6 - FZR1000 Valve Clearances | Tom's Workshop

In the sixth episode, I take on the valve clearances. A job I've put off for far too long on all my bikes, so it's about time I tackle it.
Valve Clearances Spreadsheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Welcome to Project FZR1000, follow my progress as I restore my 25 year old super bike back to its former glory.
Hit subscribe if you want to see more!
00:00 Intro
00:16 Bleeding Rear Brake
01:30 Front Sprocket Nut
01:56 Checking Valve Clearances
03:17 Removing Camshafts
04:31 Replacing Shims
07:34 Reassembly
11:38 Outro

[@roguenut9]

Top work, great to see how a diligent home mechanic with a shop manual and a spreadsheet can do almost anything 😂

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Cheers Stuart, that's definitely the philosophy I'm tackling it all with!

[@richardhorton25]

Just found this channel and am enjoying the journey. Maybe a bit late to comment but if you wrap plumbers PTFE tape around the threads of the bleed nipple it stops air being drawn back into the calliper. There is an added benefit in that it reduces the galvanic corrosion between the alloy calliper and the steel bleed nipple so the bleed nipple is a lot less likely to become seized with use on salted roads.

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

That’s a great idea, I may add some when I bleed the 7R brakes and clutch. I’ve had good result with reverse bleeding with a syringe through the bleed nipple, but a bit of PTFE tape can’t hurt that method either

[@greyriddance64]

I'll be coming back to this video for my FZ750. I'm surprised that your channel has under 300 subs. The video quality is professional, and so is the mechanical job you show.

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Cheers mate, appreciate that! I was happy when 50 people had subscribed so it’s been lovely watching it grow. Though I definitely enjoy trying to make them as good as they can be 👍🏻

[@TheunfamousflyCoUk]

Helped me massively- struggled to find the right marks on the crank and Cams using the manual and some other online resources and watched your video back a few times and voila, nice clear shots of both....then was able to find them on mine. Also has given me a degree of confidence that the measurements I am getting are probably well out as well! I thought maybe my cams were a tooth out cos the lobes facing away from each other isn't exactly 180 degrees as diagrams tend to show it ( at least on this bike). Thanks!

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

That’s great, glad it helped! I know what you mean just seeing someone doing it can make all the difference. Thanks!

[@boltonky]

Took me 3 attempts to get the shims right and had to order all the shims from overseas which was an expensive pain about as much as replacing a whole top end cause my exhaust filled up with water being outside and the previous owner hadn't done up a cam cap so when it was run ate all the cam bearings. For reference I3 + E3 should be the last ones to install an tighten otherwise you can cause the cam to bend. Either way your videos have been super helpful :)

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Glad you got it sorted, I had real worries about doing the cam caps, and interesting to hear of the final tightening sequence. The extent we go to for these bikes 😂

[@amandarobins2658]

Good work Tim

[@seanbrickell4520]

Tim knows his bike stuff!

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Good thing Shane was there to brew up 😂

[@ChrisSofos]

Once I got the notification your video is up, I watched straight away. When I saw "valve clearance......" I thought.... oh my god!!! I've done it on my older FZR 400s and it was a pain in the butt!!! Very good and detailed job as always my friend. They should give you a master's for this!!!

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Cheers Chris! We'll see if they start a "Nutters With Spanners" Academy!

[@ChrisSofos]

@@tomsworkshopprojects 😂🤣🤣😂🤣🤣😂

[@KensWorldRestorations]

Hey Tom!! Thanks again for doing this!! My Virago is complete and next on the hit list is a 1987 FZR1000. I haven't picked it up yet but I finally got the chance to have a good look at it. Your channel is going to be a big help for me. Thanks so much.

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Awesome! What sort of condition is it in? I’d love to have bring one of the early models back to life one day 👌🏼 glad to be of help!

[@KensWorldRestorations]

@@tomsworkshopprojects it’s got about 31,000kms (19k miles) on it. All original and all there. It’s neglected but not abused so a perfect restoration candidate

[@Clara-lt4fg]

For me you are doing it really well. The way you make the video is something original. Keep it up!!!

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Thanks so much 😁

[@PurpleHelmetMotorbikes]

You are soooo brave! I would never ever have the guts! Well done Tom 👏

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Haha, definitely a tad nervous going in, but after doing it, I’d be a lot more comfortable doing it again or on another bike. Thanks!

[@stevengeary4261]

Well done Tom, a great Series of vids which I have recently come across as I am thinking of getting an early FZR1000. Loved the spreadsheet for the valve shims, great work.

