Kawasaki W650/W800 Winterization 3 - Valve Check

In part 3 I’m showing how to do a valve check on Kawasaki W650/W800. This will save you $800 approximately if you do it yourself. Took about 2 hours to do. Very straightforward and enjoyable. Get yourself some schnapps and enjoy. No rush.
NOTE: I made a mistake in the video. I said that you can check the valve gaps when the pistons are at top dead centre on the exhaust stroke. This is wrong!😑 Your pistons should be at TDC on *compression stroke. The valve positions in the video are all correct, but I misspoke about the true nature of pistons in that position. My apologies.

[@bobman7881]

Thanks very much this was very well explained

[@otherpeoplesTriumphs]

so strange, you put this video up on the day im doing a valve service on a friends W650 ! that is some good timing! thank you.

[@dirtyadventure8481]

Glad I could help! Check out my other Winterization videos and like them 👍🏻

[@simonwalker7957]

I’m enjoying your videos a lot, so few servicing videos for Ws on UA-cam. If I may make a suggestion? For those that have little hands on experience with these bikes (mine’s a W800 Cafe) it would help to see the work carried out live rather than as a finished result as it will allow people to recall the processes more easily. I have found only one other video on timing for example but that was in Italian so couldn’t understand a word but he went through all the stages including shim replacement. Look forward to more content, thanks

[@dirtyadventure8481]

Thanks for the suggestion. I know what you mean. In this particular video I didn’t need to do shim replacements, so that’s why I skipped explaining it. I’ll create another video specifically for when you need to replace the shims.
In my other videos, if you see me fast forwarding the installation it is because I simply got so carried away that I forgot to record it Lol. 😂

[@dogfeathers5646]

You are giving some confusing information as to what position the pistons should be when checking the valves. This bike has a 360 degree crank so both pistons rise and fall together. But they fire 180 degrees apart! So when you say to adjust the valves at top dead center (tdc) you should add…TDC -on the compression stroke!
Both pistons are at TDC at the same time, but one is on the compression stroke and the other is on the exhaust stroke. Always adjust valves on the compression stroke -only-! Never on the exhaust stroke.

[@dirtyadventure8481]

You are right, I should’ve said on compression stroke! Yes, good catch. I will add some *text in the video to fix this. Thank you.

[@operamatthew]

what year is your w800? i hear the later versions are more difficult to check clearances.

[@dirtyadventure8481]

Mine is a 2001 W650

[@peytonmaterne2970]

How many miles or kms on your w650?

[@dirtyadventure8481]

At the time I did this valve check I had 49,000km or ~35,000mi. Now I have 51,000km.

[@dannyvan5792]

by kawasaki and your becom a motor mechanic

[@dirtyadventure8481]

I owned a KTM and Honda and always did my own maintenance. 🧑‍🔧 So much fun! Who needs riding when you can wrench and then ride?!