Ninja 300 shimming valves question

jjmaine · December 1st, 2022, 12:44 PM

I just checked my valves and 3 on the tighter sode of in spec and 1 was just out of spec (too tight). After getting shims and playing the swap game I now have 3 exhaust valves that are right in the middle of spec spec is (.22-.29mm)and 1 valve is just in spec but on the loose side. It is either .28 or .29mm, it is hard to tell since I only have a .28mm and .30mm feeler gauges. The .28 goes in easy and feels just maybe a hair small and the .30 will only go in of I really force it.
The only thing I could do is swap shims with another valve but then that valve will end up on the high side of spec lol.
I guess my only choice is to leave it? I just hate having 1 valve not matching close with the others but at least it is on the loose side right? If anything the clearance should only get smaller?

Triple Jim · December 1st, 2022, 01:22 PM

It's no big deal to have one on the loose side of the spec. After all, the spec is very narrow anyway. Since as you said, the clearances get smaller with miles, I aim for the loose side of the spec anyway.

jjmaine · December 1st, 2022, 02:27 PM

Thanks! It won’t cause any extra valve train noise as long as it is within spec?

Triple Jim · December 1st, 2022, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjmaine

Thanks! It won’t cause any extra valve train noise as long as it is within spec?

Correct. Valve train noise is not something that you hear about around here.

jjmaine · December 1st, 2022, 02:36 PM

Sweet! Yeah, the only valves I have adjusted in the past were the tappet adjust with lock nut. I love the infinite adjustment you get as long as you take the time to get it perfect. I guess when they only make shims in .05mm intervals you’re bound to sometimes end up towards the edge of spec range.
What’s weird is my oem shims from kawasaki all measured different. 2.82, 2.77, 2.80 and 2.79. I believe I measured them correctly because the Hot Cams shims I got (and measured the exact same way) measured all 2.70, 2.75, and 2.80mm

jjmaine · December 2nd, 2022, 01:00 PM

I think I’m using the feeler gauges wrong? I read somewhere that these buckets are concave (for some reason) but it means if you push good enough you can get feeler gauges in that are over your actual clearance size?
My method in the past has always been to push the feeler gauge in and see how easy it slides back and forth?
I think I’m wrong and what has been confusing me is I can get a .25 gauge in and slide it back and forth and I think “that feels just about perfect” but then I push a .28mm gauge in and slide it back and forth and that feels perfect too! Should I just go small to big and when the gauge hits that slight stop (before it takes any force to push in), that gauge is too big?
I bet I’ve checked these valves 100 times lol.
Can anyone break it down for me the best method to check clearance with these bucket/shims?

jjmaine · December 2nd, 2022, 01:02 PM

I know it is hard since it is mostly a “go by feel and experience” type of thing but any tips will help. Surely I’m overthinking it but I figure since I have all winter I might as well get them as best as I can.

Triple Jim · December 2nd, 2022, 04:42 PM

Have you read the how-to page?

https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do..._the_valves%3F

jjmaine · December 3rd, 2022, 01:18 PM

Holy **** thank you! I had no idea that video series existed but I wish I had before I started. I would have watched the valve adjustment videos before-hand.
I took the cams out to shim my valves, put it all back together but 1 valve was still too tight (a measuring error on my part), took the cams back out and re-shimmed the tight valve and then it was perfect except when I took the cams out the chain jumped a tooth on the flywheel. OUT THEY COME again and now I finally have it correct. If I had used his tricks in the video it would have been smooth sailing. Next time.
I only hope taking the cams in and out 3 times didn’t harm anything? I torqued everything to spec each time…
Thanks for the heads up Jim!

jjmaine · December 3rd, 2022, 01:19 PM

And thanks to who took the time to record all of those videos (I didn’t see who it was)!

