Too easy to not do! Suzuki V- Strom & SV 650 valve check instructional how to

Step by step guide to checking your valve clearances. This guide includes specs for the second gen V-Strom 650, and is a check only. No re-shimming was required. Better to check and not need than need and not check!
/ @whoshrunkmyshed3786

[@MrKdm56]

I would try that if I lived next door to a motorcycle mechanic who could rescue me after I butchered my vstrom. 😂 I watch these videos just to understand how things work and to get a peek under the hood. But I don’t have the self confidence to try it myself. Maybe when I retire and have the time to learn. Hopefully this video will still be here for me. For now I barely find the time to ride let alone repair. I leave it to the pros.

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

Always good to learn things! I got kind of lucky- my first car needed a new head gasket, and I couldn’t afford a mechanic or to replace the car at that stage. The lucky part is that it was a push rod type engine, which makes replacing a head gasket much easier. I worked methodically, labelled parts in the order they came out, and ended up being successful in the repair. I think if I hadn’t experienced success working on mechanical things early on, I’d be less likely to give things a go. I’m certainly no mechanic, but I’ve since had success through jobs including gearbox rebuilds, water pump replacements, timing chain replacements etc. I don’t intend on removing these videos so I hope you do return one day to have a go!

[@jstutz101]

Great video! I’m not too concerned about the valve clearances but I learned a lot on how to take the bike apart! Thanks!!

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

No problems, it gets easier every time you take apart something new!

[@sercio994]

Jeez, it seems super easy! Thanks man, you really cleared out the process!

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

No dramas, get some spanners (or Allen keys in this case) on your bike then get riding!

[@sercio994]

@@whoshrunkmyshed3786 Thanks!!

[@galehess6676]

4 minute tutorial if you watch in 1.75 speed hahah one of the best vids ever, with that mod anyway, as that's the only way i watched it. will be adding and routing cables for new oxford grips, a zumo xt and doing the plugs, air filt and coolant. stoked. thanks!

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

I’m glad the video was useful! Sounds like some quality mods too, I’m about to add some heated grips as well.

[@galehess6676]

@@whoshrunkmyshed3786 best mod for the money is the aliexpress or ebay (slightly more $) footpegs with anodized color and removable pins, keeps feet on pegs WAY better offroad, so your muscles can control the bike, rather than needing to work double duty to keep soles on slippy pegs AND control bike. Took about 1.5 hours to cut/grind and fit into spot (just barely overlap hole, so pin holds at right spot). Modded new peg only, so can put on old or OEM if desired. They hold up to use well. Aluminum, light, $25 /pr

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

@@galehess6676 I've considered changing pegs, and I probably will in the future, but for now I've found the stock pegs to do the job across a variety of terrains. I'm sure once I change over it will be the 'WOW how did I ever cope with the old ones' kind of upgrade. I just recently added a fork brace & have a radiator guard in the shed to fit up when time allows...

[@roymurray8782]

Good Vid bud, Thanks and Cheers

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

Thanks 👍

[@joshualevine5779]

So clear! Thank you for this.

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

Thanks! 🙂

[@galehess6676]

fuel line disconnects with a rag under it and depress the two little plastic "buttons" and pull

[@russellsmith9327]

outstanding video

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

Thanks! Hope it helped you. One of my best I think!

[@karlspring7896]

Thanks, spot on with the info.

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

No problems! Probably the best video I’ll make for some time 🤣

[@Bassman1999]

Exellent video thanks. !

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

Thank you, I hope it is helpful!

[@tomu4725]

Thats funny - I had the same problem with my feeler gauges too. There was a tiny screw and a plastic but but it comes off easily and there goes all your feeler gauges lol By the way, no surprise here but you should add to the title SV650. The valve check process all looks the same as the engine looks just the same as on a vstrom

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

I’ve somehow held onto that feeler gauge for over 10 years, despite my knack for losing things. As you described it- it had the plastic nut and metal bolt assembly that eventually just got too worn out. Great tip on the sv650 title, obviously sharing motors the process should be the same with maybe exceptions for some body work.

[@Xingrpmj]

You mention the cam lobes must be pointing up but the timing mark does not line up with the F or R for top dead centre when the lobes are up. I checked my clearances with the lobes up as it was easiest to slide the feeler gauge through but had doubts I was doing it correctly because of the timing marks.

