It was a very cold and rainy day in March, when four of the MagSab group decided to get-together and have a valve adjustment party. Matt & Joel came over, with a beardless & unrecognizable Malcolm.

Role call left to right:  Joel, Malcolm, Tony & Matt

Things started off good… Matt had brought plenty of beer! After letting his bike sit overnight, Matt was about to attempt his first valve adjustment, under my watchful, but absent minded eye. I also adjusted mine in parallel, just to show them I really did know what I was doing. (I thought I did, anyway). 


Photo To Left:  Reverend Malcolm gives the bikes last rites before we begin to work!

We started by removing the plastic cover over the rear cylinders. No easy job! When everything was removed, including the alternator cover, the valve adjustment was underway! The trick is to line up the T1-3 mark when adjusting cylinders 1 & 3, which Matt did flawlessly! Then Matt proceeded to adjust cylinder 2, without moving the engine to align the T2-4 marks. Fortunately, he caught himself, and didn't have to repeat his work, just yet!
However, in my infinite absent-mindedness, I forgot that when aligning the T1-3 marks or the T2-4 marks, you have to make sure that you are at TDC for that cylinder! "Sorry Matt!" "Yes, I think you have to re-do two of the cylinders that you so carefully adjusted." "Now, please don't hit me with that empty beer bottle!"



Anyway, after that, The valves came out fine. I think Matt adjusted a total of about 16 cylinders in that period of time.

It was time to start the bike. The ignition & starter was hit and … Sputter, spit, sputter… At this time we were all about to run for the hills, when Matt spotted some wires he forgot to connect on the ignition coil. It usually helps when you have four cylinders running instead of two.

The engine ran smoothly, and the job was considered a success! That is until I got on the bike to 'feel' it, and the way it was running. All of a sudden, sputter.. spit… cough. My heart sank. I was a jinx! But no! Matt had turned off the gas supply! (just to give me a heart attack!)

Matt was running late, so he has to take off in a rush (something about frogs) and so did Malcolm, leaving  Joel & myself to finish off all that beer!

Photo:  Poor matt rides off in the pouring rain!