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Did my valve clearances this evening, nice and easy, all went exactly as expected. I thought I'd deviate from my usual method of "screwdriver in spark plug hole" to determine TDC. I've been using this trusted method for years, but I thought I'd double check it with the marking on the flywheel.

Turns out I couldn't see the markings anyway - access to the hole is tricky and its a dark garage. I knew that little grommet would be tricky to get back on... Well I only went and pushed in to the hole. Oops.

So I have a small black plastic thingy rattling around inside my flywheel housing. I'm thinking at worst it'll probably end up getting chewed up by the the flywheel gear. I can't imagine it'll cause too much aggravation. What do we reckon? I do hope not, because that's a big strip down for a small piece of plastic.

I've not run the engine yet. In the meantime the hole will be getting covered by some fine French duct tape, purchased on the outskirts of Biarritz, to affect a temporary repair on my other half's bike boots.

Nik

I've got a spare one. If you fancy to split the bike you can have it. No problems so far.

Great! I'm only having yours if it's in perfect condition though?!

That is the very reason I used the screwdriver (or wooden BBQ Skewer) method for TDC when I did mine!

If I were you, i wouldn't worry about it.

But 'til next time: you're overdoing it. There's no point in finding the exact T.D.C.
As long as the piston is somewhere halfway going up the cyl, past bdc, and halfway going down past tdc, the valve train is not anywhere near touching the cam lobes, and you can adjust valve lash.

Here's how I do it: take off both valve covers.
Turn the crank slowly. If adjusting the cyl. No 1 valves, look at the valves on cyl. 2.
when they move simultaneusly (in and ex), you know they are in the overlap phase. Adjust cyl 1 valves.
Adjusting cyl 2 valves: Turn it more. When cyl 1 valves move simultaneusly, adjust valves on cyl 2.

That's more or less what I did, although I did one side at a time. Once the piston was all the way up I just checked for play in the rocker.

All clearances were a teeny tiny bit loose, and nipped up in no time. Got to love screw and lock nut - makes up for the ball ache of doing the air filter!