Mobile drum kit. Valve and timing chain question?

[BobA]

OK, here goes.

It's an RD03 XRV650, which I thought was a bit rattly, until hearing another exact bike purring beside mine at the lights!

I managed to get a day off a while ago and dropped it into a (questionable at this stage) local bike shop to have the valve clearances checked.
Knowing it would have to cool (3hrs were suggested) I got it there early so they could work on it in the afternoon.

Anyway, picked it up the following day and was told that "some valve clearances were a bit loose, and needed adjustment, but it hasn't made much of a difference to the noise". Hmmm, now I'm suspicious, did they actually do a complete job?

More recently, I was passing a bike mechanics shop (near Kings Cross) and there sitting outside is a similar bike. I ask the fella how much to do the valves, and he mentions that it's also worth checking the timing chain tensioners, as these can stick and not take up play in the chains. This he said, can make the engine sound like the valves clearances are way out of wack!

Is it too much to ask? I just want the thing to sound and feel a bit smoother, which I know will make me feel a bit more confident that it's not gonna let me down.

SO I ASK...
1. How much should I expect to pay for a proper valve and timing chain check/adjustment?
2. Can anyone recommend (or do it!) someone in Central / South London, Surrey or Sussex that isn't gonna rip me off?
3. Has anyone else had similar experiences?
4. I'd love to do it myself, but I don't have a garage, and have never attempted any work like it, some am a bit nervous.

I bought the bike as a winter hack (yep, on eBay!!), which I didn't want to spend too much money on. I have to say that I've sorta fell in love with it, and love the ride compared to sports bikes, so it's gonna stay. I have to keep reminding myself however that I shouldn't go mad with the £££'s, otherwise I'll defeat the object of buying a budget hack, and should have spent the money on a better machine in the first place.

All comments welcome, and Thanks in advance

Bob

[landyandy]

Hi Bob,

The Kings Cross guy may well be correct - perhaps it is a rattly timing chain (I think the chain gets tired, rather than the spring loaded tensioners themselves). What's the mileage?

Now, someone on here has had his chains changed by a bit of a specialist who has devised a method of changing the chains without having to rip most of the engine to pieces. Hold on, and hopefully he'll appear, otherwise, do a search for timing chain or camchain, and the post may well appear.

[Maverick]

Bob,

I have a suggestion and don't know whether it will work but lets try.

I have a garage with most of the tools in question(based in Essex). Going to South-Africa next week for a week so will only be back from the 7th March onwards. If you willing to wait so long and we can find someone on this board that have done this type of job before we can organise a workshop day.

I can accomadate about 6 guys in the garage space wise. I myself would love to see how this is done to do it myself. Have done valve settings on the GS before which is a piece of piss to do. Never had the tank of the AT since I bought it.

If anyone on the board is prepared to come and show us how on a bike it could turn out to a very good excercise for all of us. Maybe the 2nd or 3rd weekend in April? I will supply BBQ and beer for the day.

Anybody out there willing to help? Bob you up for this?

[YEN_POWELL]

Now, someone on here has had his chains changed by a bit of a specialist who has devised a method of changing the chains without having to rip most of the engine to pieces. Hold on, and hopefully he'll appear, otherwise, do a search for timing chain or camchain, and the post may well appear.

Twas meeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Had my camchains changed by Tony Galea of Galea Camchains near Basildon. Did it whilst I waited, even let me help. He does the valves as well cos he's just removed and refitted your camshafts.

If you go and do it at Mavericks can I come and watch/help. Always wanted to see one of the 650s in bits.

[landyandy]

Yen,

Would it offend thee if I asked for an indication of price!?

[YEN_POWELL]

It's going back a bit now but I think it was a little under £200 but my memory could be playing me up and I'm mixing it up with some dynojetting I had. I do remember that each chain was about £30 so that was £60 straight away. It took him about 2 hours.

[Recycler]

I'll add an honest dealer just incase:

Don't know where you are exactly but T Northeast in Horley may be worth a try. A proper old bike shop that sells Enfields.
Ian Northeast is the guy you want. Maybe he can't help but is definately an enthusiast rather than 'ambitious' - let me borrow his factory Tranny manual once without charge.

Incidentally if you go I'd love to see an up to date pic of the (old fashioned) shop

[BobA]

Thanks for all your replies, and particularly Maverick's kind offer.

I'm really tight on time for a while, but a little workshop day at Maverick's place sounds good, and I'm well up for a Beer and a Bri'.

I managed to have a little look at the bike yesterday, and after stripping the bike enough to have a look at the rockers in the rear cylinder, I've arrived at the following conclusions, and have some further questions.

1. Stripping the bike to get to the rockers is easy peesy, but on an XRV650 are there 2 or 3 valves? Removing the large plate on the rocker cover exposes two rockers, but I suspect there could be another rocker behind the large nut on the opposing side of the rocker cover. Can anyone confirm this????

2. As explained, the bike is a winter hack, so it doesn't get regular cleaning, but as I was stripping the bike I noticed there was quite a lot of corrosion on fasters etc, which rubbed off of threads etc as I stripped it. I think I was probably ripped off by the guy that claimed he checked and adjusted the valves, as I'm sure these bolts wouldn't have had rust along the bolts if he's undone them recently. Ba**ard, but I don't think I could ever prove it.

3. The bike has never idled particularly well, and I put that down to just needing a bit of TLC and a slow working over and servicing.
I discovered that the the airbox has either had a repair, or is made by Mr Honda by mating the plastic airbox to rubber tubes to attach to the carbs. This joint hasn't weathered well, and there is a large crack where the two materials should join. I suspect then that air is getting into the airbox here and may be causing the intermittent idling. Anyone else experienced this? Hopefully I can cure this with some silicon sealant when I next get a chance.

Well anyway, hope you are all enjoying this great weather (well its great here in Sussex Surrey borders atleast!) and hopefully we can get Maverick's idea of a little service party off the ground and document it for eeryones benefit. A bit like Tijns great articles.

Best Wishes to all, and Thanks again for your input.


Bob

[YEN_POWELL]

The big nut you refer to covers the single exhaust valve. If you don't have enough room to get a spanner onto this on the front cylinder then the OE toolkit rear wheel spanner fits easily.

[BobA]

"Toolkit" Whats that???

Yen. It's funny you should mention that really.

It didn't come with a toolkit, and the only spanner I had that might have fitted was waaaaay too big to get in there, which is why (up until now) what was under that damm big nut was a mystery to me.

Any idea what size it is, so I can go out and buy the relevant spanner?

Cheers


Bob[/quote]