You have to be at TDC on the compression stroke. There are two possible times the TL mark will line up, but only one of them is the compression stroke.
Putting the GL650 heads back together
I'm sneaking in a few minutes a day to try to get the heads back on after head gasket replacement on both sides.
This morning I was trying to get the valve clearance set on the left hand cylinder. At TL timing mark I could not get the feeler guage through on either intake or exhaust. I loosened the tappet screws and still could not get the feeler guage through. I turned the engine by the crankshaft bolt and found that the rocker arms were not loose at TDC. Rotating the crankshaft until the exhaust valves were opened the intake rocker was loose and the tappet clearance was excessive. I tightened them down, then rotated. Stayed good. Rotated the engine until the intake valves opened and found the exhaust clearance was pretty close but tweaked a little anyway. Rotated to TL again, cannot get the feeler guage in intake or exhaust. I was looking at the piston through the spark plug hole and yes, it does appear that at TL the left piston is TDC.
Okay, so I thought maybe I'm rotating the engine the wrong way but I'm at the front wheel facing the front of the engine and turning the rachet righty-tighty and going clockwise. Next thought is--are the push rods different lengths and did I get them mixed up? Measured up the right side rods and they seem to be identical. Manual says to put grease on the ends of the pushrods when assembling (seems to help tack them in place while getting it all together)-that shouldn't have caused the rockers to be too tight @ TDC. I didn't take the springs or valves out of the head this time. Next thought is that the timing chain is not properly installed so that the camshaft and crankshaft are timed, but I didn't tear down that far and I'm pretty sure the prvious owner said there had never been engine work done.
I can get a good gap, but just not at TL. At TL it seems the valves are closed but not at their loosest (is that a word?). I don't think there was a spot where I had both rockers loose at the same time. I'll get to the right side in a couple days.
This morning I was trying to get the valve clearance set on the left hand cylinder. At TL timing mark I could not get the feeler guage through on either intake or exhaust. I loosened the tappet screws and still could not get the feeler guage through. I turned the engine by the crankshaft bolt and found that the rocker arms were not loose at TDC. Rotating the crankshaft until the exhaust valves were opened the intake rocker was loose and the tappet clearance was excessive. I tightened them down, then rotated. Stayed good. Rotated the engine until the intake valves opened and found the exhaust clearance was pretty close but tweaked a little anyway. Rotated to TL again, cannot get the feeler guage in intake or exhaust. I was looking at the piston through the spark plug hole and yes, it does appear that at TL the left piston is TDC.
Okay, so I thought maybe I'm rotating the engine the wrong way but I'm at the front wheel facing the front of the engine and turning the rachet righty-tighty and going clockwise. Next thought is--are the push rods different lengths and did I get them mixed up? Measured up the right side rods and they seem to be identical. Manual says to put grease on the ends of the pushrods when assembling (seems to help tack them in place while getting it all together)-that shouldn't have caused the rockers to be too tight @ TDC. I didn't take the springs or valves out of the head this time. Next thought is that the timing chain is not properly installed so that the camshaft and crankshaft are timed, but I didn't tear down that far and I'm pretty sure the prvious owner said there had never been engine work done.
I can get a good gap, but just not at TL. At TL it seems the valves are closed but not at their loosest (is that a word?). I don't think there was a spot where I had both rockers loose at the same time. I'll get to the right side in a couple days.
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It didn't matter if it was compression or exhaust stroke TDC didn't give me any slack on the valves. About mid exhaust stroke when the exhaust valves were fully open, the intake rocker arm was slack. Same with the intake stroke midway the exhaust valves were slack. Its just baffleing me. I would think they should be slack except when they should be open. I adjusted them @ the point they were the most slack. Maybe I'll do the right side the same way when I get the head on there if that side behaves the same way. Then check again when I retorque the head bolts after it runs for a short while. I think I fudged on the earlier post, I did have a spot on the compression stroke where both rocker arms were slack but it was well before TL. It was just easier to rotate until I saw the opposite valves open fully then adjust.
I looked on partsfish, the push rods are the same number.
I looked on partsfish, the push rods are the same number.
Very strange. You didn't have the cam chain off?It didn't matter if it was compression or exhaust stroke TDC didn't give me any slack on the valves. About mid exhaust stroke when the exhaust valves were fully open, the intake rocker arm was slack. Same with the intake stroke midway the exhaust valves were slack. Its just baffleing me. I would think they should be slack except when they should be open. I adjusted them @ the point they were the most slack. Maybe I'll do the right side the same way when I get the head on there if that side behaves the same way. Then check again when I retorque the head bolts after it runs for a short while. I think I fudged on the earlier post, I did have a spot on the compression stroke where both rocker arms were slack but it was well before TL. It was just easier to rotate until I saw the opposite valves open fully then adjust.
I looked on partsfish, the push rods are the same number.
Okay I think this is the same problem I had. First line up the timing marks as they should be then grab the rocker with your hand and pull it up. They will move up then the feeler gauge will go right in.
Okay I think this is the same problem I had. First line up the timing marks as they should be then grab the rocker with your hand and pull it up. They will move up then the feeler gauge will go right in.
Thought I was doing that, but Saturday I'll make sure that's what I do. Thanks.
There are just some strange things with this bike. I really liked the guy I bought is from in 2000, and I just don't have the time to ride it much. Maybe only put on 3000 miles in 9 years. My first long trip, I had to haul it home. The left head is scarred up like its been removed before. The trunk is keyed differently than the ignition and bags. Just things that are starting to make me scratch my head.
Thought I was doing that, but Saturday I'll make sure that's what I do. Thanks.
any luck?
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