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

Hey mate, it’s been a minute since I did this job but I suspect you were just at a different part of the stroke, the flywheel may have been 180 degrees out and the tdc marks wouldn’t have been visible. It sounds like you have still measured the gap successfully though! For anyone reading this, do you know if the strom is a wasted spark system, ie the plugs spark at both tdc on the exhaust and compression stroke? Another bike I owned did, meaning you could run it with the flywheel marks 180 degrees out when doing timing.

[@samuelpmilanez]

Very good your video, I will do it on my motorcycle. One question, wouldn't it be better to apply some glue before putting the head cover back on?

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

Hey Sam, it has been a little while since I did this job but I believe the gaskets were rubber & they seal perfectly when the valve cover is torqued down. You could always replace the gaskets if you wanted to be certain, but no RTV silicone is used on them from factory. Good luck!

[@andrewjonesministry]

Should I do a valve check at 14500 miles on a 2013 wee? Or just wait until later like this?

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

Hi Andrew- that seems to be the interval suggested by Suzuki, although going by the comments posted on vstrom forums and pages, most are still well within spec at that mileage. The problem is, you don’t know for sure unless you check. Valves gaps that are too big are generally audible, but if the valve tightens up, it’s not something that can be heard- at least to a backyard handyman like myself. Too tight can lead to burnt valves. So to sum that all up, they’re probably fine at 14500 miles, but the only way to be sure is to check.

[@parans95]

Still waiting on my odometer to hit that kind of mileage before doing my valves.

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

No need to do them early either, just enjoy the bike!

[@silentjellybean]

I think I have a misunderstanding, do you not need to remove the head cover from the front and rear cylinders to do this check? (makes it less daunting for me if that's the case) Also does anyone find their vales out of spec - and how do you adjust them?

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

You remove the valve cover on each cylinder as shown in the video for a check, that is as far into the motor as you need to go. Three bolts is all that holds the cover on for each cylinder. The job does become a little trickier if they need to be adjusted, but often people don't even check them because it is thought to be a difficult job. Better to know they don't need adjusting than to assume, and if they do need adjusting- then you could decide to pay the money to have it done, knowing you're paying for a service you actually need, or you could access the information available on the web and do it yourself. Many people on the V-Strom pages I am on find them within spec, although occasionally adjustment is necessary.

[@silentjellybean]

@@whoshrunkmyshed3786 thanks! I'm comfortable stripping down the bike regards to the tank, and resealed it due to some internal surface rust (previous owner), I have stripped down the front forks and replaced the oil. So This is looking less daunting as a maintenance task to check out. (2012 DL650ABS 75K - valves never checked.)

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

@@silentjellybean I've always seen fork rebuilds as daunting, so if you can do that, a valve check will be a walk in the park!

[@petertakov]

If you are really asking whether you need to remove the head covers on both cylinders to do valves check, you should probably leave this job to someone else, mate.

[@silentjellybean]

@@petertakov done and dusted, was pretty sinch

[@omnapp9]

It's a big job, let the boys at Suzuki do the business...

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

I guess that is the beauty in being human, we all value different things. I found it quite straightforward and did most of it with a camera in one hand. But I can definitely appreciate paying a professional when necessary!

[@jstutz101]

I suspect you’re a Suzuki mechanic. :)

[@Max.527]

Do you have to empty the coolant to check the valves?

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

To access the front cylinder, yes. I think I may have read of someone just loosening the radiator so they could get to the bolts but I don’t know if that is correct or how much harder the job would be to do it that way. I suppose you could try?

[@Max.527]

@@whoshrunkmyshed3786 I guess the coolant isn't a huge issue. I gotta change the spark plugs too. Thanks for the video!

[@solarguy6043]

Since you have to unplug all the multi connector wiring sockets anyway, it never hurts to spray them with some contact cleaner and then some conductive anti-oxidant electrical grease. There are a few connectors that are prone to overheating and melting if the connection is not awesome.

[@whoshrunkmyshed3786]

This is definitely a good idea. I had one pin on the fuel pump connector not making proper contact after refitting- at least it was a quick fix!