lost inspection plug

[grizmo]

I pushed the inspection cap to find TDC into the housing following a valve adjustment. Whats the best option to retrieve the cap or should i just leave it?

[Arkyride]

Leave it and buy a new one or put a piece of duct tape over it. You are not the first and only one who has done that. Now you have a spare.

[BubbaZanetti]

welcome,

and get a rubber airhead one instead of the plastic oilhead plug, much easier to deal with.

no big deal though

[kbasa]

It'll fall out of the bottom over on teh starter side some day.

[glwestcott]

I just did a valve adjustment. Had the dealer do it before and decided they wanted too much MONEY - My Money. Anyway, that plug is a bear to get reseated. Anyone come up with an aftermarket more easily plucked out and put back in thing of some kind? I could imagine a nice plastic or rubber piece with a protrusion of some kind to grip.

[GS20Rider]

I just did a valve adjustment. Had the dealer do it before and decided they wanted too much MONEY - My Money. Anyway, that plug is a bear to get reseated. Anyone come up with an aftermarket more easily plucked out and put back in thing of some kind? I could imagine a nice plastic or rubber piece with a protrusion of some kind to grip.

I poked a hole in my plug and stuck a zip tie through it and cut the zip tie off short. That makes a handle for needle nose pliers to hold on to it while you use a screw driver to poke the edges in. Has worked good for three valve adjustments and the zip tie is still in place.

[glwestcott]

I poked a hole in my plug and stuck a zip tie through it and cut the zip tie off short. That makes a handle for needle nose pliers to hold on to it while you use a screw driver to poke the edges in. Has worked good for three valve adjustments and the zip tie is still in place.


Thanks for the idea. Sounds like a winner and I will try it on the next adjustment. Love those easy and cheap ideas!

[RiverRat280]

You don't really need to find the marks through the inspection hole, I just pull the cover and there are arrows on the cam. I put the bike in 6th and turn the wheel till I see the arrow pointing straight out. There are arrows on each side of the cam so when it's pointing out see if both rockers are loose, if not turn till the next arrow or go to the other side as that one is on the compression stroke. It takes me 20min now both sides if I'm taking my time.

[GS20Rider]

Thanks for the idea. Sounds like a winner and I will try it on the next adjustment. Love those easy and cheap ideas!

Me too, but I can't take credit for the idea. Another rider showed me that trick when he taught me how to adjust valves. Just a great man, a guy I talked on on a forum; he gave up his time to come and teach me. Great guy, I'll never forget his kindness. I still tallk to him from time to time. I owe him big time, don't know how to repay.

[GeneT]

There is no need to take the plug out looking for the timing mark, with the spark plugs removed and the valve covers off gently insert a small wooden dowel rod into the spark plug hole and place the trany in the higest gear, then rotate the rear wheel until the dowel is pushed outward until it stops moving, if that cylinder is at TDC and in firing position all the valves will be closed, if they are not all closed turn the engine another 360° and you got it.

:wave

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

I poked a hole in my plug and stuck a zip tie through it and cut the zip tie off short. That makes a handle for needle nose pliers to hold on to it while you use a screw driver to poke the edges in. Has worked good for three valve adjustments and the zip tie is still in place.


What a great idea...do you have a picture of this that you could share please? I am curious how it looks on the bike. Thanks.