Yamaha Star 650 Valve Adjustment - Checking and Adjusting PART 1 of 2

** NOTICE 14:50 I read out a value in my native imperial which may cause some confusion, "6 passes but not 7" being in thou/in not mm. As indicated below .006 = .150mm **
Today we will be doing the inspection and adjustment of the valve lash on a Star 650, also known as a Vstar 650 or Dragstar 650, depending on where you live. This is an important, labor intensive, and often overlooked critical maintenance item that must be performed on any motor with solid lifters. There must be a prescribed amount of clearance and the margins are small, very small.
An opportune time to do this is any such occasion that the carbs are removed, such as a carb cleaning or rebuild. The 650, as opposed to the 1100 still requires much more faux chrome removal even after that just to get to the tappet covers. Consider this when you think how much your mechanic charges per hour to do this job. Its not a quick job. It can't possibly cheap. Maybe someone could tell me though.
Even with the chrome covers removed, and one ignition coil, each cylinder has its own side cover for the cam to be removed allowing for a particular dot to be aligned to a point on the head. This dot moving when the engine turns through yet two more covers removed to being this into position. This having to line up and corresponding to the correct marking on the crank through the inspection hole, depending on the cylinder.
The final test of this alignment is the wiggling of the tappet, there should be audible play as whey wiggle ever so slightly up and down. If not, you either messed up, or they are really in a bad way. Confirming this, and as luck would have it, three of my four were on the outer limits of acceptability. This means they were good. But I like them in the middle. So, adjust them I did. This involved the usual technique with a feeler gauge, a hex key and a box wrench. Lock nut is 10 ft/lbs
Satisfied with the new clearance, I clean the tappet cover, mating surface and put the cover back on. No need to keep it off and risk contamination. The screws are 7 ft/lbs. On the exhaust values, paper towel should be used under them before opening as some oil will leak out. This is especially true for the front exhaust value. The measurement is one value less than the first gauge that doesn't fit.
INTAKE .004in .102mm
EXHAUST .006in .150mm
Finishing the front cylinder tappets brings an end to part one. Part two continues with the rear cylinder and reassembly.

[@stacybritt1166]

I got my bike back on the road thanks to your videos!! The carb was full of white almost plastic looking gunk. Thanks so much for your help, I could not have gotten it fixed without your videos! I runs better than it has in years!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad I could help!

[@NemesisVNV]

There is nothing better than working in the garage and birds chirping nice cool morning air. Great video! I will be doing this next time I pull the carb for some cleaning

[@wesleycunningham855]

Nicely done. Exceptional instructions. Very easy to understand.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks!

[@foxysolerider]

Thank you deeply for your Vstar 650 videos, helped me get a 2000 Vstar custom 650 running with the carb video!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it helped

[@djb3stunit370]

This is what KZbin are made for and great work! I gonna do it tonight!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Good luck!

[@phantomrose1999]

Hi my bike has 18k kms. It buzzes badly after 80kmh. Before that’s it’s perfect, after 80kmh the mirror buzz so bad can’t see anything. Could valve adjustment be causing my problem ? Thank you, great video

[@burrco3086]

Replacing valve's in front cylinder in a 1100 vstar, bent them trying to sync carbs with clear tube and 2 cycle oil. I guess I will do what you did to get it to tdc on front cylinder , then I can take sprocket and cam, tensioner , take head off . Thanks good video

[@retrotechandelectronics]

You're welcome.

[@xxjusxstarxx]

Remember, saving money on tools doesn't save money when you have to replace parts. I have replaced/repaired engines for people who tried to save money on gaskets using gasket maker. It ain't worth it, if you don't have time/money to do it right, when will you have time/money to do it again

[@encinoman903]

I have a V Star 650 custom that is due for an adjustment. It ticks softly when it gets hot. This video is going to come in handy.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

A soft tick is normal when set correctly

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

I live in Europe so I don't have any quarters or pennies. Do you know which Euro coins to use? 🤔 Or should I import some dollars from the US? 🤔 I'm kidding, of course! 😂 You've been teaching me a lot over the past few months, and getting me confortable servicing my new DragStar as I did my old bike! Thank you so much for these great videos! 🙏

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Five shillings. That ought to do it.

[@candidate_1889]

@Retro Tech & Electronics Hi! Huge thanks for such a deep and clear explanation of process. I have a question that bothers me. In service manual they are saying, that you should turn engine clockwise - SAME AS YOU SAID.. BUT - in this part of video (on 8:40) you are turning engine counter clockwise. Later in part 2 (rare engine part, you are doing clockwise). Why so? And what are the consequences of doing it wrong? Many thanks once again!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Yes, the service manual is correct

[@chrisstagg1635]

Doing this on my 2008 VStar 650 Custom. I removed the side cover off the rear cylinder and rotated the fly wheel until I saw the "TI" with the "I" right in the notch. However when I do that and I look at the sprocket with the side cover off the dot is to the left of the tab. It's not lined up? Have I discovered a major mechanical problem, or should I just adjust based on the TI marking? (Sorry originally put this on your 1100 video by accident)

[@Auditing.northern.N.Y.]

Nickel worked great, penny bent all out of wack, but big flat tip did the job

[@chrisk1944]

Exhaust is .012-.017, ideal is .015. At 14:50: ".006 passes, but not .007" Threw me a curve ;-) GREAT video, once i figured out you (hopefully) meant .016. Or, is it .006?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

As indicated in the comments INTAKE .004in .102mm EXHAUST .006in .150mm 6 passes but not 7 as in thou/In or .150mm

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Ive updated the video description, thanks.

