Check your PM's.....

 

Its fairly simple. To be honest, I dont think anyone does what Kawasaki recommends. I think they say every 300 hours. I am still waiting for a customer to come in and ask me to adjust his valves...

I would recommend getting a pair of rocker cover gaskets on hand in case you tear yours up when you have them off.

Other than that, you will need some wrenches, sockets, feeler gauges, and I think you need hex keys on the kawasakis if I remember right.

 

Is there a manual on doing this? I'm not an engine guy, but I can figure it out pretty easy if I have something to look at..

 

One is I think a 10 mm and hex. It takes a little knack to master it. if you are all thumbs, don't attempt it. It is not hard but just takes a "technique". Even a pro may have to redo it once or twice to get it right. You set it and run the motor by hand around and recheck it.
If not right you can screw the motor up. Beware!!!!!

 

rotate the engine until the piston is at top dead center. both valves should be loose when at TDC. you will need a 12mm wrench and a metric allen wrench to adjust them, I usualy adjust them to .008 on both valves. insert the allen wrench and hold it, take your wrench and loosen the locknut, stick your .008" feeler guage between the rocker and the valve, tighten the allen wrench until you feel some drag on the feeler guage, hold the allen wrench in position and tighten the locknut. new gaskets are a good idea for sure

 

i had no idea you have to adjust valves. i have kohler ohv and it says noting about this. is it a kawi thing or just on larger engines?

 

Kohler OHV's have hydraulic lifters, No adjustment required. Just make sure to use the recommended 10w30 oil.

 

I usualy adjust them to .008 on both valves.

Just a little helpful info Kawi valve adjustment spec on a model FH721D is .004"-.006" cold TDC.

Hope this helps :drinkup:

 

Ok I decided to let my dealer do the adjusting, I just don't trust myself. LOL I stoped in to my dealer last week and told them that I'll be bringing 2 of my mowers in to get the valves adjusted. They told me that not many people have this done but they will adjust them if I want them to. I think he said the cost was $65 per machine. My question now is, do any of you guys adjust your valves as Kawasaki recomends or am I wasting my money? Both machines have around 800-900 hrs with no adjustment.

 

I only know of 1 company around me that adjusts valves. I want to do mine. There are a ton of kawis around me.

 

I perform the adjustments as part of a tune up when they come in, they must be making the valves or rocker arms out of a stronger material then in the last few years because they do seem to be needing it less then in the past.

 

Ok I decided to let my dealer do the adjusting, I just don't trust myself. LOL I stoped in to my dealer last week and told them that I'll be bringing 2 of my mowers in to get the valves adjusted. They told me that not many people have this done but they will adjust them if I want them to. I think he said the cost was $65 per machine. My question now is, do any of you guys adjust your valves as Kawasaki recomends or am I wasting my money? Both machines have around 800-900 hrs with no adjustment.

How is it running. I think if i was undecided. I might bring one in and see if its makes a difference. Hay if it does, have the other one done.

 

How is it running. I think if i was undecided. I might bring one in and see if its makes a difference. Hay if it does, have the other one done.

Both seem to run ok. I happen to be looking at the manual and relized I haven't done the valve adjustment on them. I may have one done and see if it does make any noticable difference.

 

Both seem to run ok. I happen to be looking at the manual and relized I haven't done the valve adjustment on them. I may have one done and see if it does make any noticable difference.

You go Mike:waving: let us know

 

Just a little helpful info Kawi valve adjustment spec on a model FH721D is .004"-.006" cold TDC.

Hope this helps :drinkup:

At TDC are both exhaust and intake adjusted?

I thought on intake valve fully open exhaust is adjusted, then
on exhaust valve fully open intake is adjusted.

Or I am off base here?????

 

just so happens I just had mine adjusted today while it was in for some other repairs that I'd rather not talk about seeing how I was stupid enough to screw it up. I CAN tell the difference in the way the motor runs. Mower has right at 800 hours on it.

 

At TDC are both exhaust and intake adjusted?

Yes, When both valves are fully closed with the piston at top dead center.....

 

My 19 Kaw blew a rod and subsequently half the engine apart at around 600 hours... you're doing well to have made it to 900....