KTM 950 Valve Adjustment

[@692.7MOTO-FM]

All of us garage wrenches are the same: recording spec numbers on forgotten pieces of paper or cardboard. Thanks for the vid. Preparing to buy a 950 SM

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

😂 I do have a notepad around here somewhere!

[@markariewilliams]

Thank you tom once again for an excellent video, just to help others i have just done my 05 950 adventure and also my 2012 990 SMT and the one thing that gave me more confidence is when finding TDC, if you have a good torch (flashlight) look through the hole where you insert locking tool and set timming just before the marks on the cam shafts allign, look through hole while gently tapping crank and you will see a indent in the hole, this is where TDC is and where you should be locking, i stuck a philips screwdriver in the hole and measured the distance and marked it where it met engine casing, this gives you the length you need, roughly 79mm from indent to engine casing. i got a M8 X 1.25 bolt and ground down a 30 degree taper and measured 79mm from tip to thread and marked it, when you screw this in place, the mark on the thread whould be flush with the engine casing and you are good to go. do NOT try moving the crank while the locking bolt is in use as the power of the engine could destroy the tip of the bolt. after doing 2 bikes in 3 days with all the Math of the shims i slept like a baby, like tom i hate math but had no choice so my head will be hurting for a few days. quick one on finding right shims (easy way) take your clearance measurment (left intake was 0.09mm shim was 2.60mm spec for intake between 0.10 + 0.15 so to get mine to 0.14 as shims come in incriments of 0.05 i chose shim number 2.55) lower number = more clearance 👍👍

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Good information, thanks. Always feels good when the job is done.

[@osimnod]

Am looking at buying a 2004 950 so this has been very informative and helpful to know what I may be facing at some point along the way of ownership. Really appreciate your calm demeanor and style.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

As long as you have a manual and some patience, you can get this done. Enjoy the bike!

[@andyrelf4161]

Hi Tom. I got to the bottom of the clattering engine/exhaust noise. It was the chain and chain gaurd 😂 Being situated where it’s is, the sound reverberated under the rear faring and sounded as though it was engine related. I say it up on center stand and put in gear and brought it up to speed and vibration. I was amazed to see and hear the chain do what it did. After adjusting it all is good; I had new tires fitted a few weeks ago so they never adjusted the chain and more importantly I never checked it myself until now. All the same thanks for your vid’s🙏

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Good to hear that you figured it out. Now go ride!

[@andyrelf4161]

Im right in the middle of the job now KTM 990 and thanks to you its been a breeze... so far anyways -)

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s not too bad, just take your time and you got it.

[@andyrelf4161]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures So Ive just finished up. Bike is a 2007 990 Adventurer, with 45k miles on it. It started first turn of the key. I had couple of problems with not placing the fuel line under the air filter box in the correct place so had a lot of fiddling to do to get it right without taking off the air box off again lol. Also great tip re the engine lock with a screwdriver. I followed your work 100% and it has been a successful day. Took me about 5 hours in total. As it turned out, all the vales are well within range lol. Happy biking -)

[@andyrelf4161]

Oh yeah, and taking your time is key! Thanks. When I got frustrated, I just stopped and rested up until I was calm again lol lol

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@andyrelf4161 it feels good to know that the valves are in spec, just one thing off your mind while putting thousands more miles on it.

[@andyrelf4161]

So I have this rattle that happens at low speed and low revs approx 3000 rpm. It’s sounds as though it’s coming from the LHS above the chain and maybe under the faring by the exhaust. I’m thinking 🤔 it’s possibly the exhaust gasket though I don’t have any exhaust fumes leaking. It’s weird. The. Bike performance is excellent as always. Any ideas 🙏

[@patrizioiezzi]

Really helpful, love to see you doing what I'm gonna do. Thank a lot

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Thanks, hope your maintenance goes well.

[@timetripclip]

Thanx man that helped. I have a 950 SM but the video still helps.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yeah, should be pretty close. Glad it helped.

[@jonnycutcorners]

Hi Tom, I like the video thanks. I'm about to do the valves on a 950 so its been helpful. One thing I'd like to mention... thats not micrometer your using, its a Vernier caliper. I should image that an actual micrometer could give a closer reading as it has larger round face than the skinny edges of the caliper. Cheers, Jonny

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yeah, sometimes I get stuck using incorrect terminology...will work on it since a lot of people watch the videos. Thanks!

