First DIY Valve Clearance Check

So,

after getting the bike running a year ago and enjoying it for a season, I wanted to check the valves myself. I'm using a Honda service manual.

I'm stuck. The correct feeler gauge won't fit between any of the cam lobes (intake or exhaust) on piston #1 and I'm 95% sure that the engine is in the right placement. (see pics below)

Thoughts? Am I looking a the wrong piston? I think not because the manual tells me that #1 is the rear left piston (from the rider's position when seated on the bike)

Also, if there is no clearance at all, which direction do the adjustment screws need to rotate? Clockwise or CCW?

A recent compression test got somewhere around 130 psi for each piston

thanks in advance

 

Based on the top picture, it looks like the lobes are partially (or close to) lifting the valves. Like Tink said, rotate the engine until the lobes are roughly opposite the valves. I generally shoot for 180 degrees opposite, as in the lobes pointing straight up as referenced to the valve stems, but 25 degrees or so in either direction off center will probably be fine. I'm assuming this is your '86 since you reference screw adjusters. I've never worked on one, so I can't offer any input on which way they need to turn. Are they located behind the cam housing in the picture?

 

The service manual says intake should have 0.004 thru 0.005 inches of clearance, the one i used was 0.004 thru 0.006

 

It does look like you have the engine 180 oot.

 

yes they are on the other side of the cam:

 

I have some time this afternoon and I'm going to mess with it more. thanks a million for the timely input updates to come

 

Based on the way they are located with reference to the cam/valves, I'd suspect that turning them clockwise would decrease clearance, and CCW would increase clearance.

Great pictures, by the way.

 

Okay thanks a million for all the help. With a little more time I was able to get the rear cylinders finished and started on the front. :tongue:

QUESTION:

recently I saw a thread about a loud ticking noise not caused by the valves but caused by a spring that kept the gears from getting slack...

what do i need to do to inspect that spring before I put this puppy all back together?