Valve adjustment issue???

[VaFish]

So my latest project, Johnny 5, is making a lot of noise, I pulled the valve cover off to adjust the valves and as I turn the engine over, without the plugs in, I get to one spot that is tough to turn.

Looking at the cam shaft I have very little clearance between the cap that holds the cam in place and the lobe of the cam. It looks like it is touching.



Should I pull the cap off and hit that spot with a dremel tool?

Or is something else causing that?

All the rest seem like they are lined up properly.

[VaFish]

Problem solved. As my son was putting the valve cover back on he over torqued the bolt and broke it off. Pulled the cap off a spare motor and it has plenty of clearance.

Ticking noise is still there though. Cleaned the cam chain tensioner. Still making noise.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by VaFish

........ Ticking noise is still there though. Cleaned the cam chain tensioner. Still making noise.

Check these out:
https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=233744

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=104334

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...&postcount=735

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...01&postcount=4

The tensioner may be clean, but the balls must be perfectly round in order to achieve the jamming (no-return) effect.

The chain could be stretched beyond specs.
The guides could be worn or damaged.

[rgx107]

In the photo it looks like the tip of the lobe is damaged, or is it just a weird reflection?

[john pierson]

buy the mechanical one and end that worry!

[Brother Michigan]

You should NOT swap cam caps between engines (or even within the same engine.) The caps and the head are machines together to ensure that the tolerances between the cap/head and bearing are the same on both sides and swapping caps can lead to problems. If you suddenly developed a clearance issue with the cam lobe and the cap, you've got a problem somewhere else that you need to investigate.

[john pierson]

I was initially going to make a tool like the kawi one but found tools that worked. To get room to work I removed the coils and the radiator w mounting bracket. That gives good access to the head. Using a small screw driver, 1/4" ratchet,11/32"(or 9mm if you have one) socket and short extension all were easily done in about 1/2 hour. Mine is an '02 w 9k on it. I'm the 3rd owner and don't believe it has had valve adjustment before. All were a bit tight so it was good to get it done. It took 1/8-1/4 turn of the screws to get them right.

[CaliGrrl]

I'm coming up on time to do this, too. I did buy the Kawi tool but I'm glad you found regular tools that did the job.

I hope the snow isn't too deep there. I used to live in Minnesota. I remember winter.

[john pierson]

Mine is yellow too! I'd ask if you like guys twice your age but Gramma's nearby. Not much snow yet just cold!

[CaliGrrl]

I'm sure there will be snow soon.

My uncle in northern MN texted me over Thanksgiving and he asked if I missed snow. Um, no. I had my bike out three days around the holiday!

[john pierson]

Last month was very nice-I was out 2 weeks ago but no more 'til Spring. Where did you live in Mn?

[CaliGrrl]

Yeah, bikes and snow/ice isn't necessarily the smartest combination. It can be done but ...

I lived north of Minneapolis until 1990 and my grandparents lived up north on the Iron Range. My uncles still live up there.