So having heard a regualar ticking on the right side I decided it was time I have a go at adjusting them myself. I read the forum about using a item to determine TDC through the spark plug hole…
in my humble opinion don’t do this…
I placed a chopstick and watched it come up and then found it was stuck. The problem is that the spark plug is not vertical in the cylinder head so the chopstick bent and then snapped in the cylinder chamber!!!
4 hours later after removing the cylinder head, retrieving the chopstick piece, adjusting the tappets on both cylinders my motorbike is now singing again.
Anyone else doing this I would suggest removing the head cover, rotate the engine through a whole cycle watching the inlet valve open and close then the exhaust valve open and
check carefully as it closes, then place an object in the spark plug hole and you can tell when the cylinder is as near as dam it at TDC. Both valves can then be adjusted,
Thought I would post this to save any others from a similar predicament.
Those of us who have learnt, have been through this type of pain (Doh!!!).
But you are one of the brave ones who admits it…
Well done for the rescue and repair.
Hope you feel satisfied and closer to your engine.
LOL, much closer to my engine now!!! Honestly, posted it just to help others not make the same mistake…what a waste of a bank holiday monday, when I should have been out and riding.
Rather than a chopstick, maybe use a 300mm cable tie, it’ll bend a bit & @ 300mm you shouldn’t lose it!
OH EM GEE - if it helps, I now use the exhaust opening / inlet closing method - rotate until exhaust is starting to open, inlet should be free (i.e. rocker loose). Check / adjust inlet. Rotate until inlet closing, exhaust should be free. Check / adjust exhaust.
That’s the method I use, it works on the old big block motors, not sure if it works on the small blocks, it depends on the valve timing and cam profiles.
ICEO, method. Inlet closing exhaust opening
Remove the rocker covers and plugs and put the bike in top gear. Roll the bike forwards until an exhaust valve just starts to open. Without moving the bike, set the inlet tappet on the same side. Next roll the bike back till the inlet valve just starts to open. Now set the exhaust tappet for that same cylinder.
Then repeat for the other side.
yes guys, that is exactly what i will do in the future. unfortunately i read about this idea of being at TDC and checking cylinder was in correct position, but your ways is fool proof and has no risk of bits in the cylinder…
I set mine on the Le mans by removing the spark plugs then put my thumb over the plug hole while rotating the engine feeling for the compression stroke then carry on rotating till the appropriate D or S marks on the flywheel line up with the marks on the casing then set both tappets. Is this OK or should I be doing them as suggested above.
The factory recommendation is to set them with the piston at TDC which is probably the best way.
Easy to do on the Le Mans, I’m not sure about these new models! 
Unless you have expert knowledge of the cam profiles it is just a guess that when one is opening the other is on the base circle.
It really is not hard to find tdc -
(1) rotate the engine it until you see exhaust closing then inlet opening (=tdc on the wrong stroke) -
(2) then continue for one downward stroke and the beginning of an up (put thumb over plug hole to ensure it is the compression stroke)
(3) Then insert some unbreakable bendy thing (e.g copper wire or fuel pipe) and feel for tdc then set both valves.
I too have had your pain