Hydraulic tappets are used to eliminate or reduce the need for valve clearance adjustment. An engine without hydraulic tappets must have a gap between the tappet and valve or tappet and camshaft to allow for the change in clearance as the engine components heat up. If this clearance is too small the … [Read more...] about Hydraulic Tappets
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Aren’t you glad your aren’t wrenching on this motorcycle
At Cyclepedia.com we provide technical support to our members. We help our PRO subscribers with technical information on everything from the latest and greatest to forgotten flagship motorcycles. Recently we've been helping one of our PRO members that is diligently working on a 1985 Kawasaki Voyager … [Read more...] about Aren’t you glad your aren’t wrenching on this motorcycle
A New Article on Fasteners
A new topic on special fasteners and tightening procedures has been added to our free General Service Manual. Tightening fasteners correctly is key in mechanical work. Most folks are familiar with torque specifications as the most common form of estimating fastener tension by how much force … [Read more...] about A New Article on Fasteners
Ninja 250 and 300 Valve Clearance Procedure
The Kawasaki Ninja 250 ran from 1986 to 2007 with minimal changes and Kawasaki sold them like crazy. The 250 was updated in 2008, and the modernized Ninja 300 arrived in 2013. These bikes are reliable and easy to service, but there are some differences over the years. One of the big changes to the … [Read more...] about Ninja 250 and 300 Valve Clearance Procedure
Vintage Bike Service Tips Part 2
In our first vintage bike service tip article we covered some starting points for restoring vintage bikes. Now that the thing is rolling, the brakes have been dealt with, and the engine, fuel system, and chassis have had an initial inspection it's time to start deciding how to deal with the issues … [Read more...] about Vintage Bike Service Tips Part 2
Ignition System – No Spark
Part 1 of ignition system no spark troubleshooting focused on the general electrical problems that often result in no spark conditions. Part 2 will go deeper into testing the specific components of the ignition system. Testing the components will require a multimeter for measuring voltage and ohms … [Read more...] about Ignition System – No Spark
Vintage Bike Service Tips Part 1
Vintage bikes are a disease. Long time motorcycle riders regularly become infected with a desire for a vintage machine. There are many strains to this disorder: old school British bikes, twin shock motocrossers, two-stroke street bikes, classic European rides, antique American iron, and universal … [Read more...] about Vintage Bike Service Tips Part 1
Getting Ready for the Commute
It's that time of the year where two-wheeled commuting becomes a more viable option for many riders. Motorcycles and scooters that may have only been used occasionally over the cold weather months will now be zipping down the road on a regular basis. These vehicles need to be trusted as daily … [Read more...] about Getting Ready for the Commute
