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Forum The Bikes BMW 850/1100/1150 Oilheads Adjusting rocker end float, and valve clearances

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Thread: Adjusting rocker end float, and valve clearances

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21-08-06, 17:16 #1

Steptoe
Adjusting rocker end float, and valve clearances
What a waste.
Checking valve clearances and rocker end float ;

Join Date: Oct 2003 When removing the valve cover, the inner gasket has a habit
Location: S/W London. of staying in the head. Gently remove it and fit it to the cover,
Posts: 55,068 if left in place you’ll most likely “pinch” it when replacing the
cover, and find you’ve an oil leak.

If you remove the cover, and it looks like this - the inner
gasket is still stuck in the head

There it is inside, gently pry it out , and fit it to the cover

How you want it to look

All the following work must be done with the engine COLD

The engine must be at TDC on the side your checking, before

any clearances can be measured. I always start on the L/H
side, then do the right. It requires less turning over of the
engine.
Set the engine to TDC (top dead center), put it in gear,
remove both spark plugs, and turn the engine over by
rotating the rear wheel by hand. On the cylinder your looking
at, You want the inlet valve to be closing as the piston comes
up to TDC, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you
shouldn’t be attempting this job ; ) insert a small screwdriver
or straw into the spark plug hole, and as yourotate the wheel
the screwdriver/straw will be pushed out of the spark plug
hole, when it reaches the max coming out point, stop. That’s
the TDC.
Before you check the valve clearances, you also want to make
sure the rocker endfloat is within tolerance - The clearance
allowed is between = min 0.05 & max 0.40 . ( the same for
inlet & exhaust)

Where to check the endfloat

It’s better to keep it at the minimum gap, it helps surging

problems , and runs much better.
Here’s where the benefit of doing it yourself comes in. Most
workshops will leave it if it’s inside the spec, less unnecessary
work for them . But you’ll never have the sweet running bike
that you could have.

To adjust the endfloat, you’ll need a T45 socket, and a 15mm

hex socket. And a torque wrench to do it all back up.

Here’s the 3 torq bolts .

And the one 15mm hex bolt.

Undo them all, then just nip them up finger tight.

You then tap the lower rocker support bar until the gap is
correct . This can be a pain in the arse, and seem a bitof a
bodge, but it’s how it’s done. Just take your time.

The support bar

Now torque up the bolts - the torq bolts are 9nm .

The hex bolt is a cylinder head bolt, so needs to be tightened
to 20nm, and then turned another 180 degrees.
When you’ve done that to your satisfaction, you now measure
the valve clearances.

Inlet 0.15
Exhaust 0.30

Measuring the valve clearances

To adjust the gaps, you’l need a 10mm spanner ,and a 3mm

allen key. The 10mm nut is a lock nut, you adjust the gapwith
the allen key.
Adjusting the gaps
 When your happy with all that, you then repeat it on the other
side.
Remembering to get the engine at TDC on that side before
measuring any clearances.

The end result of both the valve clearences, and more

importantly the rocker end float ( plus the throttle sync
afterwards) will give you a bike smoother and quieter, and
more responsive.

Taken me longer to type this than to do the whole job from

start to finish.

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21-08-06, 17:33 #2

forry Nice one Neil going to service mine this week i'll check the end float to
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Berwick
Posts: 3,462

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21-08-06, 18:57 #3

ELIMINATOR Steppers,
Typical, I do the job at the weeekend. You post this today. Still, it's good enough for me to print off & keep,
Senior Member
for the next time.

20Nm & then 180 degree further tighten?! Idon't know if my mechanical sympathy could take that
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Eastleigh, Hampshire.
Posts: 6,591

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21-08-06, 19:17 #4

Big Lad Top man!. Thanks for posting this

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Join Date: Jul 2003

Location: Herts
Posts: 5,106

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22-08-06, 11:10 #5

beermonster As they say a picture says a thousand words. Have to admit never really bothered with end float, will have
a look next time. Thanks for taking the time this will help alot of folks.
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Cheers
Location: Trapped in the Bold
Arms,Southport, UK
Simon
Posts: 214

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22-08-06, 12:16 #6

Candyman You are the man

Another South-African Tosser
Thanks for sharing.

