Checking my valves soon..

Alrighty so I recently made a post about my engine not running on 1&3 (84 kz550) and I have narrowed it down to the valves sticking. So tommorow I will take the cover off, and check out how they look. This will be my first time trying this out, so I hope for the best. I looked at a few videos on Youtube on simple ways to do it. The best solution I seen was to gently strike the valve spring (sorry for improper terms) and to see if it full compresses. If it does not, to spray WD-40 until it fully compresses.

So here's what i'm asking, has anybody ever tried this method and did it work ok? IF not, what do you suggest?\
Finally, is the cover seal a big rubber? Like, is it reusable? I will eventually replace but for now while i'm working on it and only taking a few short test rides can I reuse it?

Thank you.

P.S. : What is the stock valve specs? lost my manual thank you.

The valve cover gasket is just that a gasket. The idea is to tap on it around the top after the bolts are out of course until it starts bouncing. Take a thin blade and carefully go along the top of the gasket as to not break it. I use high temp orange silicon to reseal it. Just a thin film is all that's necessary. Just wipe off the excess after it's back together. Bear in mind, if you get too much in the bolt hole, you can crack the head or strip the threads. Keep them clear.
Steve
BTW, get a manual

A hammer and WD40? Really? :ohmy:

Why do you suspect sticking valves?

And why would those 2 items fix it??????? :blink:

I over looked that part. Yes the valves sticking? With the cover off, do they stay down? If so they're bent.
Use a rubber mallet to tap on the cover.

Please take your motorcycle to a qualified mechanic before you destroy it. You clearly do not understand what you are trying to do.

Here's the video I was talking about.

I suspect a sticky valve just because carbs are rebuilt from fresh, theirs good fire on all 4 new plugs, coil are outputting enough power and theirs compression on are 4. I could not think of what else could be the issue.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: What the heck is that guy trying to do, and how would it ever relate to a KZ engine? I can just imagine what's going on inside the engine when he is pounding on a valve if the piston in that cylinder is at top dead center! What a great way to cause a valve/piston crash. :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: What is he trying to accomplish anyway?? Don't you think the cam in the KZ engine would push the valve open? If not, what would happen? Would the camshaft bend? Would the cam caps pop off the head? No, the valve would open. It may not close if the valve stem or valve head is bent, but banging on it with a hammer isn't going to straighten it.

I wouldn't be smacking my valves with a hammer, but that's just me. If a valve is stuck open in a KZ engine something is damaged and needs to be fixed, but not by using a hammer. Ed

You say compression is good so although the valves could be outta adjustment at least they sound like they are opening and closing ok.

Is that even a KZ 550 engine? Looked like the last valve was stuck until he smacked it. If a valve was stuck the chain would break or something. I say first, GET A MANUAL. Second pull the head and see what kind of damage has been done. I was a carpenter for 30 years and not everything was a nail.
Steve

That's a car engine, I can see the fuel injector. In any event if the valves were stuck, the valve train should be gone through. No telling what would happen once it is run. Smoking, dropped valve, what else?

Wow, scary shit here. You haven't even check valve clearance yet and somehow decided the valves are sticking?

It's next to impossible to diagnose running (or no running) problems on a bike that doesn't have all the various maintenance tasks up to date. If I were you I'd pull the valve cover straight away and check the clearances. Follow the method in your factory Kawasaki manual (not a clymers), You can watch the valves open and close from the cam side. It's extremely unlikely that any are sticking but if they are, you will see it first hand.