[@MrPaulreddick]

great video - feel confident to do this now before the BDR in col

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

You got it, just take your time. Enjoy the BDR!

[@tom535]

Hey hi Tom,, I Guarantee you I would mess it up LOL.. I have no Patience at all BUT I enjoy your videos,, it is nice of you to try and help someone out who could understand what your showing..with your videos.. hey thanks for your time Tom..

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s all about just taking your time, the dealers charge a lot for this so it’s always good to share that it can be done. We all have our own limits though, so it’s good to know them. Thanks for watching!

[@tolga1cool]

Great Video! Thanks for sharing! That 950 is way less cluttered them my 990 is. There are just so many more cables and connectors on the 990

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I don’t think I have worked on a 990 yet, figured they were pretty similar. Guess the 950 is easier. Thanks for watching.

[@tolga1cool]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures They are pretty much the same mechanically as far as I can tell. I felt at home watching this video. The biggest difference is the cable and sensor jungle I think

[@tstarlund]

Thank you

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Hopefully it helped!

[@john-cc7ul]

nice work again tom... reminds me, i gotta check the valves on my girlie! - johnnyg

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I know that you can do it!

[@azdesertdog]

I'm putting this in my 1090 file since it is an evolution of the 950 there might be similarities. I've done a bunch of single cylinder bikes. No multi cylinder. My biggest concern is breaking the plastic. 😁 I always wreck a tab or something.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It should be very similar, but I haven't worked on a 1090 so can't verify it. KTM plastic does seem to be a bit more brittle, in my experience.

[@trailrunnermike]

Super video! Just bought an 06 950 adventure yesterday. It idles fine but the engine vibrates more than it should at operating revs. It seems the carbs are out of sync and engine is unbalanced for lack of a better term. Could you please recommend the the best order for me to proceed? Im thinking 1) change spark plugs 2) check valves and adjust if necessary 3) adjust idle speed p, if necessary and then 4) sync carbs last? I don’t have motorcycle experience but I have adjusted valves a few times successfully on other engines. I very much appreciate any guidance you can share. If I lived close to you I would drive it over and gladly be a customer.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@trailrunnermike it looks like you have a great plan, your steps seem to make more sense than I do most of the time. I hope it turns out well for you, those are great bikes when they are running right.

[@trailrunnermike]

@ Ok. Understood. I’m super excited about this bike) I’m 56 and do get excited that often anymore) and looking forward learning and do the maintenance myself. I could have bought a new bike, but these 950/990s are way more interesting to me. I was looking for the last year of the carbed bikes, hoping that would be the best of the 950’s. One owner bike with lots of documentation. When I tested it I knew the engine out of adjustment and could be fixed but wasn’t sure if I could do it. Thanks for the video and encouragement! I listened to you closely. I will definitely read the service manual…at least twice.

[@TWPeeps]

Hey dude, great video. Quick question, could you have not left the screwdriver in the cam chain hole? How can you be sure it’s all the way in the hole for support? Thanks

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

What part of the video are you referring to? It’s been so long since I did this job, I can’t remember! 😂

[@TWPeeps]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures where u made the special screw to support the the cam chain and part of the engine I assume. U first put a screwdriver in the hole. Then u made a longer screw.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@TWPeeps ok, the engine lockdown tool. Yeah, it’s not too difficult to tell, just turn the engine back and forth with a socket on the flywheel. You can feel the bolt set into the hole in there. Wasn’t easy to show on the video but it’s something that you can feel. Best of luck.

[@TWPeeps]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures thanks

[@markariewilliams]

Imagine my horror when i went back to my garage my little one had been playing with my shim Buckets so i had to start rear cylinder all over, be careful as shim buckets changed WILL effect valve clearance values as i found out the bloody hard way also stick some rags in the plug hole and something where the gear/timming chain is, ive taken a few buckets out with magnet, shim was stuck underside but 3 inches above when removing the shim decided to drop out, luckily i had blocked all holes, Murphy's Law is real 😉😉

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Another good tip, I have had to go magnet fishing in an engine before due to dropping hardware. It’s no fun.

[@nelsonquadrani9468]

Thank you, it was a great video. I will try when necessary.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@nelsonquadrani9468 hope it goes well for you. Thanks for watching.

[@MrBajabug65]

First

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I hope that you’re proud. 😂😂

[@michaelwebster2416]

How many miles is on the ktm 950? Great video!