DIY - Checking valve lash on '08+ 250r (WITH pictures) - Page 2

SMman · May 16th, 2016, 03:08 PM

Thanks yet again. I was planning to use my digital caliper but looks like I am going shopping for a micrometer.

RacinNinja · May 16th, 2016, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMman

Thanks yet again. I was planning to use my digital caliper but looks like I am going shopping for a micrometer.

Welcome!

Problem is, calipers only measure the edge of the shim. More often than not, the shims are dished from use and the calipers will give you a false reading, where the micrometer will measure the center of the shim in the dished part giving a true thickness.

SMman · May 17th, 2016, 12:49 PM

Does everyone recommend buying the shim kit or just individual shims? I am leaning towards buying the shim kit because I am sure I will find a use for other shims at some point with 5 bikes and a scooter in the garage.

RacinNinja · May 17th, 2016, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMman

Does everyone recommend buying the shim kit or just individual shims? I am leaning towards buying the shim kit because I am sure I will find a use for other shims at some point with 5 bikes and a scooter in the garage.

Not every bike takes the same size shim. There are many, many different sizes (diameters, not thicknesses). Willing to bet your other bikes use different diameters.

Up to you. If there's a shop local that has them, get a price from them. My local shop exchanged me straight across the shims I had for what I needed, no charge.

SMman · April 21st, 2017, 07:09 AM

I finally finished the valve job and ended up adjusting all valves except for intake #2. Bike had 13,825kms at the time of adjustment. I only had to buy 2 shims at a total cost of $6 Canadian.

I bought an analog metric micrometer but it wasn't 100% necessary because my digital caliper gave the same readings. It was a good peace of mind having both tools to double check the shim adjustments.

This was my first time adjusting valves and I am thankful for this helpful post and all the replies. It will be much easier the 2nd time.

It is too bad Kawi recommends checking every 7500 miles. Honda only recommends every 16,000 miles. I sold my 2007 Suzuki DR-Z400SM a couple of weeks ago and was able to pick up a new leftover 2015 Honda CBR300R and have $290 in my pocket.

I considered a 2015 Ninja 300 but the deal was too good on the Honda. It will be my ride to work and city bike. I still have the FZ1 for longer trips, ZX-6R for sport riding, CRF450R motard for the track, and my 17 year old son has claimed the Ninja 250

Schweedo · September 16th, 2017, 04:13 PM

Just wanted to share my experience with the procedure. I knew there was a great walk through on here, figured I would use that and if I was lucky I could get the clearance checked and shims measured with time to go to a dealer to get new ones...that was roughly 7 hours ago. First problem I had was a leaking petcock and a full tank of gas to top it off, so after siphoning all the gas I could out of the tank I figured there wouldnt be much left, nope. I ended up making a long tin foil chute to direct the gas from the petcock into the can. Once I got the tank off things went pretty smooth until I got to actually removing the valve cover. I was convinced it was physically impossible, but after going a few rounds with it I was finally victorious. Checking the clearance was fairly simple so after I wrote everything down I was going to clean up and cover the engine, then I noticed one of the spark plug gaskets was missing. I knew it was there before so after looking around a bit with no luck I was a bit more than worried. Luckily I spotted it in the bottom of the "v" the can chain makes, so then it was on to fishing for the gasket with a coat hanger. Im not sure I've ever been as relieved as I was pulling that gasket out of the engine. Overall if the petcock hadn't been bad and I didn't drop that gasket in the engine it's not a very hard procedure, I still have to do the adjusting but that's going to have to wait til Monday and it won't be up and running until the new petcock comes in. Moral of the story is pay attention to those damn spark plug gaskets, I'm very happy that didn't end worse. Mine has 8175 miles so I'm a bit over due but they're not too bad. All the exhaust are on the tight end of spec while 2 of the intakes are tight but in spec and the other 2 are close to the middle of the spec.

