Ninja 300 Valve Inspection / Adjustment (DIY)

Step by step valve inspection and adjustment. I followed the thread linked below from the 300 forums along with the service manual (also linked below). Did the inspection the first day, then had to wait for the shims to come in. Did the adjustment the second day and finished putting everything back together the third. I couldn't find a very detailed video showing this job so hopefully this is helpful to people.
I've been told that the newer Versys X 300 has a similar motor and that the valve adjustment can be done following this process. I would assume the fairings and peripherals that need to be removed to access the valve cover will be different but the actual inspection and adjustment should be very similar.
Forum thread: www.kawasakini...
Service manual: www.manualslib...
Music credits:
Almost in F - Tranquillity by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/

[@viper7388]

Well, 4 years later and this video still found someone in need of your wonderfully detailed video. Thank you for taking the time to make this and I hope you are still riding and doing well. Stay safe!

[@roguespiritsteven]

Well this has to be one of the best - if not THE best - how-to video I have ever seen in my life. And I'm really old and have seen a lot of how-to videos, so that's saying something. Thank you!!!!

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks, Steven! Glad it was helpful.

[@emmettturner9452]

I agree: This is great! Concise too. There’s also a very thorough 5-part series from “Ninja 250 Motorcycle Maintenance” that goes super in-depth about the assembly lube and gasket compounds and all that. The engines are the same and you can skip all the fairing stuff that doesn’t apply.

[@danbee6407]

23:19 The thumbs up silhouette, though. Amazing video, I'm a bit intimidated about getting this maintenance done, but this allowed me to know *exactly* what I'm getting myself into. Thank you for taking the extra time to document and edit this. Your production was flawless & right to the point. I'm blown away.

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Haha, didn't notice the thumbs up until now. It's a little nerve-racking starting it up after having everything apart but it's a good feeling when it all goes right. Thanks for the generous comment. Glad so many people are finding the video helpful.

[@onthepegs]

Huge thanks for this! Will be my first time valve measurements tomorrow. Will also prepare my plasma torch and angle grinder just in case I feel like finishing faster.......... How can something that needs to be checked so regularly be made so time consuming? This should be a crime punishable with prison time.

[@elnegritolamar4689]

this video is pure gold my man, im the most unhandy guy you will meet but with taking notes and referencing the manual and googling what some of the parts look like I understood, will try this, this weekend. If you can add a list of tools you used to remove hard to reach spots. We need more people in the world like you haha

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks Huey, glad it helped. I don't have the exact list I used, but for the most part you'll need 8, 10, and 12mm sockets and wrenches. An extension for your ratchet and a universal joint socket will be very helpful for some of the harder to reach bolts. Other things off the top of my head: a magnet is helpful for pulling the lifter buckets, feeler gauges and calipers for measuring your valve clearances and shim sizes, towels of some kind to stuff in crevices so you don't drop anything into the head or crank case, and a torque wrench for putting everything back together would all be necessary. Good luck with the job!

[@heithnielson1408]

Just subbed got my ninja 300 back in April last year already put 10,000 miles on her! Need to do some adjustments and maintenance to keep going. Not many people have camera setup and quality like your video great job!

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks for the kind feedback! Glad the video was helpful. Keep up with the oil changes too while you're racking up the miles.

[@usmanrasheed]

I enjoyed watching that. One of the best how to videos that I've seen. Very well done mate.

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you liked it!

[@andreasmuller4661]

Thanks a lot for the video. I had to shim the exhaust too. But my motorbike is a kawasaki versys 300, so the engine is very similar. The manual was also very helpful. Now, everything is OK and the engine run properly. It was the first shimming, the engine run so far 46'500 km, shimming 1 x -0.1 mm, 3 x -0.05 mm Intake is still OK

[@desimc89]

Excellent video. I loved the piano soundtrack. However, after seeing in detail the number of steps and various tools required... I am comfortable paying the few hundred dollars to my independent moto mechanic and reading a book while he does all this.

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the video. It's not a DIY job for everyone and it's great to support your mechanic when you can!

[@m_a_t_t6098]

The prep work is obviously a little different, but the versys X 300 uses the same engine and therefore (I'm 99% sure) the same process for the adjustment. If you edit that into the tags, description or title it might help more people. Great video. I saw the length and was thinking I wasn't going to make it through it, but it sucked me in. Thanks for posting.

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Glad the video was helpful and thanks for the info! I'll update the tags and description.

[@WhatOfficalTM]

THANK YOU BRO! I was able to change my head gaskets and clean the heads using this tut!❤️🔥 much love to you boss!

[@Richie65afc]

Great video and relaxing music to do this job. Well done and thank you.

[@otarsulava]

Excellent work and thank you for sharing this video! Respect! Just a question: What noticeable symptoms bike should have to consider that it needs a valve adjustment? Thanks...

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks, Otara! Glad people are finding it helpful. There won't necessarily be any symptoms to let you know that this needs to be done which is why it's recommended at a specific millage interval. The only way to know for sure is to get in there and measure your clearances. By the time you notice symptoms your clearances will most likely have been out of spec for a while.

[@otarsulava]

@@HwBtThmYanks Many thanks again, much appreciated!

[@mikecarr4]

Brilliant video thanks

[@c0ck_l2oach75]

The world thanks you for your service for helping fellow mankind. Great video and appreciate your time and sharing this with us.

[@mer12341]

Thanks bro now I feel confident about it.

[@thankydieu]

Welldone. Keep it going

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks, hope the video was helpful.

[@siegmundkreidl8291]

what a Anti stress music great :)

[@zulriffin3831]

Superb video. Thank you for your sharing.

