Honda RVF400 Riders

[safety first]

Relax bro, I never say I don't believe you. Probably it's just as you said - you changed a lot of things one shot so probably the shop nev charge you for labour or gave you a discount.

 

think he never charge the labour lo... :giddy:

[ArthLine]

bro kenny, whats valve clearance? =X

^^

[safety first]

ya.. hw then we knw we should do the valve clearance???

[RVF_Kenny]

Ok, this post is gonna be long but hope I can explain clear enough using what I know...

 

Valve clearance is usually recommended to be done approximately after 1 1/2 to 2 year after the last one. But the time may shorten if you often go track and wack your engine to the max. Reason will be explained later.

 

Valve clearance is basically checking the clearance between your tapper arm (not too sure of the actual term) and the valve shim on top of your valve. The gap has a specific range of measurements to meet to optimise performance. The process require you to open up the engine head, therefore very labour intensive. If you open the head, you will see as per in the below picture except that the cams are missing in the picture.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/569922892_96e2cdecbf_o.jpg

 

The top row of 4 valves (nearer to the carb intake manifolds) are the intake valves. The bottom row that is nearer to the exhaust ports are the exhaust valves. The cam runs above the tapper arm, one cam for intake, another for exhaust, and is driven by the big gear in the centre - thus gear driven (no timing chain). The V4 engine has 2 heads so total 4 cams and 16 valves.

 

Basically as the cams turns and presses down on the tapper arms. The tapper arm pushes down the valve and control the opening/closing. Note that there is a shim in between each tapper arm and the valve. This shim comes with different thickness. There is supposed to be a slight gap between the arm and the shim when the valve is fully closed. This is the valve clearance. When checking for valve clearance, the mechanic will use a gauge and insert into the gap to measure and replace the shims (if needed) with new shims of the correct thickness to ensure the gap is within the requirements.

 

Now, as the engine revs, the tapper arm is constantly hitting the shim at a very high heat environment and at a very fast rate. Over time, the shim gets wear & tear and gets thinner and the clearance becomes out of measurement. If you wack the engine frequently, the wear & tear is faster. If the clearance is too wide open, the hitting action will cause a loud noise which some of you encountered. This is because the EO is not fully pumped throughout the engine to lubricate in between the tapper arm and the shim. Once the EO flows throughout, the sound will soften as the EO will buffer this gap. If your clearance is way out, then the EO won't be able to help much in buffering the noise.

 

Valve clearance problem will a drop in power cos the precision of the gas/air intake amount and exhaust amount will be affected. Similarly, if the same row of valve clearance (either intake or exhaust) have very large variation, this amount of gas/air entering or exiting the different combustion chambers will be different.

 

Hope this can clarify your doubts

[redbeacon]

That was really resourceful... Thanks a lot, I've PDF'ed the file for future reference

 

Now for me to unveil the mystery of the clicking sound...I need a mech

[Sub Zero]

Nice one Kenny..

 

Anyway, if i'm not wrong, Valve clearance is to be done every 20,000 to 24,000KM as a reference as stated by the manual..

[Sub Zero]

...better performance than other leading air filters, yes.

 

Just want to add, K&N does not make air filters for RVF for quite some time already.. Couple of years.. So if you're puuting K&N now, it's been modifed from filters made for other bikes or cars.

 

I dont like things are force to fit or have to be customised on my bike. I even checked with Pipercross sometime back. Even they dont make air filters for RVF.

[Double Brotherz]

wow... RVF_Kenny... u really learn the engine and its movements about RVF's ah!!!!! i must SALUTE u twice!!!!! also would like to say thanks for explaining to us in details!!!! by the when is the next RVF outing???? my RVF will be out from the shop after the accident damages are done.... the shop promised me that my bike will be out by end of this week of next monday.... Hoping to join the RVF outing and be one of them.... love RVF alot!!!! Pls do keep me inform about the outing guys!!!

[3chUn]

haha.. yeah.. i think i will go down again. but dun think it will be so soon.

 

lol, wait till we got proper gear den go again bahz..

at least wif a proper suit ..

[3chUn]

terry thx for the jacket ~!!

