450 FSE timing/valve issues

[foxfire]

'05 FSE450, haven't spent a lot of time on it, but it always had problems starting...especially cold. Last fall while a friend was riding it he said he heard a "noise" out of the engine. Didn't think much of it until a bit later when it snubbed out and refused to re start.

I had been wanting to check the valves anyway, and this seems like a good time. My first doing a shim/bucket style, and I have a couple questions.

Is there a mark of some sort to find TDC? Pretty sure I found it anyway, but would be nice to have a definite mark.

Is it true that I can use DRZ shims? If I'm measuring right, the valves are way out of spec. One of the ex sides I cant even fit my smallest feeler under.

Also, referring to this pic i found...



...I count 14 pins on mine. Is that wrong? If so, how would it get that way, and should I just turn one of them to get 15?

So sorry for the noob questions, and I really appreciate any help here.

[foxfire]

Also referring to the above pic, it shows both marks being at the left side of the links, where mine (on the intake cam) is on the right side...hence the count of 14.

[hamilton]

If your pic is correct for your model, marks 2 and 3 are the important ones.
Straight edge across the cylinder head/valve cover joint, 2 and 3 must be aligned note cam gear key way locations.
verify piston is at TDC

[foxfire]

Yes, 2 and 3 are in fact aligned. Everything looks exactly as pictured, only one less pin between the marks.

I'm going to go ahead and pull it apart to shim, and put things back the way they are.

So...DRZ shims should work?

[hamilton]

No clue on the shims.
If gear marks are as show, pin count wouldn't concern me.
Keep in mind as the valve sealing surface and valve seat wear, valve clearance decreases.
If one valve clearance is way less then the others, good indicator of valve or seat problem.

[foxfire]

Originally Posted by hamilton

If one valve clearance is way less then the others, good indicator of valve or seat problem.

Kinda what I'm afraid of. So then what, pull the head?

[memphis2857]

Usually when you start having to adjust valves the valve has already started wearing and basically all you are doing is putting a band aid on it. If you plan to keep it save yourself some time and possibly heartache and replace the valves


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[foxfire]

Well crap. Yeah, intake side is within spec, but the exhaust side...one is a bit tight while the other is at 0. Is there anything else I should check for, or am I looking at valve work here?

[memphis2857]

Thats odd because usually the intake valves wear first. The valves have a hard surface on them and Once you wear through the hard surface they will just keep tightening up. In most cases you can get away with lapping the valve seats and dropping in new valves.


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[memphis2857]

I would check the timing again and make sure it hasnt jumped a tooth. Also can you roll the motor one way or another and get clearance on the exhaust valves? If so thats a sure fire sign that it has jumped time


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