How To: Yamaha Super Tenere Valve Clearance Check and Adjustment

[@j.p.marion5377]

Great video! Thank you! I just bought a used 2016 and I have about 7,000 miles to go, then I'll need to do this. Will come back to watch this again!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s really not that bad, even though people online make it seem like it. Take your time, get it done, save hundreds of dollars.

[@thelloyds4635]

I rebuilt a front shock on my S10 based on your vid for that job and will dive into my valves this coming winter based upon this one. You do a GREAT job on these and in a way that instills confidence. Thank you.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

These are the comments I love to hear, glad the video helped.

[@peterjansen7424]

Great vid and yes i have a 2014 in europe and much is the same please leave this vid on youtube all tenere drivers can use this 👍👍 keep up the good work

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

This is why I make videos, help people around the world. Thanks for watching.

[@jakegershen8340]

Just found you and your videos. You're the man! Was gonna check mine over the winter. I'm at 32k now. I'll definitely do it next winter after watching this video. Just changing the air filter gets ya half way there!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Thanks, it’s really not as bad as people make it out to be. Make sure you have a copy of the manual.

[@jakegershen8340]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures I do.

[@nd4spdbh]

Just got a Super Ten, started in on tearing down for a valve check last night as its new to me and has 22k miles.... its almost like you knew I was going to need this video! Thanks!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Hopefully it helps a bit, follow the manual too…I show a bit of a cheat.

[@nd4spdbh]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Yeah I have a full service manual and yamaha does a pretty good job of explaining everything. Fingers crossed no valve adjustment is needed!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@nd4spdbh yes, the check is pretty simple. Get as much stuff out of the way from the valve cover as you can and it’s easy.

[@nd4spdbh]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures My Ten had all her valves in spec! I will say, you dont need to pull the clutch cover, you can see the markings on the crank bolt and the case with a flashlight through the inspection hole

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@nd4spdbh ok, I like to remove it but you’re right. Had to pull it off anyway to do my “cheat” for setting the timing after removing the cam.

[@Baileyclan5]

Tom, great video. Thank you for taking the time to make this and post it. I did a valve clearance check on my S10 this week and your video was invaluable. Thanks again and keep up with the good content.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Just a few tricks I learned doing it the first time, obviously using the manual is the most vital thing. Glad you got it done, it makes you feel confident that the bike is ready to do a lot more miles.

[@graemerobinson8824]

Thanks Tom, very informative. You make it look easy

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Appreciate it, but it really isn’t too bad. Worth taking the time to get it done for what I have heard it costs.

[@davidfawcett9412]

Very informative video thank you

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@davidfawcett9412 you’re welcome!

[@duckbuell]

Thank you! Nice work! I’m at 30K and yet to do a valve check. Great to see us DIY folks can do it.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s 100% doable, give yourself a full day or even two if it’s the first time doing anything like this. If you have a buddy who has mechanical experience, buy them food and drink to assist you. It’s still going to be way cheaper than taking it in. One thing that I didn’t cover is the stock cam chain tensioner, so make sure you know how to set that. Good luck!

[@oo-dd3lk]

Excellent ! Thinking of buying one of these, so good to know it’s within the DIY ability.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s not the most difficult valve check to do, but it’s far from the easiest. Definitely get a manual and take your time and you’ve got it.

[@milesdavis8665]

i was watching the kawasaki gar 1400 valve adjustment video earlier. I think Ill stick to a super tenere and have to do this

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s funny how many Tenere owners think this is so difficult. There are many bikes that are much harder to work on. Thanks for watching.

[@T_Shane]

I just recently used your video on rebuilding the forks to rebuild the ones on my 2017 Tenere. Well I just got back from my annual March Moto Madness ride in Tellico Plains and realized mine is about to hit 31k so I should probably dive into checking the valves. I’m not sure if I’ll do it soon or wait until closer to winter to do it but I’m definitely going to use this video along with my manual. Just like with forks, I’ve only messed with dirt bikes so something this big is nerve racking but I believe I can do it.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yes, you can do it! Use the manual as well, it’s a good feeling to take care of your own equipment.

[@karlo8233]

Thanks for all your work on this. I appreciate all the tips. it’s on my to do list.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s a big job but not terribly difficult. Take your time. Good luck.

[@dcasteaux9181]

Checked my Super Ten valves @29k and they were in spec. I followed the Yamaha manual when positioning the cam angles: if you set the cam lobes 180 degrees from the bucket I got different gap readings. Set them using the Yamaha method and they were perfect. Don’t know why these should be different. Getting the valve cover back on with intact seals is the tricky bit. Recommend you use new seals as my old ones had shrunk slightly.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

For a big job like this, having a new seal ready to go is a good idea. Glad to hear that your valves were all in spec.

[@lazysurf9]

Really great and helpful video. Thanks for taking the time to record it and explain everything. I need to do my valve check as well. I was going to ask, where did you get your Hot Cams kit? One other question, what was the sealant that you used on the cover? Some kind of silicon? Thanks again for video and keep up the great work. And of course, get out there and ride!!!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I think I got the shim kit on eBay, Amazon has them as well and lots of other places. A silicone RTV sealant works well, I like ThreeBond.

[@lazysurf9]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Thanks for the advice and helping the moto community out!

[@Hunter1st]

This is the awesome content I'm here for. Not sure if I just haven't found it, but do you have a video going over all of the mods you have for your s10?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I don’t know if I did a video of that. Most of the stuff is just bolt on accessories.

[@two_wheel_zen]

Hi Tom, I've just bought your old Tenere - this very one! Good to know the valves were done not too long ago... I won't bother doing them again haha!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Awesome, I knew that it sold. It’s a good bike, enjoy it and let me know if you have any questions.

