Welcome to the internet!

As long as you are checking the valve clearances on the camshaft's base circle it doesn't matter what direction you rotate the motor. Basically just line up the timing marks to check your clearances but it's good practice to turn the motor the direction of rotation.

My main thought after watching this....your bike looks great, sounds great! Ignore/delete negative comments! , you have a really enjoyable and interesting channel. Cheers, Steve

Good on you for contacting Royal Enfield to clarify! Hope you can ignore the nasties, I'm enjoying your channel👍

I don't have the hex bit to take the cover off, so I always put it in top gear and turn the rear wheel. Lucky to have not faced this confusion :)

Hi Mr D. I tackled the valve clearance check last year after following your original video and those of Stuart Fillingham & George Milburn on the subject. Not a quick ten-minute job by any means - that rocker cover has almost zero clearance with the frame tube, but turning the crank over is soooo easy, as long as you have a suitable hex wrench/socket to remove the circular cover. That was at 300 miles - thank goodness it dosen't have to be done again until 6,000 miles! Anyway, don't let a few "know-all" keyboard trolls get you down - the rest of us really appreciate your videos.

Kudos to you for taking the trouble to get it right from the horse's mouth for us! I've spotted mistakes in manufacturer's shop manuals, too, and it's not surprising given the number of people involved in producing them who don't have direct knowledge and experience with working on the product. Just always be a little skeptical, and remember that *A Questioning Mind Is A Healthy Mind* .

thanks for having the forthrightness to research the answer and admit an error, however insignificant, and provide feedback. don't let them get you down.

Thanks for being proactive in relation to this. I had the same question i was going to put to RE myself. Keep up the great work on your channel. Cheers from sunny queensland!

Thank you for taking the time to give us correct information, first 300 mile service on my interceptor this weekend. Enjoying your channel, thanks for your efforts.

Thanks for clearing that up, I had just done mine 2 weeks ago and when I saw this video I thought oh no, good on you for helping clear it up, much appreciated, keep up the good work, some of us do appreciate it .

Brilliant, putting in your time and efforts to solve the issue. You are the only one to bother to do this. Who would have thought reading the manual could cause such a furore! Love your comment on the "friendly biker" Keep up the good work.

I did both ways too... Thanks for taking the time to sort it out.. Very good videos and helped me a lot 👍

Don’t let the buggers grind you down. Keep up the good work. Great informative channel. 👍🏼

Thanks for this video, a truly definitive answer. I watched your earlier video and was puzzled that you turned the crank clockwise and the manual said this was correct. I have an interest as I am buying an Interceptor and will service it myself. I can see the point in avoiding loosening the bolt on the crank but thought to myself that with the plugs out this is unlikely to happen and was puzzled by the manual, that you have taken the trouble to read and follow, said to do this. I am relieved that this engine is not an 'odd ball' and that I can happily turn it to TDC in the time honoured manner. Thanks again for this follow up video, excellent work.

Sorry to hear this has happened friend. Keep up the good work.

Don't worry bout it mate I have it all the time had someone once arguing like mad trying to tell me that I was setting the timing on my Norton 650ss to the incorrect setting, basically turned into abuse they were incorrectly referring to the atlas timing an not the 650ss as they have different compression ratio pistons (my uncle actually raced one back in the day against the top guys of the period) Keep doing what you are doing mate, just subscribed.

Well done buddy keep up the good work!

I did mine counter-clockwise. Yes, the manual says clockwise. Manuals are guides and technical references that assume people have a basic understanding. Manuals can be wrong. They aren't doctrine. It's one thing to point at an error, any mature person can appreciate a correction but a majority of people online are idiots and have to be dicks about things they have little practical knowledge with and haven't even done themselves. I appreciate the time you've taken to produce these videos they are fun, informative and a snapshot of your experiences and modifications. You get to go home to a nice bike and a beautiful girl friend. You are the winner here, not them. Cheers mate!

Thanks for this as i thought i must have been getting it wrong for 30 odd years

first off i thought you did a first class job putting that clip together on the valve settings. really nice bit of camera work. real credit to you and i'm sure you put quite a bit of time into filming it too. i'd just cut into it and do a re-load. it's as good or better than most on the web and sometimes a re-run doesn't hit the target second time round like the original. secondly i'd like to link it on the spacers review. i think more should see that one.

I cat get excited about it personally, if the plugs are out before you turn the crank, I can't see a problem either way. Either the bike filming or your bike (or both )sounds absolutely beautiful btw!😁

You’re a good man. Thanks for getting to the bottom of this issue.

