BMW R850 Maintenance Manual page 11

Note: One method is to insert the feeler gauge and tighten the adjuster until the
feeler gauge will not slide, then back off the adjuster a little until the feeler gauge
begins to slide.
Note: You can use the "go, no go" method – a .008in. gauge should not go into
the .006 intake; a .014 should not go into a .012 exhaust if adjusted properly. A
.007 gauge will go into the .006 intake and a .013 gauge will go into the .012
exhaust, but will give a too tight drag.
21. If any valve needs adjusting, loosen the adjuster lock nut with a 10mm box
wrench and turn the adjuster screw with a 3mm hex T-handle to get the correct
clearance – slightly firm drag on the feeler gauge.
22. Slide the box wrench over the shaft of the 3mm hex T-handle and hold the
adjuster screw with the 3mm hex T-handle while tightening the lock nut with the
10mm box wrench (6 ft.lb or 8 Nm)
Warning! It is very easy for beginning mechanics to strip low torque threads -
eg. 6 ft.lb. Use a short grip on 10mm and smaller wrenches. It is also very easy
to strip low torque threads with a torque wrench because many torque wrenches
are improperly calibrated. Also, with click type torque wrenches it is very easy to
not feel the click at low torque settings and then your torque wrench becomes a
large breaker bar and you end up stripping the threads.
23. After tightening, double-check the clearance.
24. Rotate the engine 360 degrees to the same OT mark by turning the lower
alternator pulley clockwise with a 17mm box wrench as in step 13.
25. Check the rockers on the other side for wiggle – they should all wiggle slightly
26. Now adjust the valves on this other side.
27. Clean the valve covers of any dirt or oil on its sealing edge.
28. Wipe the oil off the valve cover gasket to help ensure no oil leaks. Place it
onto the head so that the edge with 3 notches goes to the top. Be sure all the
notches are fit into the corresponding studs on the head.
29. Be certain the center donut gasket is in place on the valve cover!!!
30. Carefully replace the valve cover so as not to dislodge the center donut
gasket.
31. Evenly tighten the 6mm hex bolts until they bottom out - 6 ft.lb (8 Nm).
32. Replace the small black rubber timing hole plug.
Warning!: Be careful!!! It is fairly easy to push it all the way through. I use a sharp
awl and stab the plug in the center to hold it. I then place the plug so its right lip is
under the timing hole edge and then use a long thin screwdriver to push the left
lip into place.
33. Leave the black valve cover strips and the valve cover protectors off until you
are done with the spark plugs in the next procedure.
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