installed valve spring height

I installed new valve guides in a z1 900 head, of course none of the valves or seats mated, off just enough to warrant valve job, or well cutting new seats, valves were new also. After cutting seats to where they mated properly with valves I sunk the valves into the head, using a guage I ground the stems down to the desired height. Now I am concerened about the installed height of the valve springs and how to measure this. worst part I did not keep tabs on how much I ground each valve stem. Can anyone help with this matter?

7zees wrote:

I installed new valve guides in a z1 900 head, of course none of the valves or seats mated, off just enough to warrant valve job, or well cutting new seats, valves were new also. After cutting seats to where they mated properly with valves I sunk the valves into the head, using a guage I ground the stems down to the desired height. Now I am concerened about the installed height of the valve springs and how to measure this. worst part I did not keep tabs on how much I ground each valve stem. Can anyone help with this matter?

There is a spec for that in the manual. On mine, the limit is no more than 0.3mm (about 0.012" ) may be cut off.

I don't know how to measure installed spring height. The spec for maximum end cut off the valve is there to make sure it doesn't get high enough to pop the keeper loose while running.

hey thanks bountyhunter for the feedback. I was aware of the amount that could be ground off stems and I was careful not to get to close to the tops of the keepers {WHICH CAN ALSO CAN BE GROUND A BIT IF NEEDED}nothing less than .020 from stem tip to keeper top. I was told to go after seat pressure rather than installed height perhaps some one has s kawasaki{not clymer} shop manual with this info thanks

you need to check both installed height and pressure, if you are using old springs they can be weak.
The installed height will lessen the overall spring pressure if it is too tall then the pressure will be low at the seat and open position

Shim the springs the same amount you had to grind off of the valve tips.

BSKZ650... I don't think there is a spec for the Z1/KZ900 springs only the KZ1000 springs. I can't recall for sure but aren't one of these sets of springs different than the other; one may have to have the inner spring installed a certain way?


BSKZ650 wrote:

you need to check both installed height and pressure, if you are using old springs they can be weak.
The installed height will lessen the overall spring pressure if it is too tall then the pressure will be low at the seat and open position

George you are correct, the springs both inner and outer are installed with the tight coil down towards the head


wiredgeorge wrote:

BSKZ650... I don't think there is a spec for the Z1/KZ900 springs only the KZ1000 springs. I can't recall for sure but aren't one of these sets of springs different than the other; one may have to have the inner spring installed a certain way?


BSKZ650 wrote:

you need to check both installed height and pressure, if you are using old springs they can be weak.
The installed height will lessen the overall spring pressure if it is too tall then the pressure will be low at the seat and open position