Author Topic: Tappet adjustment observations  (Read 2250 times)

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ButteMT

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Reply #15 on: February 22, 2023, 09:10:41 pm
I found a guy in Texas and of course Hitchcock's in UK, that sell the Bosch plugs.  Highly priced, but I got a bunch of them for me and my pals...all running a Royal Enfield Classic 350.
Odd that plugs are so unique for this motor, and until now, haven't been able to verify any alternatives...maybe the above will work, but I've got a few Bosch's now, so no point in buying more...


olhogrider

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Reply #16 on: February 23, 2023, 06:14:28 pm
Nice writeup. The factory globs on the RTV in the semicircle. They don't put anything on the cover itself. The fact that there was glue on the cover and glue on the head tells me the dealer did remove the cover. They probably used SAE feeler gauges and misread the gap. I use a spray adhesive to glue the gasket to the cover. There is no need to use RTV anywhere. The coil does need to move out of the way. I got a tool (actually three tools because they were sold as a set and I didn't know which would work best) for removing the quick disconnect. I have the tool for the hole in the left side but I think it is easier to remove the spark plug, put the bike in gear and rotate the rear tire.


Dexter

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Reply #17 on: February 23, 2023, 07:50:09 pm

I got a tool (actually three tools because they were sold as a set and I didn't know which would work best) for removing the quick disconnect. 

Could you post a pic of that tool, or even better, a link to a source, if you have it? Thanks.
Past rides:
1966 Honda 65 Sport
1967 Honda CB160
1973 Honda CB750
1982 Honda V45 Magna - the most uncomfortable bike I ever did a cross country tour on!
1983 Honda CB1000
1995 Honda ST1100 - sold 2015 after 175,000 km
1996 Honda ST1100
Current ride:
2021 Royal Enfield Stellar Blue Meteor 350


olhogrider

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Reply #18 on: March 02, 2023, 06:14:48 pm


Leofric

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Reply #19 on: March 02, 2023, 09:48:49 pm
+1 on your first point. On my second oil change, I leaned the bike far left to allow some of that filter oil to drain down to the sump. It helped quite a bit. Also, there actually is a proper oil drain plug on the sump, located on the far right side near the front of the engine. You can see the copper crush washer under the bolt. However, I found that very little oil came out of there, even with the sump screen plate still in place.
Very little oil came out of the oil drain plug - what the hell is it there for then ?!


Reg Idler

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Reply #20 on: March 02, 2023, 10:11:01 pm
Very little oil came out of the oil drain plug - what the hell is it there for then ?!

The drain plug seems to be there for a small "puddle" of oil at the front of the engine so that someone who really, really wants to drain as much oil as possible can do so. The crankcase must not have only one low spot.

As I recall, Royal Enfield's own oil-change video tutorial does not mention the drain plug. I removed the plug the first time I replaced the oil, but so little came out that I didn't touch it when I changed the oil and filter after the valve adjustment.

My bike is running great since I serviced it last week. At less than wide-open throttle, it will now accelerate in top gear up grades that once required a downshift and WFO operation.


Dexter

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Past rides:
1966 Honda 65 Sport
1967 Honda CB160
1973 Honda CB750
1982 Honda V45 Magna - the most uncomfortable bike I ever did a cross country tour on!
1983 Honda CB1000
1995 Honda ST1100 - sold 2015 after 175,000 km
1996 Honda ST1100
Current ride:
2021 Royal Enfield Stellar Blue Meteor 350


One_Box

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Reply #22 on: March 03, 2023, 05:18:02 pm
I’ve just given my Hunter 350 it’s first service at 311 miles. I found the tappets way too tight and reset them to 0.08mm inlet and 0.18mm exhaust.
The cam cover joint was only stuck on the semi circular section and although I had a spare, decided to use it again as it appeared to be in good condition. I simply put blobs of grease to hold the rubber gasket in place when refitting the cover.
I found no debris in the oil, filter or strainer which was a relief Refilled with synthetic 15W-50 APL SL, JASO MA2 oil.

« Last Edit: March 03, 2023, 05:23:36 pm by One_Box »


Veloman

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Reply #23 on: March 03, 2023, 06:56:46 pm
Very little oil came out of the oil drain plug - what the hell is it there for then ?!

Perhaps it is just to seal an oilway drilled during production, in effect a blanking plug. Similar plugs were used on several of old Velo's I've owned.
Past rides
1948 Velocette LE "Noddy bike"
1957 Triumph Tiger Cub 200cc
1966 Triumph T100 500cc
1960 BSA A10 650cc
1957 Velocette MAC 350
1947 Velocette KSS MKII 350cc
1955 Velocette MSS 500cc
2011 Honda Deauville 700cc
2011 Honda CBF1000 1000cc
Present: RE Classic 350, Velocette MAC 350 and MSS 500


Leofric

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Reply #24 on: March 03, 2023, 09:01:58 pm
The drain plug seems to be there for a small "puddle" of oil at the front of the engine so that someone who really, really wants to drain as much oil as possible can do so. The crankcase must not have only one low spot.

As I recall, Royal Enfield's own oil-change video tutorial does not mention the drain plug. I removed the plug the first time I replaced the oil, but so little came out that I didn't touch it when I changed the oil and filter after the valve adjustment.

My bike is running great since I serviced it last week. At less than wide-open throttle, it will now accelerate in top gear up grades that once required a downshift and WFO operation.
I haven't actually looked at the oil change procedure yet, I just found it odd that an oil drain plug wouldn't be the main thing to use to drain oil from the engine.


olhogrider

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Reply #25 on: March 04, 2023, 06:38:07 pm
Perhaps it is just to seal an oilway drilled during production, in effect a blanking plug. Similar plugs were used on several of old Velo's I've owned.

Yep. And the glob of RTV is there to help the folks putting the engine together. It serves no purpose and does NOT need a fresh glob. The gasket does the sealing.


Reg Idler

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Reply #26 on: March 08, 2023, 09:16:23 pm
Checked the mileage today for the first time since adjusting the tappets, changing the oil, and so on two weeks ago. 85.6 miles per US gallon, or nearly 103 miles per Imperial gallon. I've been frisky with the throttle because I'm enjoying how well the bike is running, so no doubt my Classic could achieve even higher mpg.


Leofric

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Reply #27 on: March 08, 2023, 10:47:31 pm
Checked the mileage today for the first time since adjusting the tappets, changing the oil, and so on two weeks ago. 85.6 miles per US gallon, or nearly 103 miles per Imperial gallon. I've been frisky with the throttle because I'm enjoying how well the bike is running, so no doubt my Classic could achieve even higher mpg.
That's good mpg.


Father of Dragons

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Reply #28 on: March 18, 2023, 09:24:42 am
Warro has a new tappet adjustment video  ;D  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU6fmg2RIxQ