Valve adjusting.. last Q :-)
 

OK so im adjusting the valves on a DR650SE. i dont have a box wrench to turn the crank so i just spun the wheel in 3rd gear. im pretty sure it was on compression stroke due to escaping air from the spark plug holes. Although now im adjusting the valves, both intake and exhaust were way way tight. is there a chance this is evidence of it being on a exhaust stroke and not a compression stroke?? further evidence for it being on the compression stroke is when i shine my head torch down the plug holes it the piston head seems close to the top of the chamber.. the previous owner ( i just bought it) had not done a valve check in 15,000 miles... so this may be another factor in the large adjustment level.

any advice is again... appreciated

If it was on exhaust stroke the inlet tappet would be 'loose' ie valve closed, I have just sent a text to hubb user Martyn who is familiar with thr DR650, hope he gets the msg and replies to you.

They never really need much adjusting so if you've adjusted by a wide margin, I'd guess that's what you've done.

If you start it up and it sounds like a sack of sh!t, that'll confirm it.

Plug out, put bike in top gear (5th?), valve covers removed.

Slowly rotate rear wheel in direction of travel, watch the the exhaust & inlet valves compress & extend. Keep rotating the wheel and wait for the inlet to compress and then extend again. At this point, poke a long drinking straw or similar down the plughole and slowly rotate the wheel.

As the piston rises, it pushed the straw upwards - let it slide through your fingers. When the piston reaches TDC, the straw stops moving upwards. You're now at TDC on the compression stroke with all of the valves closed and you can safely check/adjust the valves.

It's not crucial that you're at exact TDC as there's a few degrees leeway either side.

Once done, rotate the engine several times, get the piston at TDC on the compression stroke and waggle the rocker arms to ensure that they have some play in them i.e. they're not tight.

Bearing in mind your recent toilet paper incident, please remember to remove the straw once you've located TDC.... :biggrin3:

Good luck.

valve clearance
 

If both the intake and exhaust tappets are tight (no up or down play) then you are on the wrong stroke. You need to turn the crank another 360 degrees again until the T lines up in the timing mark hole again and you should be on compression stroke. Confirm this by moving the tappets up and down for both exhaust and intake. The amount of movement or play should be within specs from manufacturer using feeler guages.