Valve clearances wear

[keithriley]

Congratulations on a job well done 👏 Every days a school day, I hope you learned new skills along the way.

[Art]

Happy days

[Davy]

Post doing the valve clearances, l now have an intermittent problem. The bike starts on the botton and idles at 1300 rpm. It then randomly blips to about 1400 and instantly drops back to 1300. Also at lower speeds you notice a stutter under acceleration. I took the bike for a good run and the issue went away for a few days, but it's back again this morning, starting halfway through my morning commute. Any ideas? Is the timing slightly out or have l upset something else?

[keithriley]

If it’s starting on the button I’d say it’s hardly likely to be timing related, that’s either good or bad. With the bike being injected there’s a plethora of sensors feeding in to the ecu, go through all, especially those you have recently had apart, looking for any not fully connected or locked in. Same goes for the HT leads

[Art]

It won't be the valve timing out because you checked that before buttoning it all up, didn't you? Besides if the valve timing is out, even by one tooth of the timing chain, it wouldn't start'.

How many miles has it done and what have you touched since the 22nd January valve clearance adjustment?

Recheck everything you displaced under the tank to get the camshaft cover off, I'd be looking for a vacuum leak.

Did you replace the spark plugs and with what specification plug?

[Snave1000]

I’m sure on here there’s been a few posts on problems with plug caps after disturbed for maintenance, specifically no3. I’d check that out bef anything else

[Art]

LOL

The old No3 spark plug cap myth. It just doesn't happen, at least not to folk allowed spanners.

[Snave1000]

Mine was very tight and it’s pretty bad access, I could see how it might get damaged wrangling it off .. secret is gently I guess

[Art]

If you remove the crankcase vent, displace the thermostat and coil packs then remove the pair control valve and its plumbing access is fine and its a simple job to pull the caps. Its all about making room, if you try cutting corners and don't make room it could all end in tears.

If there is a secret it can be found in a can of maintenance spray (Triple QX, GT85 or if you must the reassuringly expensive WD40) lift the boot flange and using the supplied straw direct the spray down the sides of the spark plug wells, leave to penetrate then ease the caps from the spark plug wells by means of a rotary twisting motion, a quarter turn clockwise and a quarter turn anti-clockwise as you pull and they'll pull out easily.

Top tip - When re-fitting the spark plug caps give the outside a goodly smear of red rubber grease to keep them free.