Here is my story: In my country I own a 1999 CBR 600 F x and I love motorbikes. This is not my first time to Thailand so some years ago I started building a relationship with a thai mechanic. I now consider him a friend.
Couple of weeks ago I got tempted to buy a Kawasaki Klx 140 cc, so I went to my friend's to show him the motorbike and he told me not to buy it, as he had a TTR to offer me.
TTR has been standing in his place for long time, and he said he would fix some small issues before giving it to me to try.
Ok. Not to make big story;finally Im taking care of the bike.
I have found that oil leaking from camshaft belonged to where decompressor might be, and as my friend didn't have the rubber, some time ago for other TTr's he got he made a rounded metal piece to fit that now I have stuck with epoxi.
Other issue was carburator. So I have pulled it apart, cleaned and serviced everything ( jets, etc) and left carb in good shape ( i think).
Then I have asked my friend about any other issue bike could have/was having.
So he told me that "sometimes" bike was not starting good or stopped running.
I have decided to check valves clearances. So I have found that regarding specs, shims needed to be changed.
I have disassembled everything and while taking camshafts apart, I have realized that two shims were missing!!!!!!
Not just that, the other two got no value/measures.
Im living on an island, so impossible to find a micrometer.
What do you suggest me to do?
Do you think in these consitions I will need to check valves as well?
I just repair bikes as a hobbie. Never have studied. Just read, read, read by myself and have learnt a bit. I service and keep my CBR in good shape.
But yes, always learning and feeling a newbie.
Help would be appreciated.
Kob Khun Krap (Cheers)
Lisandro
-- Edited by Lichi on Monday 23rd of January 2017 05:51:40 PM
Regarding the shims, you have to start somewhere to get the clearances correct. My advice would be to buy a feeler gauge, a 185 and 195 shim for the inlet valves and a 165 and 175 shim for the exhaust valves. This would allow you to swap the different shims around to get the clearances within specification.
Steve at Totally TTRs in the UK will almost certainly ship to Thailand and these are the parts you might want to buy from him:
Sounds like a big project when you're off the mainland. Maybe your "friend" should have sorted out some of the other "small issues" before you took over?
Brian's advice is spot-on. You will definitely need feeler gauges to make sure there is enough tolerance to allow the valves to fully close. I haven't checked the part numbers in Brian's answer, but I'm sure Steve at totallyttrs could add a set to your order if you have none available.
I would at least check the valves are sealing properly by cleaning the cylinder head, fit a spark plug, turn it upside down and fill the middle with diesel (not petrol, it evaporates too fast) If the valves are not seated properly, diesel will leak into the exhaust and/or inlet tracts (holes) and they will need some work doing. If there is no leaking, I would leave the valves in place. Worry about valve stem seals later if it smokes when you get it running.
Regarding the shims, you have to start somewhere to get the clearances correct. My advice would be to buy a feeler gauge, a 185 and 195 shim for the inlet valves and a 165 and 175 shim for the exhaust valves. This would allow you to swap the different shims around to get the clearances within specification.
Steve at Totally TTRs in the UK will almost certainly ship to Thailand and these are the parts you might want to buy from him:
Thank you Brian for your welcome and good advises.
Actually I got a feeler gauge and have used it to check clearances. All of them were out of specs, so I took camshafts apart to check what was there and follow chart for buying new ones, and have found that two were missing and rest two were "rectified" with no values written.
I don't have a micrometer.
So yes, buying those sizes would be a good point where to start.
Cheers mate.
Lisandro
-- Edited by Lichi on Tuesday 24th of January 2017 02:43:45 AM
Sounds like a big project when you're off the mainland. Maybe your "friend" should have sorted out some of the other "small issues" before you took over?
Brian's advice is spot-on. You will definitely need feeler gauges to make sure there is enough tolerance to allow the valves to fully close. I haven't checked the part numbers in Brian's answer, but I'm sure Steve at totallyttrs could add a set to your order if you have none available.
