My XTE just broke a little over 8000 miles. I figure it's time to see about the valves. I have the manual and it suggests using some sort of special Yamaha-issue valve adjustment tool. Does anyone know where I could get a set of these, what I could use instead, or how to make some?

Thanks,
-Micah

Hi,

I find two special tools make adjusting XT600 valve clearences easier / possible:

For measuring the clearences, I find it impossible to get regular feeler gauge blades in to measure the exhaust clearences, so use small, angled blades like these, available from a number of sources including motion Pro

Motion Pro - Tappet Feeler Gauges

If adjustments are required, the following tools from motion Pro make the job much easier, but you have to buy all 3 sets to get the one you need. The problem they overcome is holding the little square on the top of the adjuster screw, and allowing you to turn it by small increments / stop it moving as you tighten the loc-nut:

Motion Pro - Tappet Tool Set

I haven't seen similar offered by anyone else, but there may be cheaper alternatives.

Mark

I don't know if this will work, but it did the job on my old VF400 18 odd years ago...

I bent the feeler gauges into almost a "Z" shape, to get them into the head, then under the tappet. Sounds brutal, but I only used the gauges for the valve and plug clearances, and different ones at that.

I also bent a cheap bicycle spoke key, into a similair shape. This fitted nicely. The spoke nipple must have been the same size across the flats as the tappet adjuster. This meant I could hold the adjuster from the back, giving me enough room to get my open end spanner onto the lock nut at the front.

Perfect!

I used some random push bike tool too on my 1990 tenere but stupidly forgot to make a note of which one ( I've got 30 years worth of them so don't fancy trying them all).

Hi i made a tappet adjustment tool by using a square drive wood screw!! it fits the adjuster perfectly, i then drilled a small hole in a 50mm long piece of wooden dowell,screw the wood screw into it and this becomes the handle!!

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big T

I just adjusted the valves, I used a piece of brass with a slot cut into it.

Is it odd to have valves out of spec (too tight) after only 8200 miles? It's a 1990 XT600E.

The service interval for the XT/TT engines is usually 10,000 km (6,000) miles and from new the valve seats bed in, closing the gap a little.