For the past five years or so, I've done a lot of my own wrenching. Not being a local-club kinda guy, I rely on Clymer and the 'net to help me through the grazed knuckle process.
I've had my (bought used) single spark '03 R1150R for about six months (24,800 miles to date), and this weekend it was time for my first valve adjustment. After I took the covers off the bike, it seemed like it could've been the first valve adjustment ever! I thought I should share this story in case you're putting off your valve adjust
Armed with my Clymer manual and Jim Von Baden's DVD (thanks Jim, it helped a lot), I got to work on the right cylinder. I found TDC (actually I found it three times, just to make sure) and the first thing I discovered was the gaps weren't even close to specification, both intake and exhaust gaps were far wider than the feeler gauges. No worries (I hoped). I quickly had everything back within specification, and also made sure the rocker-arm end play was within spec, too.
With the feeler gauges still in position, I started to tighten the locknuts, but was unable to tighten the top left (intake) locknut, it just kept on spinning. Assuming it was put on incorrectly and now was stripped, I completely removed the offending locknut immediately. Sure enough, there was no thread. The guts of the locknut were now curly slivers of silver wrapped around the thread of the valve stem. I think the part number for the 10mm locknut is 11331340636. Needless to say, I'll be acquiring a few spares this week.
Anyone else had this, or something similar happen to them?
I've had my (bought used) single spark '03 R1150R for about six months (24,800 miles to date), and this weekend it was time for my first valve adjustment. After I took the covers off the bike, it seemed like it could've been the first valve adjustment ever! I thought I should share this story in case you're putting off your valve adjust
Armed with my Clymer manual and Jim Von Baden's DVD (thanks Jim, it helped a lot), I got to work on the right cylinder. I found TDC (actually I found it three times, just to make sure) and the first thing I discovered was the gaps weren't even close to specification, both intake and exhaust gaps were far wider than the feeler gauges. No worries (I hoped). I quickly had everything back within specification, and also made sure the rocker-arm end play was within spec, too.
With the feeler gauges still in position, I started to tighten the locknuts, but was unable to tighten the top left (intake) locknut, it just kept on spinning. Assuming it was put on incorrectly and now was stripped, I completely removed the offending locknut immediately. Sure enough, there was no thread. The guts of the locknut were now curly slivers of silver wrapped around the thread of the valve stem. I think the part number for the 10mm locknut is 11331340636. Needless to say, I'll be acquiring a few spares this week.
Anyone else had this, or something similar happen to them?