I would at least check the valves are sealing properly by cleaning the cylinder head, fit a spark plug, turn it upside down and fill the middle with diesel (not petrol, it evaporates too fast) If the valves are not seated properly, diesel will leak into the exhaust and/or inlet tracts (holes) and they will need some work doing. If there is no leaking, I would leave the valves in place. Worry about valve stem seals later if it smokes when you get it running.
Good luck,
Simon.
Hi Simon,
Thank you very much for your welcome.
You know how Thailand and this island is. Everything is relaxed and a minor issue. Even is not :)
Anyways, I enjoy doing it ( also Im learning) and is still not my bike. Monsoon season has extended quite a lot this year, almost two months already....so yeah, playing with a bike is a good way to entertain myself.
I already got feeler gauge. I don't have here measurements I took. I have written them down and are at my friend's shop. Were out of specs, but not soo bad. But yes, when I took camshafts apart and have found two shims were missing, I was concerned.
I don't have a micrometer to measure the other two that have been rectified and have no number written.
Regarding your directions about fillling hole and turning it upside down. Excuse me, English is my second language and sometimes I have comprehension issues. Even I have re read it, I couldn't catch all.
You meant to put diesel inside of the piston, then the fit plug and turn engine upside down? This while having new shims fitted, right?
Advises would be appreciated.
Argentinean working on a TTR in a Thai island *&^*%$#??!!!
I deserve that help! :)
Cheers mate
Lisandro
-- Edited by Lichi on Tuesday 24th of January 2017 02:42:06 AM
Regarding your directions about filling hole and turning it upside down. Excuse me, English is my second language and sometimes I have comprehension issues. Even I have re read it, I couldn't catch all.
You meant to put diesel inside of the piston, then the fit plug and turn engine upside down? This while having new shims fitted, right?
Advice would be appreciated.
What Simon means is that, if you take the cylinder head off for inspection and cleaning, you turn it upside down as shown in the photo below and fill the combustion chamber with diesel. You will need to have the spark plug fitted!
Leave it to see if any diesel leaks through between the valves and the valve seats in the cylinder head. If it leaks through it will indicate that it would be worth taking the valves out to clean them up, fit new valve stem oil seals and lap (grind) them back in so they seat near perfectly.
Notes:
1. Don't forget to take the cam buckets off first and make sure you know where they go back.
2. I hate the smell of diesel so I use WD40 instead!
3. When you have the camshaft cover off, turn the engine to TDC and check the position of the sprocket timing lines against the cylinder head. If the left-hand sprocket leans over significantly when the right-hand sprocket is parallel with the head then it is worth replacing the timing chain whilst the engine is apart - see http://ttr250.com/Timing_chain/TTR250_timing_chain_fitting.htm
Regarding your directions about filling hole and turning it upside down. Excuse me, English is my second language and sometimes I have comprehension issues. Even I have re read it, I couldn't catch all.
You meant to put diesel inside of the piston, then the fit plug and turn engine upside down? This while having new shims fitted, right?
Advice would be appreciated.
What Simon means is that, if you take the cylinder head off for inspection and cleaning, you turn it upside down as shown in the photo below and fill the combustion chamber with diesel. You will need to have the spark plug fitted!
Leave it to see if any diesel leaks through between the valves and the valve seats in the cylinder head. If it leaks through it will indicate that it would be worth taking the valves out to clean them up, fit new valve stem oil seals and lap (grind) them back in so they seat near perfectly.
Notes:
1. Don't forget to take the cam buckets off first and make sure you know where they go back.
2. I hate the smell of diesel so I use WD40 instead!
3. When you have the camshaft cover off, turn the engine to TDC and check the position of the sprocket timing lines against the cylinder head. If the left-hand sprocket leans over significantly when the right-hand sprocket is parallel with the head then it is worth replacing the timing chain whilst the engine is apart - see http://ttr250.com/Timing_chain/TTR250_timing_chain_fitting.htm
Brian
Thanks Brian.
This forum rocks!!!
Thank you guys for your help.
Maybe later I will ask for more help if I cannot find it on search window or cannot get directions cuz my language comprehension sometimes is not so good.