[@two_wheel_zen]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures thanks a lot! I ordered a manual CCT without realising it already has one 😅

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@two_wheel_zen yeah, I didn’t want to chance an issue with the original one and installed that at the first valve adjustment.

[@two_wheel_zen]

Tom, did you ever change the springs in the suspension? Currently trying to set it up for two up touring

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@two_wheel_zen no, stock springs when I had it. Never used it two up.

[@MrMountaincycle]

great video! thanks for sharing

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Thank you for watching. The way I showed is a “hack” so make sure you have a manual as well. Ride on!

[@dyresnnicksen2177]

Hi Tom. Nice film👍. Du you have a link to the shims kit? I cant find the correct one😢

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Just search 9.48mm shim kit, plenty of choices available.

[@jakegershen8340]

Have you done, or will you do(please), a video on servicing the forks on the Super Tenere? I’m sure I can get through it alone w the manual. But, would be nice to follow your lead.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I did. Search my channel for Tenere forks

[@jakegershen8340]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures awesome! Will do, thanks!

[@daddydutchbbq]

Hey Hey Good looking !

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I need to make it to Iowa again soon

[@daddydutchbbq]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures yes Sir ! Hoping all is well with you and your family!

[@Benstvforu]

Mine is still a baby, only has 17k miles and climbing

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@Benstvforu keep riding!

[@somestuffithoughtyoumightl6985]

I didn’t see you remove/install spark plugs. Wouldn’t that have eliminated compression and the cam chain “jump” you experienced? Also make crank alignment easier?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I did remove/replace spark plugs, but if I remember correctly I probably had them in at that point so you're right. It would definitely help make it easier. Sometimes I get going too fast and forget the simple things. Thanks for watching.

[@pappaclutch3266]

You just need to take one out per cylinder and you won’t have compression

[@schoolofmediocrity2801]

I've done valve checks and adjustments on other bikes but I've never tried one that uses shims. Just the thought of having to mess with that timing chain puts me off, but that paint and zip tie cheat makes me a little more apt to want to try it and save some money. Do you follow up with a TB sync or is it not really necessary on these bikes?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Shims are kind of a pain ITA but usually it’s easy to line up the timing marks, this bike is designed goofy so the paint marks help a bit. TB balance is a good idea, I didn’t do it but if you have the equipment it helps smooth these engines out.

[@outdoor1640]

sorry, unclear what needs to be done with the cam chain tensioner? I have stock, do i need to touch that? If so, what am i doing with it?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yeah, I didn't show how to reset the stock one because I replaced it with the manual one. There are good "how to" procedures on the Super Tenere forum, and probably a video or two? I just didn't trust the original one, I think later models are updated and better but the manual just made everything much easier and I never had to adjust it after setting it.

[@baileyonbass6380]

I'm looking at picking up a used S10. Seems like this isn't an engine out job as some suggest.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I find it funny how big of a deal people make of this. Of course it’s not as easy as an air cooled Honda XR, but it’s also not that difficult either. Plus, it’s a 26,000 mile interval. You could have the bike for 100,000 miles and only do the job three times. Take your time, read the manual, bring a friend over and save several hundred dollars that a dealer will charge. Good luck, ride safe!

[@baileyonbass6380]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Thanks Tom! Yeah. Looks quite doable. Thanks for the vid! I'll be coming back once I pick one up. 🙂

[@gryphongryph]

A bit more difficult than a Guzzi 😂😂😂

[@motokev2727]

I've watched a lot of videos on valve adjustment on many road bikes. Most don't even need the adjustment even at 50K miles. Most bike life is maybe 70K miles before serious worn issues. Why not skip the valve adjustment and sell the bike at 70K miles. And by the time it needs a valve adjustment, let's say 50K miles the bike isn't worth much, maybe $2K.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s your choice to do the required maintenance. I like to know that my equipment is working properly. I sold my Tenere with 60k miles at a pretty good price, a lot more than $2k! I wish I could buy a Tenere for $2k. Had several bikes with more than 70k miles as well.

[@randygibbons8416]

I wonder how many guys just never do it ? What is the downside of not performing the checks ?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

If the valves are tight, the bike will be harder to start and you can burn the valves. It’s such a long interval, over 100,000 miles of owning the bike you only need to do it three times.

[@motokev2727]

I never do it, I'm willing to take the chance.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@motokev2727 that’s your choice. Usually when I buy a used bike I do all the maintenance so I can feel comfortable knowing it’s ready to go across the country if I want to.

[@tazdevil1200]

ive never had it go so easy every time i do anything i have at keast 2 stuck coil packs as i do now i am in the proces of removing cam cover but it has no room and wont come off no matter how i do it so looks like engine out job worst bike ever to work on and ive built loads

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

You just need to slow down and take a look at what is holding it up. It’s not even close to the worst bike to work on! I hope you get it figured out.

[@jakegershen8340]

Ive heard a lot of folks loosen the engine mounts and tilt the engine a little bit to get more access. No need to totally remove. Some of what the engineers did does make you say WTF, but overall not a bad bike to work on. IMO.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@jakegershen8340 I didn’t have to do anything like that. The manual shows all the stuff that you should loosen up and move.

[@gryphongryph]

Great video, but as novice, my does that looks difficult, I for sure would let a expert do the work 😅 as I for sure would mess that up somehow 🫣

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Well, if you have a buddy that can help maybe you could get it done. Otherwise, at least you know what goes into the job. I don’t do everything myself, but sometimes I like to understand the process. Thanks for watching.