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1994 K75 valve adjust needed?

wjg4oh

New member
My '94 K75 has 22,000 miles on it. I checked the valves for the first time last week and the intake valves were all nicely within spec, but all three exhaust valves were over .30 mm. I was surprised given the low miles on the bike, and thought maybe some carbon had fallen down between the valves and seats so I buttoned everything up and took it for several rides.

Today I checked them again and confirmed my earlier measurements:
#1 exhaust (front) .37
#2 exhaust .33
#3 exhaust .32

I'm assuming they need adjustment, but I've also heard it's ok if the exhaust valves are a little loose since they tend to close up over time, but .37 seems like a lot.

The bike is running fine.

Suggestions?
 
Go for it!

Funny; I also have a 94 K75S with 27,000 miles (turned over to 27k 4 miles before arriving at the dealer's).

I thought one of the valves was a bit off and sure enough, it was (but not by as much as yours). I had them adjust and re-shim all three cylinders as well as put in a new set of plugs for good measure.

My goodness gracious what a difference it made! The bike is smoother than ever before. Now I just need to get the throttle bodies synched at some point and it'll be smooth all the way to redline.
 
There are two possibilities:

Someone adjusted the valves incorrectly previously.

You used too much pressure in pushing the feeler gauge and came up with an inaccurate measurement.

I have no way of knowing which.




After any change of valve adjustment it is recommended to rebalance the throttle bodies.



:dance:dance:dance
 
I bought the bike at 10,000 miles. I suppose the PO could have adjusted the valves, but I rather doubt it.

I try to be careful not to use too much force on the feeler gauges -- when I feel a light drag I assume that is the correct measurement. It's difficult to get an accurate reading, however, as I have to bow the guages to get them into the gap, and when bowing them I may be using too much force.

Is it possible the valves came like this from the factory, or opened up this much?

I'm thinking of adjusting #1 to bring it in line with #2 and #3.
 
Wally,


It sounds like you might be trying to insert the feeler gauge on the intakes from the top and the exhausts from the bottom.

If you insert the gauge into the intakes from the bottom (from the spark plug side of the cam) and the exhausts from the top (from the spark plug side of the cam) you shouldn't have to bow the gauge.


Sure, it's possible that they were misadjusted at the factory or at the dealer first service. It is also possible that the wrong oil was used, especially during break-in (which your bike hasn't finished doing). These bikes require oils that are high in anti wear additives SG and earlier. The antiwear additives were removed from most subsequent grades of oils as they mess with the catalytic converters in cars. It is very common in older flat tappet cam engines for the cam to wear rapidly after a new cam replacement if the correct oil with the high antiwear additives isn't used.


If you are SURE that your measurements are correct, I would correct all that are not within spec.. The .33 would adjust to .28 and the .37 would adjust to .27. Make sure the new shims are well seated, then crank the motor over several times, then measure
them again. Write down the results of all the valves for your records and date it. Check them again next year. See if they've moved, especially the one that started at .37.




:dance:dance:dance
 
Thanks for the suggestions, 98lee.

I measured the valve clearances very carefully this afternoon (third time!) using the go-no-go technique and this is what I found:

#1 .356mm, .014"
#2 .330mm, .013"
#3 .305mm, .012"

I got the necessary shims and adjusted #1 and #2 -- and now all three exhaust valves are nicely in spec.

I checked the air bypass screws this evening prior to doing a TB sync tomorrow and found that #1 was 3 turns out, #2 was 2.5 turns out, and #3 was just a tad over 1 turn out. Sure looks like a PO had to compensate for mis-adjusted valves. They must have gotten mixed up (easy to do) when adjusting the valves and put in smaller rather than larger shims -- guess they didn't check their work!
 
My 1988 has only needed 4 shims in 70K miles. All on the exhaust side, all were just a tad tight.

Just thought I's share.
 
My 1988 has only needed 4 shims in 70K miles. All on the exhaust side, all were just a tad tight.

