Valve clearance adjustment

[c-m]

Here's a bit of a random one, but which bikes can you list that don't require you to removes the cam chain etc.. when checking and adjusting the valve clearances.

I know the GPZ500 used lock nuts.

The ZXR750 J1 had sliding lobes.

Both of these bikes are old now. Are there any modern examples?

[treeno]

[J.M.]

GS500 and XJ600 don't...

... but sometimes it's easiest to pop the camshafts off if the notches in the buckets are facing to the floor instead of to the sky.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[esullivan]

Valve clearance on the NC700 looks straightforward:

https://nc700-forum.com/forum/garage-mechanical-help/2919-valve-clearance-check.html

You remove the radiator and a cover and there they are.

Not that I would ever do such a thing, of course. Chain tension adjustment and oil changes are at the very edge of my abilities/tools.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[_Iain_]

YBR, Bandit 600, GS500.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[yampug]

fj1100,1200 xjr1200, xjr1300 are fairly simple as long as you've got the correct little holding tool to hold the buckets down with. just done mine for the second time two shims needed replacing all others were fine.

here's the tool in action-
https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t317/UJMsRule/FJ1200/ShimTool.jpg

[yen_powell]

[yampug]

[Teflon-Mike]

Honda CB750 'Retro'... whats all this 'Tappet Adjustment Malarkie anyway? Hydraulic Tappets! WHY did they never catch on?
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[P.addy]

CBR125 bro, although need the tiny hands of a Jap to get in there.

[YBR Ric]

W800 has slidey bits to allow easy access to the button shims.

[arry]

[nowhere.elysium]

[Ariel Badger]

Any bike with push rods
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[Musketeer]

[rhys1005]

My ybr was easy, bike was still a pos though

[yen_powell]

[stinkwheel]

I wouldn't use that as a reason to buy or not buy a bike. Removing cam caps is no big deal and you just tie the chain up with a bit of electrical wire or string.

The thing with bucket and shim vs adjustable tappets is you need to do the shimmed ones much less frequently so while it's a bigger job, you spend a roughly equivalent time servicing them.

In fairness, same goes for hydraulic tappets. Ref: VTEC. People have been known to sell their bike before the valves need doing.

Then there are other factors. A GPZ500 does indeed have adjustable tappets BUT it also has coolant pipes going down through the rocker cover so you have to drain down the coolant first.
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[hmmmnz]

zxr750 the h series are bucket over shim, also the
bmw f650 and
aprilia pegaso with the 4 and 5 valve rotax engines are the same
triumph triples pretty much are all bucket over shim
yamaha 5 valve engines (per cylinder)

its the way of the world, some of the triples from triumph also have shim over bucket and the shim can be pulled out like on a gs500 by pressing down the bucket and using a magnet to get the shim,
which you'd think would be the best way, but i have seem split shims before using that method, bucket over shim is the best for high revving engines, its just a prick to change shims
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[RhynoCZ]

[RhynoCZ]

[Enduro Numpty]

Whether the cams need to come out or not isn't really the issue. It's all the other stuff that needs to be removed on some bikes to get to the shims in the first place. Changing shims is fairly straight forward on my FJR1300, it's removing everything else to gain access and replacing it all again that takes the time. That said I'd much rather do it myself than trust a dealer. At least I know it's been done properly.

[J.M.]

[c-m]

Well if the cams have to come out you then generally need to remove the cam chain tensioner and reset the timing.

[stinkwheel]