Join Date: Oct 2003

Location: Benfleet, Essex
Posts: 178

1150GS Black and Beautiful

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 22-08-06, 12:25 #7

bsa250
Agjusting rocker end float, and valve clearances
Subscriber
Hi Steptoe,

Join Date: Aug 2006 You have given me good advice since I recently joined the forum, and as I have recently purchased an
Location: Wadebridge Cornwall older 1100 GS 1995 I have a few probs to sort out !
Posts: 117
Just reading your guide fits in with what I have to do next with the GS, on the
off side or right hand cylinder head I have an oil leak; now having cleaned it thoroughly I started the engine
and took it out for a spin to get it up to running to temp.

When I stopped I checked where the oil appears to be leaking, at first glance the oil seems to emit from
midway at base of cylinder head gasket, so I assume
that the problem is damaged or not fitted correctly head gasket ?

The fellow I purchased the bike from told me he had the relevant head gasket replaced and soon after oil
started to leak " cowboys" was the word he used.

Can you throw any light ?

Best regards Mack.....

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22-08-06, 13:19 #8

Steptoe
Originally Posted by bsa250
What a waste.
The fellow I purchased the bike from told me he had the relevant head gasket replaced and soon after oil
started to leak " cowboys" was the word he used.
Join Date:
Location:
Oct 2003
S/W London.
Can you throw any light ?
Posts: 55,068
Best regards Mack.....
Could be one i done earlier

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Recommended as an "excellent independant" in Ride magazine 2009.

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22-08-06, 16:41 #9

bsa250
Agjusting rocker end float, and valve clearances
Subscriber
Hi Steptoe,
No I do think it was you as the bike came from Kent !
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Wadebridge Cornwall The former owner said it was an motorbike repair outfit, but with the end result
Posts: 117 was not the one to shout about.

Maybe they were masquerading as bike repair's etc but were really the local
rodeo "yeah hi"

Anyway's no light shed then ?

Regards Mack.....

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22-08-06, 16:49 #10

TUNED IN nice work neil...

Senior Member
....nearly idiot proof... i say nearly because i sure i could feck it up somehow
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: The Hoose
Posts: 20,550

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22-08-06, 18:42 #11

Steptoe
Originally Posted by bsa250
What a waste.
Anyway's no light shed then ?
Join Date: Oct 2003 Regards Mack.....
Location: S/W London.
Posts: 55,068

Have got light in my shed actually -

You've a leak, don't know where from without seeing it - but the pictures in the post above aren't a head
gasket job. Thats something completely different, which i'll be doing tomorrow, and taking pictures for
another "how to feck it up" post

I'm going to make this a sticky - i'm i allowed to do this with my own post

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Recommended as an "excellent independant" in Ride magazine 2009.

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22-08-06, 19:26 #12

judge Brilliant - still not doing it myself as I have a man who can, and if I stop letting him do it, he'll end up being
talked to death by his mates
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Location: Chislehurst Borders
(According to the estate agent)
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22-08-06, 23:16 #13

bsa250 Hi Steptoe,
Subscriber
Yes I know your pic display is for ajustment of rockers, I am referring to head gasket leak of oil or so it
seems.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Looking from the ground up to the underside of offside cylinder; midway of cylinder head gasket there are
Location: Wadebridge Cornwall
three bolts, the first bolt is where it appears to
Posts: 117
leak, the oil follows a line in the casting leading to what appears to be a drain
plug ?

I will try and get a pic and upload.

Regards Mack...

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23-08-06, 09:17 #14

Steptoe
Originally Posted by bsa250
What a waste.
I will try and get a pic and upload.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Regards Mack...
Location: S/W London.
Posts: 55,068
Mick, don't bother. No one is in a better position to tell where an oil leak is coming from than the person
standing in front of it looking at it.

All your BMW servicing needs at the .gsshop.biz, including 1200 models

Recommended as an "excellent independant" in Ride magazine 2009.

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23-08-06, 12:20 #15

bsa250 Hi Steptoe,
Subscriber
Thanks for your advise, I will have to get me magnifying glass out!
as its very difficult to determine if the oil is seeping from the gasket or first of the three bolts.
Join Date: Aug 2006
I think I may have to strip down the head to find out.
Location: Wadebridge Cornwall
Posts: 117
Anyways thanks Regards Mack...
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23-08-06, 12:32 #16

Gas'd Off
Good show Mr Steptoe, looking forward to the next installment
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: here
Posts: 3,481

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