[@marianomoll7509]

Thanks! Great video! What shim set did you get?

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks! I got the Hot Cams kit. It's overkill but you'll definitely have all the sizes you need. Part number is HCSHIM01. It's not listed for the Ninja 300 but a bunch of people on the forums have used it. You can find it on Amazon for $60 or $70.

[@andrewwhitley2361]

The "crank shaft sensor" is actually the rectifier/stator connection.

[@mattevans5812]

Does the bike have to have very high numbers on the odometer to need adjusting?

[@HwBtThmYanks]

The recommended service interval is 12k miles for inspection but you only need to do the adjustment if things are out of spec. I'm coming up on 40k miles and the intake side has never needed adjustment but this is the second time the exhaust side has been out of spec. Hope that helps 👍.

[@MindBodySoulOk]

This music makes me feel like I'm putting a dog down.

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Feel free to use that mute button.

[@AsianAbomination]

Can i leave the spark plugs on if they have been replaced recently or do they need to come off so everything else can come off as well?

[@HwBtThmYanks]

I've always replaced them at the same time but you don't need to remove them to get everything apart. A nice side effect of leaving them in is that you plug up a couple holes that you could accidentally drop stuff into while the cylinder head cover is off 👍.

[@xxx100372]

the background music makes you freak out

[@slickchims8736]

Hardest part is getting that cylinder head cover out

[@HwBtThmYanks]

I'd agree with that for sure. It takes a lot of wiggling and elbow grease but it's not impossible.

[@georgemavros4816]

Hi I think you turn camshaft anti-clockwise or I’m wrong ? Thanks about your video I m an owner of versus 300 and you help me a long 😊

[@SynicalBeats]

Excellent informative video. I'm a master auto mechanic and I approve.

[@TheViniciusreimberg]

Awesome Video !! New sub here !

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@kenforrester4580]

Great video. Wish there was one of these for the 400. Looks like a relatively easy job. Sketchiest part looked like poppin the cam off and keeping everything in timing.

[@onthepegs]

getting to know kawasaki would be very surprised if there was more than some minor difference between the 300 and 400. More difference => more effort => less profit. Mind you they put the same block in the versys-x in 2017 and are still producing it. That is a 10 years old engine block.

[@amirrezazeydizadeh2089]

very good❤❤❤🎉🎉

[@channal8808]

Thanks you ❤️😊

[@aliqnasri5994]

nice. good video thanks. how about thickness of lifter bucket? do i need to measure it too?

[@raycustomled3150]

Hi.. great video.. may I know , before u remove camshaft, the timing mark is at 1/T or 2/T.. thanks

[@onthepegs]

Hi again, can you pls explain what to do with cam chain tensioner. It is not clear from the video, neither from the service manual.

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Hey there. Assuming you're referring to re-installing it. It's been quite a while but as far as I remember the tricky bit is keeping the push rod retracted while mounting the tensioner assembly. The push rod is what puts tension on the cam chain and if you just tighten the mounting bolts with it fully extended you might end up damaging the chain. Once the whole assembly is mounted you can slowly release the push rod until it puts tension on the chain. At 16:33 you can see the chain tighten as the push rod is released. Take a look at the diagram at 16:25. You have to use a small screwdriver at the end labeled "A" to retract the push rod (which is at the bottom of the diagram). Do this with the tensioner in place and try to get one of the mounting bolts tightened while still using the small screwdriver to keep the push rod retracted. Once the whole assembly is securely mounted (at least enough so that it can't pull away from the block) you can release the push rod and finish tightening up the mounting bolts. Hope that helps!

[@onthepegs]

@@HwBtThmYanks Hi, thanks! What was unclear is that you need to turn the flathead screw inside not the threaded-holed phillips head thing. Thanks again and thanks for the video. I am repairing my versys-x. The lack of space where you need to work is a nightmare.

[@HwBtThmYanks]

@@onthepegs Glad you got it figured out. Good luck!

[@shawnkurtisTV]

I have a 2020 650 and I hear this noise only when I’m accelerating. It’s kind of a “swishing-ticking” noise.. I’m guessing it’s the CCT (cam chain tensioner) as well?

[@hazza9750]

What should I do if I forgot which valve lifter goes where ?

[@CalAdkins]

Is it easy to hear if the valves are slightly off to know if you need the procedure or not?

[@mojtabamansori1033]

Thank

[@djmahibramahapuri6063]

Wow

[@andriaginting60]

Nice video, did you change in valve periodically ?

[@HwBtThmYanks]

Yeah, you should at least check the clearances periodically. No need to adjust if they're within spec. I believe the service interval is ~12,000 miles.

[@mjonji1281]

Should I drain the tank before removing the fuel line?

[@HwBtThmYanks]

The service manual recommends draining it but you don't need to. There's a valve in the fuel tank outlet that closes when the line is removed. There will still be a couple drips but if you have a rag under there to catch them you'll be fine.

[@owusuchrisus3162]

Thank but I need Kawa zzr 250 timing

[@spencerrobertson4752]

Fuck this just gonna pay a grand to get er done

[@HwBtThmYanks]

It's not too bad if you've got the time

[@ibra7492]

why my ninja doesn't have that evap canister ?

[@JAVTROOPER]

How to reset timing???? I don't really understand what you say back sprocket with head??? Sorry I really don't understand Edit : after watching that part for 5times i understand 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@gageturner3274]

Will this qork with the ninja 400?

[@johnnyjorgensen4768]

There will be a few differences but the engine itself is the same design, I would try to hunt down torque values before you start but other than that the differences should be few and far

[@heinzawoo7737]

Hi

[@brandonbeebee2057]

My l

[@Redline2442]

I think someone plays Minecraft