valve clearance specs

[feederbb]

Please bear with me, this is my first time posting. I have a 90 and was looking in the Yamaha shop manual that I got when I bought the bike and it has so many different sections and was wondering if anyone knew the valve clearance spec?  I think I have it pretty much figured out on how to do it, which actually seems pretty easy compared to some of the dirt bikes I've done (pulling cams and chains and that stuff). Just wanted to be positive on the spec!  I know that I was probably suposed to introduce myself so ..... I'm a 50 yr old EX UPS driver who in the last year retired, divorced (wouldn't give up the drugs for 29+ yrs of marriage and 2 sons, everyone wants to know so..), and bankrupt (goes along with her "usage"). Moved out of state, she moved cross country, sorry East coast, and I bought a 90 FJ as a celibration of my freedom! Always wanted one but was too busy being the responsible one in our family.  Raced motocross off and on in later years with my youngest son but had a bad crash in Feb. and decided to go back to the street.  Boys were using also so they went east also.  Thanks in advance for any help!  Also I appologize for my poor spelling, bad gramar, and unfamiliar uses and rules of the site (be gentile with me, I will do my best!)

[weymouth399]

Welcome
this is the basic numbers in thou. which most people have for feeler gauges
in. 4-6 thou
ex.6-8 thou
any other question just ask
Bob

FREEDOM= priceless

[feederbb]

Thanks, just wanted to make sure.  Amen on the FREEDOM!  A quote from Wille Nelson "Why do divorces cost so much?  Because they're worth it!!!!"  Kev.

[racerman_27410]

just out of curiousity what were they all using ?


glad you got away and are able to start a new chapter in life.....

Here is to a happy and stress free chapter filled with good times, great and true friends like i have met here, and endless Kookaloo provided via your FJ     

post up a pic of your FJ ?

16K i doubt the valves are out but its still good to know what you got in there.
measure all the shims and take good notes... it will be handy down the road.


KOokaloo new brother!

Frank

[feederbb]

First I have to ask what is probably a stupid question.  If the valves are on the loose side (on the large end of the acceptable specs) does that mean that they are still fairly new in their condition?  On the four stroke dirt bikes we raced, the valve clearances would get smaller from the valves being pushed farther in the head or the valves smashing down the seats, thus a tighter clearance, needing smaller shims to maintain the clearance spec.  I'm assuming it's the same with the FJ.  I was just curious because most of the valves are on the looser end of the specs (largest clearance).
  Ok as far as the DOC (drug of choice) pretty sure my boys were just smoking weed, although I know they tried pretty much everything.  My ex had been a pot head for many years as I was back in my 20s.  I drove comercial for UPS and was subject to random tests so I pretty much stopped when my oldest son was born.  I'm no angel, far from perfect. A while back the ex got her "medical card" along with another "friend".  One of my friends was an ex meth user and had told me he thought I should watch out having been around her and friend and seen them in action.  I didn't want to believe it but I started coming home early and she wouldn't be around (the usual, ask the boys, she's at her moms, call there, not there, etc.)  60K dissapeared in 5 months. Started snooping, looking at bank records, atm reciepts, cell records, found lot's of stuff that I knew (from personal experience) wasn't for smoking weed. She was getting very aggresive, violent, weird looking eyes. So I guess it was meth but it really didn't matter. It's the actions not the drug!!  All I wanted was for her to get help, set an example for my sons and she split. My life was so jacked up for so long I feel like a ton of bricks has been lifted from me.  Life is good.

[racerman_27410]

loose is good on the valves as you are correct in they normally tighten up.

the FJ is not known for being hard on the valves or for needing alot of adjustments. Its a fairly bulletproof engine with at least one super clean bone stock 84 i know of personally in Denver that has over 200,000 miles on it.

sad news about the wife.... my little sis went thru the whole meth thing out in California and it was a total bitch. Luckily she got pregnant (did i just say that ?) and that motivated her to turn her life around.
she has been clean for three years now and has a beautiful healthy daughter.

funny how things work out sometimes.

Kookaloo!

[fj1289]

For the valve clearance - I like to set mine up on the loose side of spec - especially the exhaust.  I figure a little extra time on the seat to get rid of some heat will do nothing but good.  

Good luck moving on with life.  Takes a little while to dig out of the hole - but it's all good!

Chris

[andyb]

First I have to ask what is probably a stupid question.  If the valves are on the loose side (on the large end of the acceptable specs) does that mean that they are still fairly new in their condition?  On the four stroke dirt bikes we raced, the valve clearances would get smaller from the valves being pushed farther in the head or the valves smashing down the seats, thus a tighter clearance, needing smaller shims to maintain the clearance spec.  I'm assuming it's the same with the FJ.  I was just curious because most of the valves are on the looser end of the specs (largest clearance).

Confirmed.  The valves beat into the seats and wear them in, pushing their stems farther up, so your clearances close up.  If you have an old old motor that was designed for leaded fuel, and run unleaded in it, you can see this in nearly real time

Ain't it crazy when "bad" things happen and they feel so good?  One of the best days I've had in the past ten years was getting kicked out of school...

[feederbb]

Thanks guys that's what I thought.  Figured it was just like the dirt bikes but didn't know the FJ well enough YET to know if there was some "factor" that I wasn't aware of.  I don't claim to be the smartest person around but haven't tried hard enough to be the dumbest either.  I'm kind of an information whore.  After the valve check Friday did some other "tear her down and check, just so I know" stuff and took off Saturday morning 2up and didn't come home until 8 hrs later! Had a nice little "lead and follow" with a Porche Carrera on a really nice road for about 25 miles (that took about 10 minutes but was fun while it lasted (yeah, we took turns).  He passed me and a slower car so I jumped in behind him.  I don't know if he was looking more in front or in the mirror at me behind him but it was a real kick!  The bike was everything the previous owner said it was and I just keep being amazed at how comfortable it is and easy to ride.  Life is good my friends!  Rubber side down!  Kevin