Posted by Jim on December 17, 2001 at 22:36:33:
In Reply to: Re: Checking (not adjusting) valve clearence posted by Frank Moss on December 17, 2001 at 21:16:27:
Here's what I always do:
1. Make sure the .10 gauge just fits in (you should have to push it kind of hard and it will try and flex away from you if you give it a chance). try to get a feeling for how tight it is and make them all match.
2. Make sure the next larger gauge doesn't fit no matter what you do. On all valves.
3. The next smaller should slide in easy, again, on all 4 valves.
4. It doesn't matter what size you decide to use, so long as it is within the factory specs and the same on all valves.
Generally speaking, the wider the clearance, the less the rocker is acting on the valve, the less the valve opens. If your valves open too far, you lose power. If they don't open far enough, you burn up valves which would require a pretty major effort to fix (replace valves, regrind valve seats, or both).
At the first (600 mile) service on my Savage, I noticed the valves were not uniformly adjusted. (Gee, imagine Suzuki shipping a Savage that wasn't set up right!!!!!) I fixed it and noticed MAJOR changes in perfromance.
KTRSD,
-Jim