Honda CX500 & GL500 Forum

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05-22-2008, 6:01 AM Billy Joined on 05-20-2008 Lakeville MN Posts 48 valve adjustment woes hey guys. i am trying to adjust the valves on my bike, and have done the left hand side with no issues. the right hand side on the other hand is driving me nuts. what mark on the wheel do i have to adjust the right side on? TR? thanks Bill Billy from MN    Report

05-22-2008, 8:29 AM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 423 Re: valve adjustment woes Billy,  TR is right.  Remember it will it will hit TR twice in the rotation.  I found on mine that the TR was hard to hit on the right stroke, as the flywheel would tend to spin past it easily.   It usually takes me 4 or five tries to get it right.  Do your cam chain adjustment at the same time, because you do it at the same TR spot.   Darren      Report

05-22-2008, 10:54 AM Billy Joined on 05-20-2008 Lakeville MN Posts 48 Re: valve adjustment woes okay i just got back from lunch and did the valve adjustment again. i watched the intake side until they raised up then forwarded to the TR position. set the valve gaps - .003 intake and .004 in exhaust. put the cover back on and started it up. it is still tapping like crazy but not quite as loud. what the heck am i doing wrong here. also are there a bit more detailed directions on adjusting the cam chain tension? maybe thats what the problem is, although i would think the left side would have issues too but its fine no noises or anything .... sad times indeed. thanks Billy from MN    Report

05-22-2008, 11:26 AM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 423 Re: valve adjustment woes Not sure what model you have Billy, but as for my GL500, for cam chain, there is a bolt, 10mm IIRC, sticking out of the case just above where the inspection hole is, With engine at TR,  loosen the bolt a couple turns, not far!, tap with a mallet and retighten. As for the valve adjustment.  1)  Do it when engine is stone cold.  2)  When you set the valves, they should grab pretty tight on your feeler guage.  Not "some" resistence, but significant, but not to the point where it binds your guage sliding in and out.  Also of course ensure they don't change when you retighten the lock nuts.  It took me a couple of tries, the manual isn't to specific as to what "resistence" means.  First try I had woody woodpecker between my knees. Good luck        Report

05-22-2008, 11:34 AM Billy Joined on 05-20-2008 Lakeville MN Posts 48 Re: valve adjustment woes tap the bolt with a mallet? excellent. would that adjustment have anything to do with the noisy-ness on the right cylinider? maybe im just leaving too much gap. i am adjusting it at the right point though yes? awesome. thanks Billy from MN    Report

05-22-2008, 12:26 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 423 Re: valve adjustment woes Cam chain can be a acoustic source yes. Loosening the bolt allows the spring to push the tensioner against the chain, tightening again locks it in place.  Sometimes loosening doesn't free the tensioner from the lock, so the gentle taps with the mallet are to do that job. You know you are on the right stroke at TR when both intake and exhaust rockers have some free play.  You'll be able to wiggle slightly both.        Report

05-22-2008, 12:34 PM Billy Joined on 05-20-2008 Lakeville MN Posts 48 Re: valve adjustment woes thats what ive read but in fact that has never been the case. in both spots they appear to be tight. Billy from MN    Report

05-22-2008, 12:47 PM DAVID Joined on 05-16-2007 FORNEY TX Posts 459 Re: valve adjustment woes I have never used the 'one spot does both valves' method. Rotate the crank, when the exhaust just starts to open, set the intake. When the intake just finishes closing, set the exhaust. The only foolproof way to set valves. 82 GL500 81 KDX175 If all else fails, read the instructions    Report

05-22-2008, 12:52 PM NstyDevil Joined on 05-20-2007 Toronto, Ontario Posts 204 Re: valve adjustment woes if they are reallllly loud, then you have the wrong compression stroke. sometimes it takes me at least 2-3 tries to get it right. i'm still fiddling and figuring out the exact procedure of tightening the bolt without it changing, cause i have found that tightening the bolt will cause the adjustment to be thrown off. as i tighten it down, it will lift the valve thingy, increasing the space. i remember someone once said that he only tightens it all finger tight, then tighten the bolt which actually worked very well for me last year __________________ '80 CX500 Deluxe approx 80k on the odometer    Report

05-22-2008, 1:03 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 423 Re: valve adjustment woes I made a tool out of a #4 Robertson screw and the cut off scrap of my daughter's hockey stick.   The robertson screw is a ringer for the adjusting bolt on the valve.  Screw the screw into a stick and viola, a valve adjustment tool.  Total cost ZERO.  I've heard robertson screws aren't common in the US, nor hockey sticks.... Darren      Report

