I'll be looking at tappet clearances soon on this K1100 and am a little confused. I know they use buckets instead of shims and the cam shafts need to come out to change a bucket, but how do you tell what is installed now? Last time I did this on an 8v I just pulled the shim and measured it and most of them where not stamped with a size at all. Should these buckets be stamped or something and can you read it?

Also, do you need to remove the crank cover to get the chain cover off ?

The bucket has to come out to identify the size. The number is on the inside to one edge on the area that doesn't contact the valve tip. Or check the size with a micrometer.  You can get the front cover off without removing the crankcase cover.

Al

AL-58 wrote:The bucket has to come out to identify the size.

That's exactly what I didn't want to hear Al   

With 3 weeks delivery from the UK for new buckets I better start the job sooner rather than later. Fingers crossed they're all in spec.

I have a few spares here what sizes do you need

Same here, I have few spares also.

I've just checked the RS clearances and have no issues.

Al

Thanks guys. The boy is moving out again tomorrow so that will give me lots more room in the garage to get started on it.

RobinW wrote:Also, do you need to remove the crank cover to get the chain cover off ?

I don't know if you have some other work planned underneath that cover,
but you don't need to remove the cover to remove the camshafts.

It's easy to make a tool to lock the camchain tensioner, or you could borrow Duck's screwdriver.

More here: http://classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/4valves/4valves.htm

Thanks guys, that helps. I just want to inspect the chains Inge. 
It's ex police and there is a little bit of a chainy sort of noise when decelerating.


Last time, on the 8v, I had all the covers off.

.

If you need a new chain kit I have one here that I bought then found that it was near perfect and I also have just a chain that has done about 50km.

Great picture!

RicK G wrote:If you need a new chain kit I have one here that I bought then found that it was near perfect and I also have just a chain that has done about 50km.

Excellent Rick, I'll let ya know what it looks like.

I got into this this arvo. I don't see any wear on the chain guides and the tensioner was only extended about 3 mm. I was able to compress the tensioner with my fingers so I lifted it lightly with a driver and it clicked to the next knotch and I can't compress it any more. Maybe that's what I was hearing?

2 inlet shims are out, one is .05 too tight and the other .05 too loose. I wonder what the odds are on being able to swap them  Exhaust is good.

I turned the sprockets to get DTC and notice that with the inlet sprocket aligned so the line on the casing is exactly at the apex of the triangle on the sprocket, the outlet sprocket is lagging a little. Does that sound like a stretched chain? I can't get a good pic of it just now, I need to charge the flash.

Got a pic. Rick tells me his is the same so we'll ignore this and move on