[@tfmobilewash840]

How you doing Sr. Been trying to ask you, do you have any video of v star running on 1 cylinder and how to fix it?

[@zezaekrael]

Your voice makes me feel like I'm watching Dom DeLuise doing a tutorial. (It's a good thing.)

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Dom… that’s a new one this week.

[@mzi03731]

Lol. I had a V-Star Classic 1998. I followed the maintenance schedule and had the dealer bill me handsomely for this job. Somehow I doubt they even looked at it.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I would have marked the bolts, to see if they moved.... thats just me...

[@davidg5704]

Excellent video 🍻

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@michaelpassionsgarage356]

Hello brother. Do you have a video on timing adjustment? I don't have spark, changed out coils, stator and pick up. I ordered cdi but may be off timing?

[@BiblicalApostolicChristianity]

Awesome video tutorial thanks mate!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

No problem 👍

[@kenwittlief255]

when you loosen the lock nut on the adjustment stud the stud is free to float on the threads in the rocker arm if you adjust the clearance to "perfect" with the lock nut loose, when you tighten the lock nut it pulls up on the stud just slightly (pulls it up against its threads) and then the gap has changed and its loose. I had 12 air cooled VWs over the years, and you have to adjust their valves every 3000 miles. I dont think you can just set them with the lock nut loose to say maybe 0.001" tighter, then it will always be perfect when you torque the lock nut down. This is one of those things you learn by doing it. The important thing is you get the valves within the acceptable range, it does not have to be exactly in the center. The reason is you dont know which way its going to wear. as the valve stem wears on the cam it becomes looser but as the valve face wears on its seating surface on the head port, it becomes tighter which one prevails? you find out the next time you check your valves. Keep track in your owners manual - write down what it was. Over a few adjustments (years) you might see a trend, and will know which side to favor. And BTW, those tappet cover Oring gaskets are only $4 each. if you re-use an old one and it starts leaking, you have to tear the bike down all the way again to replace it (another 2 hours), unless its the rear cylinder exhaust tappet - that is the only one you can get off without taking anything off the engine. Nicely done video!

[@laurentiubancila7675]

Hello! One question. My v star 650 does some pops on idle from the first cylinder. What should be the problem? Carb sync? or maybe came from de valve adjustment?

[@tsushi007]

I have a question? I was doing my valves and the dot and the I for the front cylinder will not both line up perfect. Is there anything wrong with the bike or the they not always line up exactly

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

Did you ever get an answer to your question, somewhere? I'd like to know too! Thanks!

[@tsushi007]

@@WatanabeNoTsuna. It's just chain stretch. As long as you're not a whole tooth out of spec then you should be fine

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

@@tsushi007 Thanks!

[@5519nando]

thank you ! easy to understand

[@retrotechandelectronics]

You are welcome!

[@MultisportOfficial]

Great video. Got anything on changing the cam chain?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Not yet

[@cjbongalon2064]

Hi, just want to ask a question about my v star 650. Cause i have a problem about how it sound. Mu exhaust sounds like a can. I hate it how can i fix this. I mean its not a whole tone its kinda thin sound like a can. Please help me thanks

[@Thorrian]

hallo again good sir. i have 2 questions and i will appreciate your answers very much. i will probably sound like noob, but i couldn't find any info on why do i need to do Valve Adjustments, what it does? and second is: my engine started to heat up very fast lately, and after about an 30-40 minutes after starting riding it makes a "wooooo" sound. sounds like wolf howling in a high pitch. do u have any idea what can cause this problem? thanks again for your vids!! Ride safe and may the sun always shine upon thee.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

The valves are not hydraulic and have a set amount of space to allow for heat expansion. This space must be checked and adjusted regularly. The second question I cannot help from this info.

[@nassiratti8542]

I got a question: So I encountered a problem where after adjustment I noticed a leak, I’m able to replace the gasket for the valve cover but is there a “correct way” to install the new gasket (I.e. put little oil on it)? Or do you just slap it on?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I lightly oil the gaskets before seating into the cover.

[@scottbeaver1540]

What if my dots do not line up how do I adjust that?

[@kestrk6548]

Can u tell me all the tools u used?

[@warrenalbert9336]

Those under cover brackets that split open on one side. Are they plastic or metal? They seem to be very bendable.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

which? The chrome ones? They are plastichrome.

[@banuelosjimmy1219]

man my bike is almost to 40k miles and I've never done the adjustment. I start tomorrow

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Interested to hear what the values are before adjustment if any adjustment is even needed.

[@banuelosjimmy1219]

@@retrotechandelectronics hey. So after doing my valve adjustment it was surprisingly not too bad. On all 4 they were just about .001 higher than spec. I probably won’t have to do it again for the bikes lifetime

[@micahthompson4679]

How do you adjust the timing chain?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Next time i do one, ill make a video.

[@mateicrisan866]

My dot does not match my lineeeee for the first cilinder

[@halleffect1]

adjust with engine hot or cold?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Stone cold

[@kenwittlief255]

to be clear: PARKED OVERNIGHT cold

[@gdavie1]

So what is it ideal 15 or is it 6

[@retrotechandelectronics]

ive updated the description

[@earlgallup5223]

Don't even have to worry about it to at least 50,000

[@duchtdixon894]

Sulla mia fa rumore le valvole na possono avere problemi nel tempo

[@adamkirkendoll1968]

You should of waited to pull plugs till everything else was ready to do addjmeant

[@victorwest8041]

my Yanaha 650 parallel twin I had in the 80's was much easier..........why do they make things more complex ??????

[@retrotechandelectronics]

This setup has been around for a very long time and addresses fuel mixture differences between front and rear cylinders.