Post by EnEs63 on Jul 4, 2015 1:18:15 GMT 10
Hi All,
I am still relatively new to the Honda Shadow so please bear with me!
I have the VT400c Ace here in Thailand.
It is about a 2003 model but having said that it seems most of the engine parts are stamped 2005/6!!!
Ok, since buying this bike I have been going through stages of maintenance to improve it - new oils, fluids, coolant, chain, wheel bearings etc. all of which are making it a better, quieter ride as I go...
Today I have finished the task of valve gap adjustment... I am glad I took on the task and overall I am very pleased with the results.
I found all the gaps were too small... !
Whilst there was a gap, so the valves had been fully seating, they were probably half of what they should have been!
I am not surprised. Nothing gets done properly here in Thailand... I doubt there's a Thai mechanic in the country who owns a feeler gauge! (Never seen a torque wrench here either, come to think of it!).
I reset them to 0.18mm/0.19mm on exhaust & 0.13mm/0.14mm on inlets! (I don't have any data on the VT400 so I used a manual for the VT750).
During the teardown and doing the adjustments I found the following, which is where I could do with your opinions...
The front cylinder carb inlet manifold hadn't been fitted properly so the carb had been getting a little un-filtered air.
No idea for how long...
Should I worry about this? The area wasn't very dusty and the opening was to the back of the manifold...
A little tarnishing in and around the rockers and cam shoulders. Not much. Soon came of with a rag. I guess that was evidence of previous old oils left in the engine too long?
There is slight play in the horizontal axis of both cam shafts, I.E. grabbing the cam chain sprocket and pushing it back and forth on the horizontal axis. I couldn't measure the amount of movement but it's just enough to make a slight knocking noise when all valves were off cam. When the springs were under tension I couldn't move the cam shafts.
I am guessing they moved about 0.25-0.50mm? Apart from this everything else seemed nice and tight. Is that side to side play normal?
Once the bike was back together she started up very well. Very quickly.
Probably better than before... I feel the engine is a little more lively/responsive on the throttle. Do you think the correct valve gaps are the reason for this?
Riding it does feel better too.
More responsive and cleaner acceleration. Good acceleration too - no problem in getting up to 100 Kph...
I have noticed now though, since completing this job the idle isn't so smooth. It was before the teardown. It's a bit lumpy now...
It is also a little faster than before. Could this be something to do with the inlet manifold now being seated properly thus creating a richer mixture on the front cylinder?
If so, I guess I need to find the idle mixture screw and tweek that a little... or do I need to look at re-balancing the carbs?
Well, thanks for any help on this guys.
Once this is sorted then it's into the clutch/gearbox area to find out what the noises are coming from there!
Regards
EnEs63
I am still relatively new to the Honda Shadow so please bear with me!
I have the VT400c Ace here in Thailand.
It is about a 2003 model but having said that it seems most of the engine parts are stamped 2005/6!!!
Ok, since buying this bike I have been going through stages of maintenance to improve it - new oils, fluids, coolant, chain, wheel bearings etc. all of which are making it a better, quieter ride as I go...
Today I have finished the task of valve gap adjustment... I am glad I took on the task and overall I am very pleased with the results.
I found all the gaps were too small... !
Whilst there was a gap, so the valves had been fully seating, they were probably half of what they should have been!
I am not surprised. Nothing gets done properly here in Thailand... I doubt there's a Thai mechanic in the country who owns a feeler gauge! (Never seen a torque wrench here either, come to think of it!).
I reset them to 0.18mm/0.19mm on exhaust & 0.13mm/0.14mm on inlets! (I don't have any data on the VT400 so I used a manual for the VT750).
During the teardown and doing the adjustments I found the following, which is where I could do with your opinions...
The front cylinder carb inlet manifold hadn't been fitted properly so the carb had been getting a little un-filtered air.
No idea for how long...
Should I worry about this? The area wasn't very dusty and the opening was to the back of the manifold...
A little tarnishing in and around the rockers and cam shoulders. Not much. Soon came of with a rag. I guess that was evidence of previous old oils left in the engine too long?
There is slight play in the horizontal axis of both cam shafts, I.E. grabbing the cam chain sprocket and pushing it back and forth on the horizontal axis. I couldn't measure the amount of movement but it's just enough to make a slight knocking noise when all valves were off cam. When the springs were under tension I couldn't move the cam shafts.
I am guessing they moved about 0.25-0.50mm? Apart from this everything else seemed nice and tight. Is that side to side play normal?
Once the bike was back together she started up very well. Very quickly.
Probably better than before... I feel the engine is a little more lively/responsive on the throttle. Do you think the correct valve gaps are the reason for this?
Riding it does feel better too.
More responsive and cleaner acceleration. Good acceleration too - no problem in getting up to 100 Kph...
I have noticed now though, since completing this job the idle isn't so smooth. It was before the teardown. It's a bit lumpy now...
It is also a little faster than before. Could this be something to do with the inlet manifold now being seated properly thus creating a richer mixture on the front cylinder?
If so, I guess I need to find the idle mixture screw and tweek that a little... or do I need to look at re-balancing the carbs?
Well, thanks for any help on this guys.
Once this is sorted then it's into the clutch/gearbox area to find out what the noises are coming from there!
Regards
EnEs63