TA tappet adjustment rage

[kenn]

In process of tappet adjustment and my sanity has drained away.
The rear cylinder was ok (TA 9000mls) but now attempting to adjust the 2 front cylinder Inlet valves. According to Haines a ring spanner and pliers are sufficient. The ring spanner yes but pliers to hang on to the square adjuster is impossible- for me anyway.
If you chaps have any lifesaving suggestions I would be very grateful.
Anybody know if Honda supply a special tool?

[FatFergie]

I've never heard of a special tool by Honda but I've seen a tool in catalogs like a box spanner with a box spanner inside sort of thing. I can't imagine it would fit in the space on an alp. I use a little spanner:

[StumpyFingers]

In process of tappet adjustment and my sanity has drained away.
The rear cylinder was ok (TA 9000mls) but now attempting to adjust the 2 front cylinder Inlet valves. According to Haines a ring spanner and pliers are sufficient. The ring spanner yes but pliers to hang on to the square adjuster is impossible- for me anyway.
If you chaps have any lifesaving suggestions I would be very grateful.
Anybody know if Honda supply a special tool?

I have always used a spanner and pliers with out problems, however the front exhaust valve is the kicker. the Rest are easy by comparison.

[AlanH]

Needle nose pliers and spanner do the job for me too. It's awkward though.

[StumpyFingers]

The only problem I find with all bikes is adjusting the valve clearances requires three hands.

[AlanH]

...or two hands and another versatile appendage.

[chronyx]

On the twin I have the square bit set slightly further back than I want it so that it gets taken up when I tighten the locknut. Seems to have worked, the gaps were within tolerance once I'd done it up nice and tight.

[BIG D]

There used to be a tool to adjust Honda tappets that did the rounds many years ago late 70's early 80's, I purchased one from a advert in what was Motorcycle mechanics it was rather similar to a radiator key with a square section to adjust the tappet, I had one for my 750 K6 did the job a treat wish I could find it now. Mind you the alp is still a B*****d to work on.

BIG D

[StumpyFingers]

I did mine last year in the summer then in February this year when I had the bike stripped to run new wire for a second fuse box.
As the bike was stripped I thought I would check them again to be certain. After some Skinned Knuckles, I found them to be fine.
They will not be touched again until I have forgotten about the pain.

[kenn]

Thanks guys for the response I will certainly be buying the miniature 4mm open ended Britool spanner , thanks FatFergie. Also on the list is a new tappet, overtightenned and stripped the threads while at the end of my tether on Saturday.
The front cylinder exhaust valve gap will have to remain undiscovered. I was quite prepared to swing the right hand radiator away to get at the tappet cover only to find the radiator fixing bolts are made of stilton and 2 out of 3 hex heads rounded off as soon as they sensed a socket approaching.
Earlier in the screen removal stage two of the rubber grommet fixings refused to unscrew, they were corroded and turned with the screw. Result scratches on the fairing around the screw holes.
The irony is that all clearances were ok apart from one inlet valve down to about .1mm. On the positive side new plugs and a cleaned Pipecross air filter should suffice for another 20k miles.