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Thanks Steven! It’s been a journey but loved working on this bike. I’d prefer an earlier model though as they’re a little more ‘special’

[@71DJL]

really good, easy to follow instructional video. Takes the mystery out of it all. Might have a go it myself now. Thanks!

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Thanks Darren! Then my work here is done! Enjoy!

[@alanrobins]

Very impressed keep up the good work

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Thanks Dad 😀

[@amandarobins2658]

Good work Tom x

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Thanks Armando x

[@MrPADDYOT]

Great vid! Informative and funny. Forgot these bikes had 5 valves per cylinder. Did a valve clearance check myself recently and used an excel sheet too but mine wasn't as fancy as yours (it didn't do any calculations). First time I'd done one in about 15 years, very satisfying job.

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Yeah it’s really satisfying to have taken it on and come out the other side 😂 appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@derekwilson1771]

Great work and vid 👍👍👍👊👊😎

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Cheers Derek!

[@user-rr3zm3gw9f]

Perfect my friend !!!

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Thank you!

[@dakavanagh]

nice! That valve clearance job seems a little fiddly but also satisfying. I'm < 8K miles, but at some point I'll be doing that job myself.

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Cheers David, yeah I’m always in awe of your super clean engine 😆

[@steved2623]

Good job.

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Cheers Steve 👍🏻

[@KensWorldRestorations]

I bought one of those one-way check valves for bleeding brakes too. Mine didn't even make it to the bottom drawer. Straight to the bin...

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

😂 I actually did the same, throwing it in the bottom drawer was so I could make a joke about keeping a gimp mask in my tool chest as a bit of an Easter egg for anyone who noticed 😆

[@KensWorldRestorations]

@@tomsworkshopprojects Haha! Noticed…nice one! Nicely done.

[@BarnsleyBob]

Hats off mate, cracking series and valves are a job I'd not attempt- I'd cock summat up! Glad you got full use out of the egg boxes too #thinkofthechickens

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Haha! There were some scary moments, but I’m glad I can look back at it from the other side!

[@michaeltaylor6092]

Great video, this is something I am still avoiding doing :-) As a matter of interest how many miles has the engine done and were there any signs that the valve clearances were out when the engine was running? Mine has done 15k miles so presuming it should still be ok. Bought as a non runner so still to find out how it sounds especially as it is currently only running on 3.It’s an ‘89 EXUP

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Thanks Michael, the clocks say 60k, but they’ve been changed by a previous owner, I think it’s closer to 40k. I imagine there were signs, though in the last few months of riding it back in 2014, the EXUP valve was seized open so was running like poo in much of the rev range anyway. I’m really excited to get it started as it’ll be the first time it’s ran properly since 2013!

[@ducatimale]

Mustard!!!

[@scrinja]

Nice one again Tom can i have your old egg boxes Dude

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Haha, just think of all that protein 💪🏼

[@Sasha-zh6tp]

This would presumably be the same for the FZS1000, right? Does anyone know for sure? Reading the manual about how to do that, it definitely sounds like the same process. If anyone knows, your answer is great appreciated!

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

I’m sure it will be a similar process in general, across many bikes. But as the FZS1000 engine is so similar, 20 valves etc, I’d expect it’s very close to this. Follow the manual and good luck!

[@oleksandrmatyushyn6139]

Are the same procedures applies to genesis. Are valve shims are the same?

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

I’ll have to check the manual, it covers all years so it should be somewhat similar.

[@awesomeroger99]

Hey, i am unable to open the spreadsheet.

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Hey Roger, You should be able to get in now and make a copy of it/download it in whichever format you like.

[@awesomeroger99]

@@tomsworkshopprojects hi I am still unable to edit the spreadsheet. thanks for any assistance rendered.

[@michaeltaylor6092]

Hi Tom, just doing my 89 exup valve clearances, could you send me your excel sheet?

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Hey Michael, you should be able to open it here and make a copy - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dODPlzGUxLv_gwilJHBRnUZb_yEB9eV58AqlAMo-lwI/edit?usp=sharing

[@moody9287]

The Spreadsheet template is locked so that I cant make a copy :/

[@tomsworkshopprojects]

Hi mate, the template’s set to View Only but if your signed into your Google account, you should be able to click File -> Make A Copy and save your own version/download a .xls file etc.

[@moody9287]

@@tomsworkshopprojects That's what I ended up doing, unfortunately that doesn't save any of the conditional formatting, but I was able to get it all figured out. Thank you so much for the work you did, it was instrumental to my friend and I getting his motor put back together!