Like other people have said , if you measure the gap with the valve shut , who cares how you got there. Great video’s, keep doing what you are doing. Remember. If you argue with a fool, they will drag you down to their level, and beat you with experience. Mark Twain ( Allegedly )

The most difficult part of the entire process is valve cover removal / and subsequent placement due to gasket catching every way it wants to catch. I wish this was sorted out. Actual valve adjustment is a breeze...and yes it is CCW.

Hey thanks for taking the trouble of setting this straight for ever....The bike sounds really great

hi enjoyed your video and i know for a fact i would off done the adjustments as you did in your first vid as it is the natural way when you mentioned in the manual it tells you too turn the engine in reverse rotation that brought a frown too my face as i was thinking surelad that will cause the cam chain too slacken off the tensioner and give a false reading so thank you for taking the time and trouble too put us in the picture especially as ive just ordered an interceptor myself keep up the good work thanks

Top work. Thanks for your efforts!

Great video from an honest biker. I watch most of your videos and throughly enjoy them. Even though I don't own an Interceptor it's something I will hopefully be able to afford in time. The more I learn from good people like yourself the more I admire the Interceptor. Keep up the good work sir and believe me, most of us positive viewers simply enjoy your very interesting and informative videos and don't normally comment. There are always going to be negative comments which to be fair you don't ignore and address. A big thanks for the time you put into making your videos. New subscriber Gordon.

Enjoyed the vid, great bike and great background views

It's ok to be be right and tell someone they're wrong.....just try not to be a prick about it ! Like the vids , keep it up 👍

Tdc on compression stroke is all you need, doesn't really matter how you get there. You did a nice job explaining the "controversy"... I'll be subbing 👍

Thanks for the follow-up

Good job sir well done. Appreciated your effort to educate rest of the world.

I went on an Enfield forum just to have a look if anyone had talked about upgrading the brakes. It turned up a guy had posed a similar question. The first response was somebody telling him to learn to ride a bike properly. From there on it descended in to all kinds of stuff about bullfighting, animal welfare, and loads of other tosh. The original poster never got an answer. It was then I remembered why I’m not on Facebook or a member of any forums. People on the whole are awful.

Hi, mistake is normal for human, just ignore the haters & please don't let them make you down... Please don't take down the video, just add a note on the rotation though. It is really help a lots since your video is really details & step by step in doing it. Keep up the good work, cheers...

I wouldn't worry about it, I spun mine lefty also by habit haha. My Baker Express INT runs great! My right side were a little tight but the left side was within spec from the factory, so well worth checking anyhow.

I really like your video channel and find them very informative. Both you and your wife are very likeable people and don,t take yourselves too seriously. Anything you say on public forums can be taken out of context and there is always someone who thinks they know more or indeed better. Please carry on as i really enjoy your videos.

Key board warriors spring to mind . Keep you the good work . To me I would have taken the plugs out and used the rear wheel to turn the motor and as long as the timing marks are correct then hey presto.but who am I 😎 your videos like everyone’s are helpful to someone as everyone has a different level of experience.

SPOT ON KEEP THE VIDEO COMING A++++++++++++++

So many experts and so few that knows. Well done mr Diaries. May I ask where this is filmed? Such lovely scenery! And I do like your bike. Probably going that route myself. Cheers from Denmark!

Good job mate :)

I’ve got the same bike and exactly the same helmet. You’ve got style my man.

Hey mate thanks a lot for the info. I did it anti clockwise :-) so I am good with it. Just a Info there is a Video made my RE on KZfaq where themselves they rotate the motor CLOCKWISE :-D LOL And the manual which is available Online has some failures!!! The Screw for the Drain Plug has the wrong tool Number (17mm) instead of 13mm so also the torque value is wrong or the front wheel page look at the first picture the letters are wrong if you compare it with the list. So the manuals has also some mistakes!!!

Looking forward to the *right way* video :D Well done! On a sidenote: Is that Peak District by any chance?

Bike sounds nice and great country roads/scenery 👍

Why am I watching this, I don't even own a moterbike but now thank god I have a definitive answer , as for lefty Lucy I think I dated her sister back in the 90's , tighty righty , all the best from Ireland

Gran video amigo mio, Todos cometemos errores. Lo importante es aclararlos y ser honestos. Y tu lo eres. Buenos videos. Saludos desde Chile.

Ah man, the internet sucks sometimes, personally I just enjoyed the video as something to watch whilst I had my morning coffee, enjoyed it whether it was the right rotation or not haha. Please keep up the good work and producing your videos, I really enjoy them and you've helped me work on my own bike more than you can imagine!

