Blarg! Valve check gone wrong - Gauge wont fit!

Ok guys,

I've searched TON and have actually checked my valves before successfully but am having some problems this time around. The bike is a 1997 FE400!


The Problem - I cannot loosen the valves enough to fit a .10mm feeler gauge in. They valves are just too tight.

The Process - I have the bike on a stand. I used the kick starter to get it to top dead center (exhaust opens, then closes, intake opens and closes, the piston is up top).

The Background - I bought the bike for dirt cheap. I replaced all the fluids, put in new brakes, got it tagged and cleaned up and took it to deals gap. I found metal in my oil and replaced the following parts:

- timing chain
- camshaft sprocket (had an aluminum one on it... motoxotica recommended steel. I bought it)
- timing chain tensioner

Now I'm just wanting to check the valves before I put the radiator back on and take it out. The only problem is that the valves are so tight now that I can't! Am I finding Top Dead Center incorrectly? Am I doing something wrong?

The last time I checked the valves (pre-tearing the engine down) I did have TDC wrong and had the same problem. I just can't seem to remember what was wrong or what to do to get the engine to the appropriate place so I can check this thing and go ride again!

Do I have TDC wrong or is something else wrong? Thoughts?

Austin

Also, the valves I'm currently checking are the exhaust valves. Is it possible that having the autodecompression lever adjusted incorrectly could mess up the exhaust valve clearance?

Thanks ned! I solved the problem. I was having a crazy morning and wasn't looking at my bike correctly. Somehow I got tired enough to think that, despite the size of exhaust pipes and the obviousness of a carburetor, the exhaust valves were in the back and the intake valves were in the front! I lost my mind for a bit. Its back now and the bike is adjusted and runs like a champ!

I blame it all on working on my car too much.... in that the intake is in the front and the exhaust is in the back!

Its definitely hard to find TDC when you're waiting for the wrong valves to move

Thanks for the help!

Austin