I'm wanting to learn to do things for myself on this bike (09250sf) so I'm learning as I go. I've adjusted valves on vw motors but that is about it. so can anyone point me in the right direction for checking and adjusting valves on these bikes, what tools are needed, how do you start.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

I need to do my valves too!

 

Get (download from this site) the shop manual and read up on it. It's really very easy all you need is a set of feeler gauges. Remove the valve cover on the top of the engine and the inspection plug (to find TDC on the engine left side). Place the engine at TDC on the compression stroke and insert the feeler gauge between the cam loeb in the shim. The procedure maybe in the owners maual as well I'm not sure.

 

I meant "cam lobe and the shim". Sorry.

 

Isn't that the name of a band? "Cam Lobe and the Shim"

 

Don't forget that you ought to replace the valve cover gasket as the OEM one has been known to be a leaker. The real tough part is when you find that the valve clearance is out of spec.

 

Measuring the valve gap is fairly easy. Actually adjusting them is quite involved; the camshafts have to be removed to get to the shims under the buckets. And you need a selection of shims to get the right setting. Nowhere near as easy as the VW's screw with locknut arrangement.