Valve clearance check DL650

[Ccmp]

Hi , looking for help on clearance check. I have done clearance checks on other bikes before. Doing for first time on a 2009 DL650. When I bring the engine to timing mark “F” the cams do not appear to have released tappets to their uppermost position, ie. where there is clearance. I can continue to rotate until lobes are in correct position. This position is as per service manual. But this bares no relation to the mark at the crankshaft. Apologies if this has been answered numerous times but I’ve done a good trawl with no success.

[ziggy]

Sounds like you may be looking 180 degrees out. I.e. check the other cylinder.

 

[Ccmp]

Thanks for reply. Manual is very specific and markings on bike are F and R  for front and rear. Any other bike I checked was just a matter of rotating crank to the marks and checking tolerances. With this, bringing mark F to mark doesn't tally with cam position.  
I should note the bike has been running fine.

[mjc506]

Bear in mind that the crankshaft rotates twice as fast/often as the camshafts... Two rotations of the crankshaft is one cycle.

[greywolf]

The cam lobes should not be pointing directly away from the buckets on the F mark. On that mark, the piston is either on the compression stroke or the exhaust stroke. The service manual shows how to determine which is which by looking at the cam lobe position.

Some other useful resources are

http://blacklabadventures.com/2012/02/1 ... djustment/
http://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php/topic,3595.0.html

[Ccmp]

Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I put the lobes in the position indicated in the manual. All clearances front and rear cylinder are within spec.  The lobe position does not bear any relation to  mark F and R. on crank. Am I missing something obvious?

[Ccmp]

Greywolf I had already read those guides. Both mention rotating crank to marks and then readings are taken. When I'm at the marks the lobes are not in correct position ie. no clearance. Clearance good when lobes are in correct position.

[greywolf]

It's a combination of the mark and the lobe position. If you're on the mark and the lobe position is wrong, rotate the crank 360 degrees to return to the mark. Then the lobes should be in the correct position. The only way that wouldn't work is if the engine was built wrong.

[mjc506]

Have you got any photos?

[Ccmp]

It's a combination of the mark and the lobe position. If you're on the mark and the lobe position is wrong, rotate the crank 360 degrees to return to the mark. Then the lobes should be in the correct position. The only way that wouldn't work is if the engine was built wrong.

You're spot on. By the time I got everything stripped my brain must have been bypassed. Anyway all clearances fine. Thanks for help.

[mjc506]

Good to hear