Motorcycle Repair: 2002 vtx 1800

Question
QUESTION: What does the book call for time wise to pull a 2002 vtx 1800c engine. Buddy was running it with 2.5 qts of oil and now lots of valve niose. Intake valve clearance is .080 so I'm looking at a cam and rocker probably. Just wondering about labor costs? Thanks for all you do because I wanna keep riding. Kent

ANSWER: Hi Kent,

I'm afraid I won't be much of a help...

First of all, I can't give you labor cost, because I live and work in Greece.
The official labor time for removing the engine, is 45 minutes!!!
The only way one can achieve this, is to be trained to do ONLY this,
and have half a dozen assistant mechanics around him...
Anyway, in the real life, it takes from one and a half to two hours,
depending on the extras and the exact model.

Away from that, I'm very curious about the nature of the problem.
The Honda three-valve V-twins proved bulletproof for more than 25 years,
even running very low on oil.
As long there is enough oil for the oil pump to pick-up, the valve train is trouble-free.
I would more suspect a wrong or damaged oil filter or even an undertightened adjuster locknut.
If both intake valves have exactly the same clearance, though, then most likely it's a cam
and/or rocker as you said.

I hope I helped a little.

Best Regards,
Lazaros.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the response. I know the time required is under perfect conditions with nothing going wrong at all...not the real world on the shop floor. I'm trying to decide whether I should just relash the intake since it is .080 and it should be .013. Is that too far out to just readjust or is .080 automatically call for pulling the engine and put a mic on the cam lobes? I'm sure there is enough adjustment but If a problem is developing it will delay the fix by a few miles. Both intake valves on the rear cylinder are at .080 but the Ex. are spot on. I've always used the K&N line of oil filters and a good partial syn oil changed at 2000 or 2500 miles. So I'm just trying to decide whether to bite the bullet and pull the engine or just adjust the valves? Thanks

Answer
Hi Kent,

At first, the correct clearance for the intake is .005" not .013" (we're talking inches right?).
Is it possible that you adjusted the valves at the wrong stroke? .08" is more than two mm. and
maybe it's because the valves were not adjusted at TDC-COMPRESSION.
Please make sure, then check again(!!!), forget feeler gauge and proceed as follows:
Untighten the lock nut till fully loose and hold it steady, turn the adjuster screw all the way clockwise,until it touches the valve stem but not pressing it.
Now is the tricky part... turn back counter-clockwise 60° (that is from one tip of the locknut to the next) hold it there as firmly as you can, and tighten the locknut. This will give a clearance of .125mm or .0049".
Of course, having in mind that I can not be sure of how much of a handy man you are, I assume
you can do this. If you have second thoughts, try the feeler.
In any case, don't call your engine sick just yet. Readjust your valves and give it a ride.
Before that, warm-up the engine, drain the oil in a clean container and using a magnet,
see if you can fish-out any metal flakes, grindings etc. If you can get a tight strainer, even better. Strain it, and see what's left. If no metal particles found, the possibility
of worn cam lobe and rocker is only minor.
Give it a shot, it only takes patience and passion!

With Motorcycling Regards,
Lazaros.