Don't berate me.. just valve question I can't figure out

[Plump Kibbles]

Originally Posted by stewbrash

This video is an excellent teaching-tool for those of us who are 'not quite sure' about things! The only issue I have is that you should only tighten the lock-nut down with a closed-end wrench...firmly...while keeping your nipple-tool/vice grips attached. Using the torque wrench WILL only tighten the adjustment nipple you so carefully set. BAD MOJO! There is a tool you can obtain, which is a wrench-head attached to 1/4" ratchet-head...which attaches to your torque wrench, but to me that's getting carried away. Just FIRMLY tighten with the wrench. I've never had a problem.

Agreed - I had to refer to the 'ol Motocheez video to just figure out how to get to them, and which version I have lol I have the SOHC setup, no push rods. Same with the spoke torque wrench IMHO; it's 80 f'n dollars.. My 15 dollar Amazon special does just as good does what it's supposed to!

The tool I need I believe would just be a Honda CRF230 valve lash wrench..... if I could find one. Advanced Auto has some online only - standard sizing too. Need the metric 4mm square bit and a 10mm hex. Till then though - I should be good for another 500mi. I believe.. someone said 500mi. for a valve maintenance schedule; I think.. The manual has nothing for valve lash adjustments either.

[Plump Kibbles]

Originally Posted by KenTaoyan

I posted this information before based on my learning curve. (slow) Seams like it has already been answered but here are my 2 cents with a little more detail that I found to be useful...


Valve lash - It came from China with “0” clearance. There is extensive information on this topic but I needed further description on “Top Dead Center, Compression stroke” (yeah I am a newbie motorcycle mechanic.) With the valve cover off, rotate the motor counter clockwise until you see the Intake valve close. Slowly keep turning until you first see a double line then a line with an “F” and then finally come to rest on the line with the “T”. I found it tough to tighten the nut down and stopping the adjustment screw from turning as well. I found that if I tightened the nut down on a .005 feeler gauge it would create a snug .003 on the intake valve and a .006 on the Exhaust valve it would create a .004.(Some clicking is expected.) How much clicking? Mine has a slight click sound and my hawk runs awesome.

Same for me - I did the first adjustment and it went perfectly! Same - 0 gap from the factory, cold starts were a b!tch and wouldn't stay on. That is a promising sounding trick though - I'll have to give that a shot if I can't find the right tool for my engine! I do usually pull the plug and just watch for the piston, just was lazy this time.. and showed lol Lots of new stuff to me being a new China bike owner lol the closest powersports shop just said 'no' and was kinda rude about it. Maybe cause I didn't get it from them.. but still; tire truing? Anyway, yeah I do have some taps, not loud, not silent, but they're there. Kind of like piston slap on the older LS1 engines; normal audible quirks. But, now I know what too much gap sounds like!

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by Plump Kibbles

I'm at 518mi. - had three oil changes since getting it, swapping the fluid and doing the valves.. Now, when I did the valves, I was still under 100mi. and did the intake at .002 and exhaust at .003 per another users expertise on the adjustments.

Now I'm at 518mi., and was suggested to check the valves around 500mi. so, that I did. They were very, very tight like before. I also have changed carbs and swapped out the main jet for a 110 - and set the intake for .003, exhaust for .004.... and this is where it gets sticky. When I finished up, I started the bike and immediately noticed a very prominent 'tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick'.... during the tear down, I swapped out the ignition coil for one of the 'performance' coils; I'm not exactly sure if this is what's being heard, or if it is the valves.. but I'm not too sure what to do at this point. I'm going to go over it again tomorrow and re-do the valves for intake .002, exhaust .003 like before and see what happens. . . And was at TDC like I should have been.

It has been a while since I've been on here - I know valves are a common thing but I wouldn't think I could have any internal issues at 518mi... but I could be absolutely wrong.. Before the adjustment, tight valves, no ticks - ran actually pretty darn good. Did the adjustment around 100mi. and still no ticks, still ran good. Can't keep up enough for interstate, but I have enough back roads to compensate... but I'm about to go out on a ride THIS Friday - and this happens..

Does anyone have any suggestions aside readjusting the valves back down to where I was (.002 / .003)?? Along with the main jet, I have changed the CDI and ignition coil - came with the 'kit' and put it on.. I was running it without the coil with the new CDI just last night to try an LED headlight out and no problems.. maybe I botched the valves...

Thanks in advance!

A tappy engine is a happy engine.

[Plump Kibbles]

Well - the new tail tidy kit I got for my bike, gone..

Was on the trail and started to get a little bunny hoppy - little hills.. and I got maybe a few ft. of hangtime, overshot like crazy and came down on the incline of another hill and bottomed out... didn't know. Kept riding - ripped one side of my tail tidy off, ripped the wires out of the tail light / brake light, popped the wiring out for the signals, AND bent my plate.. Just my luck! lol No injuries - no crash; just a botched landing -__-

On a good note - after getting the valves straightened out, I was able to keep up on I81 getting to the trail at 80MPH!! Now I can change my signature for top speed lol Good Lord was that iffy though.. I do have the nice 90/10 knobbie tread too. THAT was very surprising to me - but made me grin! I do have a good bit of blow-by that catches in a tube off the crank case leading to (I'm assuming) a check valve that I put a breather filter on... is that normal though? Granted, I was pretty much WOT on the road. 55MPH is good, the interstate pushed it hard though. Just want to make sure it's not something to worry about.

I'm an old desert rider, so I go pretty hard off-road anyway.. Just didn't think that was going to happen!!

I DID get that on my GoPro as well - I'm working on the video and writing this.

Thanks everyone again for all the replies! Now that I'm getting off my duff and being more active I'm sure I'll be back for more!