Friday, May 7, 2010

Honda shadow valve adjustment, part III

And results are just perfect:


Distances 've mesured was from 0.9 mm (no shims needed) up to 1.5 mm - 2 shims.


measuring process...

You can find out how to make measuring tool by going to part 1 and 2
Method proved to be right - everything worked like a charm. Engine runs smooth and silent.

Honda shadow valve adjustment, part II

...then it can be mounted this way:

I've reused valve cover screw holes to install support whole construction


Our "probe" is depth meter



Spin crankshaft couple of times....


Couple of crankshaft revolutions - and we have results !
(small pins push caliper depth meter up for some distance, which is used to decide how many shims do we need.)
Continue to part III 
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Adjusting honda shadow vt 1100 valves/shims, Part I

For last two years I was riding my honda shadow with quite annoying "feature" - valve ticking. This usually happens, if spaces between valve and rocker arms are not aligned properly. In most of the engines this is quite an easy task - you need some basic tools to measure spaces, screwdriver, and some 15-20 minutes to fix everything...
Nice example. Well, and the guy complains about that it has to be adjusted every 4000 miles.;)

In Honda shadow VT1100 case - it's different. No adjustment necesary for long time - meet fully automatic, hydraulic valve adjustment. :)
In general it is nice, and should work with no problems in most of the cases. Anyway, when engine get's older, it needs to be tuned a bit - some number of "shims" has to be placed under tappets, to correct wearing problems. 
What is what - in the image below:

Number 11 is called "shim", number 13 - tappet.

To access these parts you need to remove engine from the frame, and open engine cilynder "head". Honda does not reccomend doing that without proper knowledge and skills. As I have some skills, decided to try.

The problem - tools. I was unable to find honda tappets/shims adjuster tool, nor it was clear, how to built it by myself. Until one day, an idea, how everything could be realised came.

Results are below:

First, we need caliper, that would be able to measure depth (see that small thingy under caliper in image below ?).
It will not be damaged anyhow. As you can see, it's bottom is mounted in to custom device, that I've made from L shape metal...


Took 15 minutes to do it. Few more holes for device base and caliper mount....
Side view


Bottom view


Top view

Continued to part II
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