So, I adjusted my valves today, and...

[barncat]

I have a few lingering questions.

I know on my XL 600r, I had to roll the crank around NUMEROUS times, untill all four valves were under no pressure. At that time I could wiggle all the rocker arms.

Today I set timing marks, and checked 4x, everytime I looked in the jug, and could see the top of the piston, while mark was aligned. I then set the valves. (intake @.08 exhaust @ .18) I ran the tappet in, until I the feeler drug out, and I could not insert the .10 and .2 respectively. I then triple checked the setting(the exhaust valve sucks to adjust by the way)

My question is...Should the rocker arm have ANY wiggle at all? ANY? Because mine does. My valves were definitely out of spec when I started. The bike ran great, and started everytime, but the valves were noisy. I know on my Chevy 350, a little movement in the rocker arm is ok. I watched the crank roll over to TDC, and it seems that there is a bit of dead time, before the valves start to move again.

I really don't feel like doing a stroker yet, as I just got this thing, so I figured I'd check first. Is there a better way to check my adjustment. I'm always worried that I have fucked up, and will **** a valve.

I'm ready to put it back together, but figured I'd check first.

 

[MotoArts]

You will feel some play.
Basically what you're looking for is the cam to be on its base circle (not on any of the "ramp") for adjustment.
When a valve is too tight, it will tend to burn the margin of the valve at the seat, since it doesn't stay "on seat" long enough to shed heat to the head. Too loose, and it will be noisy (clicky) and will tend to beat the adjuster screw, cam and valve stem tip eventually into submission.

There's a fine line in that "grey area" of proper valve lash.

Like a solid lifter cam in the Chevy, a loose setting will (theoretically) take a bit of lift and duration away, giving a wee bit of bottom end torque. The inverse is true for running tighter lash.

 

[barncat]

Cool, I just wanted to double check. Guess I'll double check it tomorrow, and put her all back together. I know both valves were WAY out.