/adjustment

T_C · Jul 20, 2014

Prepping and doing a valve check and adjust before I head out on the next long ride.

Mark has a loaner shim kit in route to me.

Parts wise... what else might I need and should have on hand. I use the steed as my daily commuter so I prefer to minimize down time.

Sealing washers?
Valve cover bolts?
Gaskets?

I know I need the sealant for the half moons in the gaskets.
Swapping out spark plugs too.

Thanks for suggestions and insight,
T

Tom Mac 04a · Jul 21, 2014

Re: Parts to have o. hand for valve check/adjustment

torque wrench

Bush · Jul 25, 2014

Re: Parts to have o. hand for valve check/adjustment

A good set of feeler gauges and a deft touch at knowing what goes and what doesn't.

DeanR · Jul 25, 2014

Pretty much the same question here. (91 ST1100 @ 99K). Should I assume I should use new gaskets at this age? Will definitely get those 8 washers. No idea when or if valves were last checked. This will be by first time. I've had it for the last 35K.

caldercay · Jul 25, 2014

T_C said:
what else might I need and should have on hand.

dwalby · Jul 25, 2014

DeanR said:
Pretty much the same question here. (91 ST1100 @ 99K). Should I assume I should use new gaskets at this age? Will definitely get those 8 washers. No idea when or if valves were last checked. This will be by first time. I've had it for the last 35K.

Hey Dean, its a crapshoot reusing those parts, but the positive side is you only need to take off the side covers (IIRC) to re-do them with new parts if they don't seal properly using the old ones, so I usually try it and see what happens. Even with mail-order pricing you're probably looking at around $75 with shipping for both gaskets and 8 grommets.

I'm not sure what compresses the grommets, age, or repeated usage. My originals lasted up to the 60k or 75k adjustment, which means they were retorqued several times. When I finally compared them to a new one they were probably 2/3 the thickness of the new one at that time. I've reused the gaskets successfully as well, so you never know until you try. If the gasket still feels soft give it a try, if its stiff then it probably won't work very well.

Blrfl · Jul 25, 2014

I sent Tom the full kit including feelers and a micrometer. The only other expendable you should need is a set of eight sealing washers.

--Mark

st1300doug · Jul 25, 2014

Let us know what the mileage is, when you start & what Valves are off. (Intake or Exhaust) I've yet to do mine at 44,500 miles. As almost 90% say....they have been good at that mileage....even up to 70,000.

Al Gully · Jul 25, 2014

All I used was Marks shim kit, the excel spread sheet on this forum and Loctite 598 Black High Performance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker. I re-used all the gaskets at 30,000 miles.
I had no leaks.
When your using the feeler gauges, the feel is going to be like pulling a piece of writing paper out of a phone book.

Mondo · Jul 25, 2014

Scooter is all anyone needs.

Greg

ardykay54 · Jul 25, 2014

Mondo said:
Scooter is all anyone needs.

Greg

+1!!!!! Russ.

T_C · Jul 26, 2014

I got the kit in the mail. Thanks for sending it my way Mark.

As he noted, I'll be the custodian of the kit for awhile and once I'm done with it this weekend the kit will be back int he loaners pool out and shipped from me.

So I didn't buy the sealing washers since I never saw anyone say it's a replaceable must-do.
Are they generally re-useable? Or am I asking for a leak?

Bigmak96 · Jul 26, 2014

T_C said:
Are they generally re-useable? Or am I asking for a leak?

I would bet they are like the oil drain plug washer. The book says to replace it every time, but I never have, and never had one leak.

Al Gully · Jul 26, 2014

I also found watching these videos gave me a better understanding on the valve check procedure.

https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?97291-ST1300-Valve-Clearance-Check-How-To-VIDEO

T_C · Jul 26, 2014

Thanks guys. Just never did it on an ST before.

And looks like I am going to get to do the full check and adjustment procedure.

Out of the 4 intake valves I've checked, 3 are feeling over .03. The 4th .022.
Exhaust valves are measuring the same... as in like way out of spec.

I need some lunch... and a beer!

Mark · Jul 26, 2014

T_C said:
a beer!

I thought you might have missed this important item; but, I see you have it well in hand.

Although; I must suggest that a single might not be enough to finish the entire procedure...

T_C · Jul 26, 2014

Mark said:
I thought you might have missed this important item; but, I see you have it well in hand.

Although; I must suggest that a single might not be enough to finish the entire procedure...

May have tohave this thread retitled.
"Holy Snap! Do the valve check!"

Also found my spark plugs were over gapped.
This might help explain the cruddy gas mileage and why Tip was smoking me in the twisties.

Well one of those two I might be stretching the truth a bit.

Bush · Jul 26, 2014

T_C said:
Thanks guys. Just never did it on an ST before.

And looks like I am going to get to do the full check and adjustment procedure.

Out of the 4 intake valves I've checked, 3 are feeling over .03. The 4th .022.
Exhaust valves are measuring the same.

Those numbers aren't right, if measuring in thousands of an inch or mm??

T_C · Jul 26, 2014

st1300doug said:
Let us know what the mileage is, when you start & what Valves are off. (Intake or Exhaust) I've yet to do mine at 44,500 miles. As almost 90% say....they have been good at that mileage....even up to 70,000.

At 71k miles Doug. And mine are quite a ways out.

1 exhuast .024 and .037; intake .021 & .034
2 exhuast .025 and .038; intake .019 & .032
3 exhuast .052 and .064; intake .056 & .067
4 exhuast .057 and .065; intake .044 & .057

Wonder if this explains why I get a solid FI light afetr extended running at 5k rpm?
Or why I don't get much of a chatter if you bog it down at low rpm?

Crud.. do I really have to pull the throttle bodies to get the right side cams out?

I need more beer!

T_C · Jul 26, 2014

Bush said:
Those numbers aren't right, if measuring in thousands of an inch or mm??

\

Measuring in inches.

Parts to have on hand for valve check/adjustment

T_C

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