 

next time will plan properly wf u den we go together =)

[kenNUFC]

can u guys upload u guys rvf paintwork or whatever special parts u all got? just say no pic c very sian!

[fufu]

hi all rvfers!! fufu is going to part his rvf due to accident.... although my injuries not very serious.. but bike.. i see liao heart pain... i cant bear to part with it.. but the repair fee cause a bomb... at least 2k to be able to move but very very ugly... i dun wan my beloved rvf to be ugly... so i choose to push in and trade in

a pgm4. how do u guys think? i been wanting to test the 2 stroker 2A bike for a long time.. care to share ur opinion with me b4 i trade in for another bike???

[fufu]

i really really cant bear to part with it..... some advise pls!!!! although i wan to try a 2 stroker, but still... its really like my dearest thing on earth.... tell me wat i should do!!!!

[Double Brotherz]

not bad ah that machine!!! but 2T Bottle at least 1 1/2 if i not wrong ah!!! i thought of getting a PGM4 but couldnt thats y i decided to get a RVF!!!

[safety first]

pgm4 two carb hard to tunning>>>

not like rvf..

but i try the bike b4

very gd for pick up...

nice....

[ArthLine]

i really really cant bear to part with it..... some advise pls!!!! although i wan to try a 2 stroker, but still... its really like my dearest thing on earth.... tell me wat i should do!!!!

 

if got fix, how much it cost? pgm4 very few liao leh.. then spare parts will be alot more ex?

 

heard F/c also quite high .. hmmz.. maintenance should be high ba..

but the shape nice.. haha

[redbeacon]

i really really cant bear to part with it..... some advise pls!!!! although i wan to try a 2 stroker, but still... its really like my dearest thing on earth.... tell me wat i should do!!!!

 

Ask yourself, do you wanna be like Andy Lau on his PGM? Then get a PGM lah!! alrite, just pullin your leg there...

 

Sounds like money has got the better of you eh?

 

I donno about you but if I were you, I wouldn't wanna part with my bike that I once dedicated my hard-earned money to -- for the reason of owning it...even if it should ever be damaged in a crash.

 

(Call me a freakz if you want, that's my attitude twds bikes)

[redbeacon]

haha.. yeah.. i think i will go down again. but dun think it will be so soon.

 

`chUn;2977795']lol, wait till we got proper gear den go again bahz..

at least wif a proper suit ..

 

Wah, you guys going already ah? Kool

[3chUn]

if got fix, how much it cost? pgm4 very few liao leh.. then spare parts will be alot more ex?

 

heard F/c also quite high .. hmmz.. maintenance should be high ba..

but the shape nice.. haha

 

lol, i think the amount of money spend ona PGM will cost more den u repair ur bike =X

 

everytime must top up 2T , wash carb , de carbon.. wOoooooOo

and not to forget the CDI 1k plus.. =X

[fufu]

but the problem is i cant fork out the money right now so very stress... wah like that sounds like i cant push out a pgm liao.. u all say until so scary...

[zongbao]

Wah, you guys going already ah? Kool

 

haha.. not so soon.. juz went 2 days ago.. think not so soon.

[3chUn]

haha.. not so soon.. juz went 2 days ago.. think not so soon.

 

think in 2 weeks time i will be going again.. LOLx~!!

 

better go find fullface den we go again..

[TeRrYBEaR]

but the problem is i cant fork out the money right now so very stress... wah like that sounds like i cant push out a pgm liao.. u all say until so scary...

 

how bad is the dmg of your rvf? how come need 2k for repair? maybe you can try finding a 2nd hand part to repalce the part that is spoil. tell us what is dmg on your bike maybe we can help.

 

i had a accident not long ago. i spend 800+ for repair. dmg is left side farring crack like mad. handle bar break. mirrior and signal light gone. wind screen crack. alingment out. airduck fly dono where. the metal frame that support the mirrior bend.

[YuaN_]

rvf is much easier to maintance than a pgm

[kenNUFC]

rvf parts are expensive right? anyway basic service is just change 4 spark plug and engine oil right? can cost up to how much huh?nearly 100?