Valve clearances

[c_dug]

Planning on doing my valves soon, the bike has been very rattly and running rough, plus I have no idea when they were last checked. The bike is a 1998 GPZ500s by the way

I have done the valves on a 2 valve 125cc single before, never on anything like my bike though, is it a bad idea for me to attempt this myself?

Also will I definetly need a new gasket for the valve cover?

I am looking at my haynes manual at the moment and to be honest it seems fairly simple, the same as the 125 just more of it

Also will I need the special tool for the locking nut on the adjuster or will I be able to do it without, just with a little more fiddling?

Thanks

c_dug
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[steo]

correct me if im wrong but i'm nearly sure the kwacker has shims as opposed to an adjustable tappet. if this is the case then you may have to replace some shims if the old ones are worn & measure them up.

[c_dug]

Nope, haynes says nothing about shims so i'm guessing it is tappets or whatever the other type is called

Plus the images look like what I have done before, and I wouldn't have a clue with shims so im guessing it is the tappet one.

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Kickstart]

Hi

GPZ500 is screw and locknut valves.

The rocker cover gasket is rubber and should be OK to reuse. What you likely will need though are a pair of replacement rubber O rings for the water pipes into the head (one metal pipe either side of the cam chain tunnel, which both bolt to the rocker cover), as although you might get away with them if you don't have any spare then Murpheys law will apply.

Biggest problem is getting the rocker cover off on the GPZ500, with the throttle cables rubbing closely over it and the coils reducing the space to lift it off. Probably worth unbolting the coils and disconnecting the throttle cables before you take off the rocker cover.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[c_dug]

Out of interest would a worn CCT cause similar running issues?

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[steo]

was thinking of the gpz 550 but the 500 should be handy enough to do. keith is right, like the gt & gpz it's much easier to work on the kwacker if you take the coils off. the rocker cover requires a bit of jockeying around to remove it.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Cam chain tensioner out will result in a slappy noise.

On these engines there is also a primary drive chain to slap around and there isn't a tensioner on that. When it wears you just have to replace it (engine strip job).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[c_dug]

I guess i'll just do the valves and carbs and see if there is an improvement then, hopefully its nothing too major, the bikes not worth enough to go spending bit bucks on it

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Mudskipper]

[Blau Zedong]

I got away with reusing all the rubber bits last time I did the M, but it's a real pig if you reassemble it all then find it's pissing oil into the spark plug recesses!!!!
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[Kickstart]

Hi

No done an early GSXR, but the engine is basically the same as the Bandit. You can reuse the rubber rocker cover gasket. Some people seem to stick them in place with silicon sealant (if you do be careful not to use too much).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[arry]

[stinkwheel]

[StevRS]

Not read the posts so forgive repetition.

No need to replace the gasket - torque it properly though.
The coolant pipes run through the valve cover - drain it first! The coolant pipes running through the valve cover are interferance fit - they will be tough to get out (mine are truly mangled after beating them out) and probably need new o-rings.

The valves aren't shimmed - nice and easy. Be sure it's cold though, preferably not ridden that day or it'll screw up the measurements.
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