05-22-2008, 1:09 PM Billy Joined on 05-20-2008 Lakeville MN Posts 48 Re: valve adjustment woes ha! im from Minnesota, which is basically like a mini Canada as far as Hockey is concerned. Im beginning to wonder if my left side isnt too tight then, because it is darn near whisper quiet. does anyone have a recording of a proper sounding engine? Billy from MN    Report

05-22-2008, 1:15 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 423 Re: valve adjustment woes There is a trio of sound recordings on Rob Davis' page, accessable from the links tab on the top right of this page. Warm Cold And Cam Chain failured   Darren      Report

05-22-2008, 1:16 PM NstyDevil Joined on 05-20-2007 Toronto, Ontario Posts 204 Re: valve adjustment woes i was about to say, search youtube for cx500 and get alll kinds of sounds __________________ '80 CX500 Deluxe approx 80k on the odometer    Report

05-22-2008, 1:18 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 423 Re: valve adjustment woes links to Rob's adjustment page http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/cx500/tappets_cam_chain/   Warm engine http://www.wolfteck.com/files/CX500%20warm%20start.mp3   Cold Engine http://www.wolfteck.com/files/CX500%20cold%20start.mp3   Bad Camchain http://www.wolfteck.com/files/cx500%20cam%20chain%20rattle.mp3      Report

05-23-2008, 11:11 AM Randall-in-Mpls Joined on 07-06-2007 Minneapolis, MN Posts 893 Re: valve adjustment woes  Billy wrote: ha! im from Minnesota Where exactly in the Hockey State?  If you're in the Twin Cities, come by my place this weekend.  We'll put the stethoscope on it, and find out where your noise is coming from. R '78 CX500 - The Black Maggot My mid-life crisis has two wheels.    Report

05-24-2008, 4:39 PM Anonymous Re: valve adjustment woes I thought you adjusted the cam tensioner at TL which is the left cylinder, am I right or left?

05-24-2008, 5:27 PM t053376 Joined on 03-03-2008 Posts 68 Re: valve adjustment woes My manual says adjust the cam chain on the "TL" which the is where the left side valves are adjusted.  Someone posted that cam chain adjust done "warm" instead of "cold" is better in that it causes the tensioner to take up more slack on the chain.  I found when adjusting my valves that if I tightened the lock nut slightly,  then checked the clearance it was slightly loose. I then tighten both lock nut and adjuster nut together to acheive the desired valve clearance.  Just my 2c worth!! tuy_kat    Report

05-27-2008, 5:50 AM Billy Joined on 05-20-2008 Lakeville MN Posts 48 Re: valve adjustment woes well it is still clicking. ive adjusted these things every way possible and all with the same result. perhaps it isnt the valves after all? where should i look now? sounds like woodpecker still. darn it. Billy from MN    Report

05-27-2008, 7:02 AM Anonymous Re: valve adjustment woes If the noise got worse after you adjusted the valve, you need to refine the procedure. Otherwise, you might be hearing something else like wrist pin wear or rocker arm shaft wear. How many miles on your bike? I always set the valves a little tighter than other model Hondas. If it was .003" I would make it a tight .003" Not .0035". More like .0027" And yes, it's hard to get the adjustment just right if it changes when you tighten the locknut down. You have to practice it a while and compensate for how much the clearance changes when you snug it down. Ron in PA

05-27-2008, 7:12 AM Billy Joined on 05-20-2008 Lakeville MN Posts 48 Re: valve adjustment woes there is only about 8700 miles on this bike. unless someone messed with the numbers. i thought i set it really tight. i didnt do the TDC method with the marks as outlined on the site. i did the just opening / just closing method above. all of the methods i have tried are having the same result. :( Billy from MN    Report

05-27-2008, 11:13 AM Randall-in-Mpls Joined on 07-06-2007 Minneapolis, MN Posts 893 Re: valve adjustment woes Billy, where are you in Minnesota?  There might be someone close by who can help you out. R '78 CX500 - The Black Maggot My mid-life crisis has two wheels.    Report

05-27-2008, 11:47 AM Billy Joined on 05-20-2008 Lakeville MN Posts 48 Re: valve adjustment woes im in lakeville. just up the road from the lakeville harley dealership. theres also the "ghostrider" custom shop, leo's south, and a new moto primo up there. Billy from MN    Report

05-28-2008, 8:35 PM t053376 Joined on 03-03-2008 Posts 68 Re: valve adjustment woes