Hi Bro. I have recently subscribed to your channel & found it very informative. I am thinking about buying one of those Interceptors myself and would be happy buying one from someone like you who has taken care in it & yes i saw your first video & thought to myself how very THOROUGH you was. I know how brutal people are on this interweb which puts me off doing videos when all you want to do is help people & i truly believe that you enjoy helping people right? You should see the hatred aimed at Delboy's Channel on here. A couple of guys are literally making videos about him to belittle him. So it appears that you was correct at the end of the day by rotating the engine anti-clockwise but IMO just as long as the valve is Fully Closed then i can not see where it makes any difference because as you say the Crank Nut is hardly likely to undo as it is torqued down so tight. On my old R/E Bullet i rotate the engine in top gear by turning the back wheel but then again you would get some nob who would argue the toss saying that i was spinning the back wheel in the wrong direction LoL. Take No Notice of the haters. Just let them show themselves up. They are not bikers. I thought bikers was all about comradeship.

That's why I always loved kick starters on bikes and starting handles in cars . Pull the plugs and with one hand spot on is so much easier to achieve with valve, ignition timing etc. Plus of course with cars put it in reverse pull the plugs and I've hand cranked a singer vogue out of a ditch

With 120 ft lbs of torque, the spark plugs out and a slow smooth rotation, it ain't gonna do any harm either way. :)

Keep up the video's will subscribe 👍🇬🇧

I'd doubt it matters. Back when I started working on bikes to set the points opening time we used a Wassell degree wheel and a TDC indicator. Turn the engine over to TDC then turn it back to the BTDC figure. So the engine would be going (gently) clockwise and anti-clockwise. Never had a problem.

I see U hv taken out the RE badge of the stock bike from the tank n I guess it luks great. Ur handle bar is black...did U colour it black or U changed it all new..

A thumbs up from TMF, you must be doing something right, keep it up mate...

It doesn’t really matter. As long as the measurement is on the back of the cam. With the exception of may Mack and some Cummins Diesel engines. And some others . Haters gunna hate. P.s. enjoyed the video where you weight the bike. Just my opinion. Like Douglas Adams once said “I’d rather be happy than right any day. Cheers

You’ve got a stunning bike there

Bit random, did you replace the 4 Nos. Hex flange head bolts (M5) when doing the valve clearance checks? i've heard they need replacing at the 10k service and i've also heard they will be fine.

I'm all for the counter clockwise engine rotation when adjusting valves because I want that 8 rotation mileage decrease on my engine!!

As a relatively new Interceptor owner last year, I've only just come to this. Kudos for a well presented and calm response to aggressive comments. Regards the direction, I can appreciate your comments about thread direction and torque as a logical way to move things. What I'm not sure about is why the direction actually makes any difference to the clearance? I can only presumably slack in gears, cam chains and other items mean marginal differences in the position of the cams, with a marginal resultant difference in the clearance? But on a standard, softly profiled cam, we must be talking a fraction of a thou difference within a degree or so of rotation, well inside the tolerance? Is any explanation given anywhere, since RE didn't answer that aspect?

Don’t let the DH’s get you down. And if anyone is worried about loosening the crank they could just turn the back wheel in a forward direction. Keep up the great work, I’m loving my Interceptor. I am now living in Ozz but your snips of the local country side remind me of home Edenfield/ Rochdale area. Am I close? Cheers M

Your bike sounds great in the closing scene of video,what exhausts are fitted to your bike

As others have said, as far as you´re in TDC (compression) you´re ok. Of course one want to do things right (well, left :)), but in this case I guess is the same. Usually motorcycles have a cranksaft of course, then, a primary and then a secondary axis, to wich the chain sprocket is attached. Thus, if the sprocket spins counterclockwise, like the rear wheel when moving forward, the primary will spin clockwise, and again the crankshaft counterclockwise. There is some confusion, I believe, coming from the fact that in OHV, or side valve engines, you can eventually find camshafts that rotate opossite to the crankshaft. If you´re chain driven, then the camshafts spin like the crankshaft. Changes nothing but gets baffling to some guys, those that often end up getting "religious" about certain procedures. Since if you rotate "like the engine" , and are watching the cam press the tappet to indentify TDC, you´ll usually want to have compression stroke right after admision closes, is advisable to rotate counterclockwise. In a single cylinder is a piece of cake, mark in the magneto flywheel aligned, bla bla, anybody can tell the difference between compression and escape, in a twin you may be confused by the resistance of the other cylinder, depending on the layout, and it becomes a nice gesture if the factory doesn´t misslead you haha. Note: I´m an amateur, not a pro. If I´m wrong please feel more than invited to correct me. Excepting the bullyes, As they say in my country, those can stand in line to s my d . Oh, I misbehave, sory guys ;)

I’ve been pronouncing controversy wrong my whole life. Thanks for posting.

Does it make a difference to the final settings which ever way you turn the engine.

I did mine counter clockwise ! To check the rotation of the engine , put it in sixth gear and rotate the back wheel counter clock wise as if you are moving in a forward direction. I have never been wrong. Once I thought I was but I wasn't. -(;-}.