Looks like I may hold the record for *most* shims -- 2 in 22,000 miles!

After the valve adjust, the air bypass screw on #1 needs two more turns than the ones on #2 and #3, which are nicely balanced. Looks like I may have a vacuum leak.
 
Before I had my valves adjusted (really only needed 1 shim in 27k miles but had the other two put in so the clearances would be right in mid-range) I replaced all of my external fuel lines and vacuum hoses.

Turned out that I had a vacuum leak on the first cylinder (same one whose valves were out of whack) and so I replaced the injector nipple caps which were old and cracked. Made quite a difference, of course!

Quick question for Lee or anyone else knowledgeable on the subject of throttle body synching; can it be done by ear or is it something that requires specialized gear?

I read somehwere that one can turn all the screws all the way in and then turn them out so many turns until they're purring along evenly---but I'd worry about messing it up or losing track of what's what...:dunno
 
Quick question for Lee or anyone else knowledgeable on the subject of throttle body synching; can it be done by ear or is it something that requires specialized gear?

You NEED a set of vacuum gauges or manometers to correctly adjust them.

I've used the SyncPro by MotionPro for years on dozens of K75s. It lists for about $110. I just saw this:

http://www.autotoolworld.com/Motion-Pro-08-0411-SyncPRO-Carb-Tuner--4-Cylinder_p_158364.html

That's a hell of a deal!!!

It's very easy to use and works great. No adapters needed for K-bikes. This and a screwdriver will balance your throttle bodies perfectly.




:dance:dance:dance
 
My 1988 has only needed 4 shims in 70K miles. All on the exhaust side, all were just a tad tight.

Just thought I's share.

When mine was new, I had to reshim maybe twice. Once the motor had about 20,000 miles or so, the value clearances stopped changing. I probably went the next 50,000 or 75,000 miles with no adjustment at all.
 
The problem with buying a carb sync tool (I have a CarbTune) is that you'll start wanting to sync your throttle bodies weekly :) Get one - You won't regret it.

My valves were so tight when I first checked them I was surprised the engine ran. Adjusted valves and balanced TB's and it was like getting a new engine.
 
I hear what you are saying, Tim; just the difference I noticed after replacing the injector caps made me realize how beneficial simple maintenance can be.

Once I get one of those Motion Pros I will be out there synching the TBs every week!:eat
 
Just ordered a MotionPro. Thanks for the link, 98lee.

It looks like I have a vacuum leak at the throttle bodies. I'm going to do more diagnosis, but it appears to be those $50 intake manifolds between the TBs and the engine. Ouch!
 
Make sure it's not the o-ring on the brass adjustment screws or the vacuum port caps (easier and cheaper) first.


:dance:dance:dance
 
TB O-rings

Didn't know about those O-rings so I guess when I do the TB sync it'd be wise to replace them as well before adjusting the screws---this will probably be the first time that's been done since new...

So if I understand things correctly I would
1) remove the TB screws
2) install new O-rings
3) put the screws back in all the way, then back them out a nominal amount, say 1.5 turns
4) hook up the Motion Pro and set about adjusting them for most even level thereafter until done

? Let me know if I missed anything; I'm going to order one of those MPs as soon as I can round up a few extra "hobby bucks."
 
Make sure it's not the o-ring on the brass adjustment screws or the vacuum port caps (easier and cheaper) first.

Lee, I've already replaced the o-rings, and the caps fit tightly.

When the manifolds go is it the rubber boot or the hard part that bolts to the head (warped). Any possibility they can be repaired/reconditioned to save the $150?

I want to try the carb cleaner again and try to be very focused with it to see if I can isolate the problem.
 
I would like to check/adjust the valves and sync the throttle bodies on my '88 K75S in the next month. I bought a manometer, but I lack the two tools required for the valve adjustment. I have a couple of good friends who are R-bike experts, but I have the only K-bike in the area, so there are no tools that I can borrow.

Anybody have an idea where I can purchase, beg, borrow, or steal, well, I guess not steal, the tools?
 
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