Now thems some tight valves!

I was checking my valves this weekend and found them all to be really no REALLY tight. I couldn't get my .0015 feeler gauge in 7 of them. It barely fit in one of them. I'm not sure how the bike even ran with all the valves open all the time. :laugh: Oh yeah-the back tire is on backwards also. :huh:

Don, I think it's called MAINTANENCE,, and being SOBER when you mount your tires,, :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

This is on the bike I just got last week. I was looking at how bald the rear tire was and noticed the little arrow pointing the wrong way. :ohmy: As for the valves, someone was in there because whoever it was wrote 208 on each cam cap with a sharpy. I guess they knew it was coming to Idaho. (area code 208) :laugh: Or maybe they screwed them up in Feb. of this year.

If the rear tire was actually manufactured for sale as a "front" tire, am thinking the arrows are supposed to be pointed against rotation (pointing backward) where a "front" tire is mounted on the rear. Am guessing this has something to do with braking stress on front wheel being opposite of acceleration stress on rear wheel. But please await better advice before taking issue with whoever installed the rear tire "backward".

Sorry for continuing this off topic but . . .

Long story short, my bike has the same syndrome, front tire mounted in back, opposite the rotation arrow. Like yours, the rear tire was toast. I remember a similar discovery on another thread and if I not mistaken, Patton chimed in and his reasoning made sense to me.

At this very moment, I have a brand new Spitfire 120/90 18 front, intended to be mounted on the rear. I'll take the plunge. I'm willing to try it.:silly:

If I'm lucky I'll get some decent longevity out of it, it'll be somewhat stable and the handling won't be worse than it all ready is (bald tire I know). Worst case, she'll toss me into the bushes and you guys' ll have to find another test pilot:laugh:

My shim supply was shipped out to you this morning Don(airmail).
I still can't believe that bike ran as good as you say it did,with zero clearance like that...wow.:ohmy:

Good luck,bud.

Thanx Sandy. I bet shimming will fix the misterious noise I was hearing. The tool from Jeff should be here soon and it's supposed to be in the 80's this weekend. I also got some hardware for the sidecovers so the body work will be on. Too bad I cut up the front plastic fender to use for racing. I'll try to take some pics with my shitty camera.

Patton wrote:

If the rear tire was actually manufactured for sale as a "front" tire, am thinking the arrows are supposed to be pointed against rotation (pointing backward) where a "front" tire is mounted on the rear.

You are correct sir, I have used tires which could go either front or rear (Avon roadrunners) and the arrows for either fitment point in opposite directions.

Patton wrote:

If the rear tire was actually manufactured for sale as a "front" tire, am thinking the arrows are supposed to be pointed against rotation (pointing backward) where a "front" tire is mounted on the rear. Am guessing this has something to do with braking stress on front wheel being opposite of acceleration stress on rear wheel. But please await better advice before taking issue with whoever installed the rear tire "backward".

Guess that problem wouldn't really matter as the tire is the "Maypop" brand and needs to be replaced any how. :lol: