speedo-cable attachment

[Razvan B]

Hi all. I just checked the valve clearance and they are ok expect for the left exhaust. It is actually less then specified (0.15 ~ 0.25). It's a bit less then 0.12mm. How can that be? I would think that under normal use the clearance would get bigger not smaller. Is this an indication that the previous owner worked on the engine and didn't know what he was doing or is this normal? Should I replace it with the right thickness? Now it's 2.70 and according to the chart it should be 2.60 to be in spec. Are the shims on all KLRs the same when new? If so what are the thicknesses? Help a confused fellow rider. P.S: I have the engine out and the head is open. Is their anything I should check or do before I put it back together. It's a 94 with about 31000km or 19000miles. The chain tensioner looks ok to me. Should I really go for the 96 and up system? Raz A8

[bill e goat]

> > I just checked the valve clearance and they are ok expect for the

left

> exhaust. It is actually less then specified (0.15 ~ 0.25). It's a

bit

> less then 0.12mm. How can that be? I would think that under normal

use

> the clearance would get bigger not smaller.

Razvan, chances are the valve clearance lessens as the valve head gets microscopically hammered into the seat and gives up a little bit of its life each time.

> Now it's 2.70 and according to the chart it should be 2.60 to be in > spec.

2.60 is right in the normal shim thickness range. Lots of KLRs have at least one 2.60. I removed a 2.65 and changed it for a 2.55 at my first adjustment. Shim thickness will tend to decrease over the life of the engine until a new valve and/or seat is required to bring the overall length back to normal.

> Are the shims on all KLRs the same when new? If so what are the > thicknesses?

No, they use whatever shim works to bring the new engine to operating spec given the distance of the seated valve's stem to the cam lobe.

> P.S: I have the engine out and the head is open. Is their anything

I

> should check or do before I put it back together. It's a 94 with

about

> 31000km or 19000miles.

Everybody's old style ones seem to work fine, is what I hear. you mechanical types please correct me if I is wong Bill E. Goat part of the office skeleton crew today

[Kurt Simpson (Dual Sport News)]

The chain tensioner looks ok to me. Should I really go for the 96 and up system? __________ Elden Carl, a long time columnist for Dual Sport News has made the balancer chain upgrade something of a crusade. He's been doing everything he can to convince people it is dangerous to not perform an upgrade. Everyone I know on this list who advocates the change does so because they're convinced Elden is right. Two recent converts, Kurt Grife and Jim Bellach became so after their machines failed with serious consequences. Some on the list think the entire argument is blown out of proportion by Mr. Carl. I think that is a fair statement of the different viewpoints. If I owned a pre'96 KLR it would be the first thing I would change. Which is another way of saying I'm convinced. But everyone must choose for themself. Kurt BTW Elden also recommends upgrading the clutch basket.

[Razvan B]

Hey Kurt thanks but no thanks. Now i'm more confused. :^( After I saw the pre 96 tensioner and how it works I can't see in what way it could "fail". I think it's simple and reliable. It's a spring pushing a rod that applies pressure to the chain. Can someone with a failed pre 96 tensioner tell me how it went wrong so I can judge by myself if it is safer to upgrade or just not worth the time and money.

> Elden Carl, a long time columnist for Dual Sport News has made the > balancer chain upgrade something of a crusade. Two recent converts, > Kurt Grife and Jim Bellach became so after their machines failed > with serious consequences.

Any new ones failed with bad consequences? Might have just been a freak accident!! Thankx Raz A8 1994.

[David/Diane McMunn]

At 06:12 AM 12/27/2000 +0000, Razvan B wrote:

>Any new ones failed with bad consequences? >Might have just been a freak accident!! > > > >Raz:

The balancer tensioner spring on my A-13 broke. Not a problem until you loosen the tensioner adjustment bolt to do the periodic adjustment. No spring tension means the adjuster falls slack and you've unknowingly made things far worse. Mine apparantly flopped around for several hundred miles before picking up a piece of the spring and fouling the camchain. I've posted the details previously. I'd never do the balancer chain adjustment again without pulling the mag cover to visually check the results. As far as the tensioner itself, its not a problem. The adjusting tab/washer issue that has been well chronicled on the pre-96's is what the debate is about. I'd upgrade. Dave

[Bogdan Swider]

> Hi all. > > I just checked the valve clearance and they are ok expect for the left > exhaust. It is actually less then specified (0.15 ~ 0.25). It's a bit > less then 0.12mm. How can that be? I would think that under normal use > the clearance would get bigger not smaller. >

-Yo Raz, A cuntrare. The clearances are much more likely to close than open; never checked one that was looser on the klr or my old airhead Beemer, many were tighter. Was told (Fred, I believe) that if you lug the engine they open if you rev high they close. The chain tensioner looks ok to me. Should I really go for the 96 and

> up system? >

Make the change. Just compare the pre and post 96 systems. The new ones have a stouter spring + the addition of a washer that gives more surface area so the bolt actually holds the plate. Also, IMPORTANT POINT, When re-assembling put anti-seize on the valve cover bolts. Prevents electro-somthing corrosion that may damage the thread in the holes. Don't ask how I know. Bogdan

> Raz > A8 > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com > >

[Razvan B]

Hi again.

> Make the change. Just compare the pre and post 96 systems. The new > ones have a stouter spring + the addition of a washer that gives >more surface area so the bolt actually holds the plate. Also, >IMPORTANT POINT, When re-assembling put anti-seize on the valve cover >bolts. Prevents electro-somthing corrosion that may damage the thread >in the holes. Don't ask how I know. > Bogdan

Ok I'm allmost convinced to do the change. If I want to do it what exactly do I have to order and what are the parts numbers. Do I just ask for the BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER or is there more to it? Does FRED have it? Might as well do it now that the engine is out and not worrie about it on long trips. JMO Thanks for all the info guys. Raz A8, Montreal CANADA Winter is why my engine is out. Damn winter!

[Fred Hink]

[b]Yep, you're in luck.  I have all the parts for the balancer chain tensioner upgrade.[/b] [b][/b]  [b]Fred www.arrowheadmotorsports.com '00 VFR800FI '00 XR650R (2)'94 XR650L 4 sale '94 XR250L 4 sale (300 mi) '78 Z1-R 4 sale[/b] [b][/b]   

----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] cccp7@... [b]To:[/b] DSN_klr650@egroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Wednesday, December 27, 2000 11:26 AM [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_klr650] Re: Valve Adjustment Question Ok I'm allmost convinced to do the change. If I want to do it what exactly do I have to order and what are the parts numbers. Do I just ask for the BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER or is there more to it? Does FRED have it?

[Devon Jarvis]

On my A15 there's a plastic clamp that bolts to the reflector mount, on the back side of the slider a couple inches from the fork seal. A zip-tie through the hole in the reflector mount would probably hold the cable just fine. Devon ksveader wrote:

> Hey, > > How is the speedo cable supposed to be attached to the front > fork? Mine was zip-tied on to the leg by the Sucky SHop, but in > the brocure pics, it looks to not be attached at all! Did those > bastards break something else on me? > > Ken > kveader@... > Haverhill MA