December 1st, 2022, 12:44 PM	#1
jjmaine ninjette.org member Name: Justin Location: Maine Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): '05 Ninja 250, '16 Ninja 300 Posts: 113	Ninja 300 shimming valves question I just checked my valves and 3 on the tighter sode of in spec and 1 was just out of spec (too tight). After getting shims and playing the swap game I now have 3 exhaust valves that are right in the middle of spec spec is (.22-.29mm)and 1 valve is just in spec but on the loose side. It is either .28 or .29mm, it is hard to tell since I only have a .28mm and .30mm feeler gauges. The .28 goes in easy and feels just maybe a hair small and the .30 will only go in of I really force it. The only thing I could do is swap shims with another valve but then that valve will end up on the high side of spec lol. I guess my only choice is to leave it? I just hate having 1 valve not matching close with the others but at least it is on the loose side right? If anything the clearance should only get smaller?

December 1st, 2022, 01:22 PM	#2
Triple Jim Guy Who Enjoys Riding Name: Jim Location: North Carolina Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16	It's no big deal to have one on the loose side of the spec. After all, the spec is very narrow anyway. Since as you said, the clearances get smaller with miles, I aim for the loose side of the spec anyway.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

December 3rd, 2022, 01:18 PM	#9
jjmaine ninjette.org member Name: Justin Location: Maine Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): '05 Ninja 250, '16 Ninja 300 Posts: 113	Holy **** thank you! I had no idea that video series existed but I wish I had before I started. I would have watched the valve adjustment videos before-hand. I took the cams out to shim my valves, put it all back together but 1 valve was still too tight (a measuring error on my part), took the cams back out and re-shimmed the tight valve and then it was perfect except when I took the cams out the chain jumped a tooth on the flywheel. OUT THEY COME again and now I finally have it correct. If I had used his tricks in the video it would have been smooth sailing. Next time. I only hope taking the cams in and out 3 times didn’t harm anything? I torqued everything to spec each time… Thanks for the heads up Jim!
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

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December 1st, 2022, 02:27 PM	#3
jjmaine ninjette.org member Name: Justin Location: Maine Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): '05 Ninja 250, '16 Ninja 300 Posts: 113	Thanks! It won’t cause any extra valve train noise as long as it is within spec?

December 1st, 2022, 02:36 PM	#5
jjmaine ninjette.org member Name: Justin Location: Maine Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): '05 Ninja 250, '16 Ninja 300 Posts: 113	Sweet! Yeah, the only valves I have adjusted in the past were the tappet adjust with lock nut. I love the infinite adjustment you get as long as you take the time to get it perfect. I guess when they only make shims in .05mm intervals you’re bound to sometimes end up towards the edge of spec range. What’s weird is my oem shims from kawasaki all measured different. 2.82, 2.77, 2.80 and 2.79. I believe I measured them correctly because the Hot Cams shims I got (and measured the exact same way) measured all 2.70, 2.75, and 2.80mm

December 2nd, 2022, 01:00 PM	#6
jjmaine ninjette.org member Name: Justin Location: Maine Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): '05 Ninja 250, '16 Ninja 300 Posts: 113	I think I’m using the feeler gauges wrong? I read somewhere that these buckets are concave (for some reason) but it means if you push good enough you can get feeler gauges in that are over your actual clearance size? My method in the past has always been to push the feeler gauge in and see how easy it slides back and forth? I think I’m wrong and what has been confusing me is I can get a .25 gauge in and slide it back and forth and I think “that feels just about perfect” but then I push a .28mm gauge in and slide it back and forth and that feels perfect too! Should I just go small to big and when the gauge hits that slight stop (before it takes any force to push in), that gauge is too big? I bet I’ve checked these valves 100 times lol. Can anyone break it down for me the best method to check clearance with these bucket/shims?

December 2nd, 2022, 01:02 PM	#7
jjmaine ninjette.org member Name: Justin Location: Maine Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): '05 Ninja 250, '16 Ninja 300 Posts: 113	I know it is hard since it is mostly a “go by feel and experience” type of thing but any tips will help. Surely I’m overthinking it but I figure since I have all winter I might as well get them as best as I can.

December 2nd, 2022, 04:42 PM	#8
Triple Jim Guy Who Enjoys Riding Name: Jim Location: North Carolina Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16	Have you read the how-to page? https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do..._the_valves%3F

December 3rd, 2022, 01:19 PM	#10
jjmaine ninjette.org member Name: Justin Location: Maine Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): '05 Ninja 250, '16 Ninja 300 Posts: 113	And thanks to who took the time to record all of those videos (I didn’t see who it was)!