Did 1st valve adjustment today on my Hawk

closedquestion · 03-23-2016, 02:53 AM

Hello all,
I think in another post of mine I wrote that I can turn a wrench, but a mechanic I'm not. I'm very visual show me and I learn pretty well. If it's just words or a "generic" one size fits all tutorial I get lost easy. I've owned all types of bikes over the years, but they have all been new, and with service contracts. Beyond adding things to the bikes and a few minor performance accessories here and there I didn't work on my bikes. So this was my first valve adjustment ever.

Now to the point of my post. Here is what I did....

Took the valve cover off to expose the valves, took the little silver cover off to show the flywheel, took spark plug out, used thumb to hold over spark plug hole while using kickstart to advance flywheel. Once I felt pressure I then looked for the "T" there was no other mark to match the T with I assumed that since the T had a vertical line before and after the T, that the T, not either of the lines themselves that the T itself was TDC and put it in middle of sight window. I tried to wiggle the tappets but neither would budge, as many had reported I figured they were both set at .000 as long as I had TDC correct. So I loosened locknuts, set intake at .05 and exhaust .08. Took me a few try's to get tightened without changing it. Eventually got both lock nuts tightened at .05 and .08. There now was just a bit of movement. Next I buttoned it all up. I have not started it yet because I wanted to get some validation to the process I just explained. Everything worked as I had read in various tutorials. Didn't seem the hard as I thought it would be. Get plates last plates last Friday, and I want to ride!!

03-23-2016, 02:53 AM	#1
closedquestion Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: The Gorge, Oregon Posts: 52	Did 1st valve adjustment today on my Hawk Hello all, I think in another post of mine I wrote that I can turn a wrench, but a mechanic I'm not. I'm very visual show me and I learn pretty well. If it's just words or a "generic" one size fits all tutorial I get lost easy. I've owned all types of bikes over the years, but they have all been new, and with service contracts. Beyond adding things to the bikes and a few minor performance accessories here and there I didn't work on my bikes. So this was my first valve adjustment ever. Now to the point of my post. Here is what I did.... Took the valve cover off to expose the valves, took the little silver cover off to show the flywheel, took spark plug out, used thumb to hold over spark plug hole while using kickstart to advance flywheel. Once I felt pressure I then looked for the "T" there was no other mark to match the T with I assumed that since the T had a vertical line before and after the T, that the T, not either of the lines themselves that the T itself was TDC and put it in middle of sight window. I tried to wiggle the tappets but neither would budge, as many had reported I figured they were both set at .000 as long as I had TDC correct. So I loosened locknuts, set intake at .05 and exhaust .08. Took me a few try's to get tightened without changing it. Eventually got both lock nuts tightened at .05 and .08. There now was just a bit of movement. Next I buttoned it all up. I have not started it yet because I wanted to get some validation to the process I just explained. Everything worked as I had read in various tutorials. Didn't seem the hard as I thought it would be. Get plates last plates last Friday, and I want to ride!!
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