I checked mine by rotating the motor the same direction it rotates when running which is counter-clockwise if on the left of the bike as I have always done. It is always the convention to check valves by rotating the motor the way it normally runs but at the end of the day; I can't see it makes any difference provided the cam is on the flattest part of the lobe and the clearance the greatest.

Great vid first time like you always turn engine in direction of operation. This takes out or allows for any back lash/tolerance within the engines normal operating direction. Have been trying to get interceptor workshop manual, do you have a good link to obtain a copy please. PS ignore the keyboard worriers they’re just so good they have a KZfaq channel of their own, it’s called Richardcrainiums know it all smart a#&e 🤪🤣. Keep up the good work👍🇬🇧

New subscriber. The world's a strange place mate 👍😎

At what rpms would you normally shift 1 st ,2nd and 3rd gear ?

Ignore the negative comments I am enjoying your updates and the changes to your bike

Good videos, ignore the key board warriors sat at home with nothing better to do

So …. Counter clockwise while finding TDC. Thanx

The same controversy (y'all say that word weird over there! Haha!), is taking place in the Himalayan community as well. I have my own opinions on the subject just like most, and I'm currently involved in a similar discussion on advrider. Following your lead I just emailed Royal Enfield North America (RENA) to get some clarification from the NA side of the pond, and specific to the Himalayan. Spinning the engine "backwards" just seems "wrong". But after having my valve cover off and inspecting things closely, I don't think, in the case of the Himalayan at least, it really makes a difference in terms of valve lash clearance. Of course, spinning it "backwards" seems to run the slight risk of loosening the flywheel nut... Maybe not much considering the torque values applied to this nut. Even still, turning an important internal nut "lefty loosy" just seems counterintuitive to me...

But, last time you turned it clockwise did not lead to any trouble, so is it possible that in the end it really doesn't matter which direction you turn? Everybody in a debate while all being right?

Glad you pronounced it conTROVersy and not CONTRAversy. Northern is best!

Your Right - on.... 👌

I wonder if that has got through to the dealers doing the servicing?

Did they tell you why the manual is misleading us in such an important subject? No corrigendum from them? What other mistake is waiting for us to fall into? Thank you!

As long as the valve is fully closed, it doesn't matter!

In India they turn it counter clockwise because they’re south of the equator. lol Really if the valve is closed it doesn’t matter how it got there.

Thanks mate. Keep it up and don’t bother reading comments. (Including this one 😂)

Try Stuart Filingham or Hithcocks motorcycle for how they do it.love the bike wish i had one☹️👍

Why bother turning the crankshaft with a tool , your using the center stand anyway ,I put it in 3rd gear ,with the plugs out turn the back wheel the way it turn when riding and the crank will turn in the correct way.... Turn until your marks line up. Easy .

You can’t please them all pal, ignore the idiots. Bike sounds great.

Edited the controv one and re-uploaded here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/br5jo7OIxJyvoac.html

I would naturally rotate counterclockwise, but really, which way you rotate the crank isn’t going to make any difference whatsoever.

Well, you adjust valve clearance on the base circle of the cam. It doesn't matter how you get there.

Hi

Tdc is Tdc . Rotational direction can not change that its phsyics

The reason you shouldn't do it counter clock....is because you could unscrew the crankshaft bolt... Wich is unlikely, but if the bolt is bad or damage it could happen.......that is the reason why the factory dose not recommend to turn the crankshaft counter clock....capis

Just wanted to add....i being adjusting the valve on my interceptor always....no problems...

What is Facebook? I'm over 15 years old, so I don't know.

i don't know your name so i just call you mate , if thats ok with you? . I am a mechanic myself for many years . In case of the engine of a int. 650 it does not matter if you turn it left or right , its got to do with the valve distribution chain tentioner some systems flip back and slack the tention of the chain in side the engine what will cause trouble or can damage to your engine. BUT in case of the RE int 650 it does not matter what way you turn the engine . ( problem solved !! no big deal)

Bike is sounding awesome. Yeah, unfortunately , social media is full of opinions. Stick to what you know. I've recently fitted some pea shooter style reverse cone silencers and a Booster Plug. Doesn't it just make these bikes sound awesome. Take it steady

As a quote / unquote Manly Man. I can tell you that your only mistake was reading the instructions.

Poor guy has never had a mean bone in his body and here he is all in a fluster. .you can please some people some of the time, but cant please everyone all of the time, something like that...my question is,, how did the engine operate in both positions...did it fire up, was there pinging, or what if the timing was out..surely it doesnt go perfect in both cases

Ignore the idiots. Some people just seem to have so little going on in their lives. Keep the videos coming. 💪🏻👍🏻

I've never even checked the valves. Controversy solved. Runs great! HAHA!