Author Topic: variable valve clearances  (Read 3758 times)

Offline nu2banditvc

  • New user!
  • *
  • Posts: 4
variable valve clearances
« on: April 27, 2010, 11:41:10 AM »
Desperate to save this 400 bandit from the breakers yard. Can any clever people tell me how to undertake the checking of all clearances  on the valves and semi rockers and in what order on my 91 400 vc? It has variable inlet and exhaust. also how to shift the rockers over into vv mode manually in order to do this. Manuals available but in Japanese apparently. 

Offline Chris H

  • Board Homesteader!
  • ***
  • Posts: 559
Re: variable valve clearances
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2010, 09:06:41 AM »
Hi,
You need to go over to the 400 section as ive posted loads of info on how to do it.
Cheers Chris.

Offline nu2banditvc

  • New user!
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: variable valve clearances
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2010, 06:08:43 PM »
Thanks mike. I having trouble finding this info. Sorry "New boy" to forum. Is this recent info in one posting or accumulative bits over the years. When you say look in 400 section , do you mean 250/400 FAQ section. You have now idea how frustrating this is to have the answers so near but yet so far.

Offline Chris H

  • Board Homesteader!
  • ***
  • Posts: 559
Re: variable valve clearances
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2010, 06:55:37 PM »
Look in the 250/400 model specific at Wudy's post on 'Stripping the Engine...' and after a couple of pages we go over the clearences. :thumb:

Offline nu2banditvc

  • New user!
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: variable valve clearances
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2010, 07:47:23 AM »
Excellent! Got it. Yep sure is fiddly but nevertheless logical. Have already custom built rocker pin adjuster tools out of turned down non vvc tool and welded extension bar onto end with T piece along with small 8mm ring spanner, shaved for clearance and bent at 80 degrees. ,,, cheep one case it snapped.  It works fine. can use both together. Your home made cam follower shifting tool idea sounds intriguing for moving it from low to high. Hope I sus it. I was managing to move the whole rack before by blowing air down the hydraulic valve tubes. Not good I know but I was stabbing in the dark trying to understand how the vv worked without a clue really. Didn,t even know it was vv when I bought it a couple of weeks ago. Have owned many bikes over the years.Two stroke and four,  off road,super sport and racers and I.ve had my favourites but there is something about this little thing that drives me to keep it, restore it and get it right no matter what. Many thanks again Chris.   

Offline Wudy

  • Board Homesteader!
  • ***
  • Posts: 79
    • Wudy.co.uk Freelance Web Development
Re: variable valve clearances
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2010, 02:10:33 PM »
For turning the rockers from Low to Hi, I just used some needle-nose pliers on the ends where you're supposed to put the 'special tool'.
You can also use the pliers to pull the rocker shaft towards you (towards the side of the bike) to remove shims the shims.

You're gonna need a lot of time and patience to get your head around the valve checks. And along with the service manual available from the downloads on this site. There's one for the years '91 - '97, which has an appendix for the '97 2nd Gen VC (only variable inlet). Then you can figure out the VC exhaust from there.
- '93 Jap Import B4 VVC


Offline nu2banditvc

  • New user!
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: variable valve clearances
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2010, 05:30:54 PM »
Thanks, I will try that. Having trouble downloading the manual though. Managed to download 91/93 400 but not much use for vv info. Will try the 97 vv download later but for now computer just keeps saying NO.