May 16th, 2016, 03:08 PM	#41
SMman ninjette.org guru Name: Danger Location: Canada Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 15 CBR300R, 14 BWS50, 09 FZ1, 09 Ninja 250, 06 CRF450R Motard, 03 ZX-6R Posts: 422	Thanks yet again. I was planning to use my digital caliper but looks like I am going shopping for a micrometer. __________________________________________________ 15 CBR300R, 14 BWS50, 09 FZ1, 09 Ninja 250, 06 CRF450R Motard, 03 ZX-6R 636

May 17th, 2016, 12:49 PM	#43
SMman ninjette.org guru Name: Danger Location: Canada Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 15 CBR300R, 14 BWS50, 09 FZ1, 09 Ninja 250, 06 CRF450R Motard, 03 ZX-6R Posts: 422	Does everyone recommend buying the shim kit or just individual shims? I am leaning towards buying the shim kit because I am sure I will find a use for other shims at some point with 5 bikes and a scooter in the garage. __________________________________________________ 15 CBR300R, 14 BWS50, 09 FZ1, 09 Ninja 250, 06 CRF450R Motard, 03 ZX-6R 636

April 21st, 2017, 07:09 AM	#45
SMman ninjette.org guru Name: Danger Location: Canada Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 15 CBR300R, 14 BWS50, 09 FZ1, 09 Ninja 250, 06 CRF450R Motard, 03 ZX-6R Posts: 422	I finally finished the valve job and ended up adjusting all valves except for intake #2. Bike had 13,825kms at the time of adjustment. I only had to buy 2 shims at a total cost of $6 Canadian. I bought an analog metric micrometer but it wasn't 100% necessary because my digital caliper gave the same readings. It was a good peace of mind having both tools to double check the shim adjustments. This was my first time adjusting valves and I am thankful for this helpful post and all the replies. It will be much easier the 2nd time. It is too bad Kawi recommends checking every 7500 miles. Honda only recommends every 16,000 miles. I sold my 2007 Suzuki DR-Z400SM a couple of weeks ago and was able to pick up a new leftover 2015 Honda CBR300R and have $290 in my pocket. I considered a 2015 Ninja 300 but the deal was too good on the Honda. It will be my ride to work and city bike. I still have the FZ1 for longer trips, ZX-6R for sport riding, CRF450R motard for the track, and my 17 year old son has claimed the Ninja 250 __________________________________________________ 15 CBR300R, 14 BWS50, 09 FZ1, 09 Ninja 250, 06 CRF450R Motard, 03 ZX-6R 636

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September 16th, 2017, 04:13 PM	#46
Schweedo ninjette.org member Name: Chris Location: Michigan Join Date: Oct 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 2007 YZF600R Posts: 22	Just wanted to share my experience with the procedure. I knew there was a great walk through on here, figured I would use that and if I was lucky I could get the clearance checked and shims measured with time to go to a dealer to get new ones...that was roughly 7 hours ago. First problem I had was a leaking petcock and a full tank of gas to top it off, so after siphoning all the gas I could out of the tank I figured there wouldnt be much left, nope. I ended up making a long tin foil chute to direct the gas from the petcock into the can. Once I got the tank off things went pretty smooth until I got to actually removing the valve cover. I was convinced it was physically impossible, but after going a few rounds with it I was finally victorious. Checking the clearance was fairly simple so after I wrote everything down I was going to clean up and cover the engine, then I noticed one of the spark plug gaskets was missing. I knew it was there before so after looking around a bit with no luck I was a bit more than worried. Luckily I spotted it in the bottom of the "v" the can chain makes, so then it was on to fishing for the gasket with a coat hanger. Im not sure I've ever been as relieved as I was pulling that gasket out of the engine. Overall if the petcock hadn't been bad and I didn't drop that gasket in the engine it's not a very hard procedure, I still have to do the adjusting but that's going to have to wait til Monday and it won't be up and running until the new petcock comes in. Moral of the story is pay attention to those damn spark plug gaskets, I'm very happy that didn't end worse. Mine has 8175 miles so I'm a bit over due but they're not too bad. All the exhaust are on the tight end of spec while 2 of the intakes are tight but in spec and the other 2 are close to the middle of the spec.