CX500 GL500 650 Global

Hey LRCXed
Thanks for sending me the tappet screw. In a way it was a good thing that it broke.
In the process of adjusting the cam chain and valves.
I replaced the radiator fan, fixed a cut oil sensor wire (Hadn't worked since I got the bike 5 years ago), used an impact driver to remove the radiator trim to clean it up, painted the side trim pieces, sanded down the bad clear coat on the tank, replaced the petcock gasket and petcock (spare was leaking bad), replaced some bad screws and replaced the throttle cables.

Oh yeah anyone know what could make a radiator fan look like a dog got a hold of it. One of the fan blades was missing 1/3 of the bottom plastic. looked like it had been gnawed on.

Sounds like you made a LOT of progress during the down time! I'm glad I could help with the screw! I have never heard of a dog chewed blade, but it sounds like a PO might have had something in the fan for a while, and didn't fix it till the radiator leaked. Darn good thing you found it now! The vibration was probably going to cause other problems sooner or later! Probably with the cam! Glad you found it now, aren't you!
Larry

If a little bit of work now keeps me from having to tear down the whole engine later. Bring on the work.

As you know, I had to replace my mechanical seal after my bike sat for almost 3 years. When I did, I replaced the cam and oil pump chain at the same time. I didn't replace them when I first re bored and rebuilt the motor because I was not sure if I still had an electrical issue even after replacing the stator with a rewound one, and didn't want to waste my money. Now that it's done, the motor runs a lot quieter and seems much more responsive. So yes Blinstitch, a little money and work keeps these bikes in the top form that they deserve to be in. And it saves a lot of roadside heartaches later!

I was curious. What makes these tappet screws so special. They kind of seem like soft metal. What keeps a person from just using a normal screw with the same thread besides the fact that I couldn't find one. I know it is a really fine thread.

Good question!
The major difference is that they are case hardened on the surface to withstand the impacts and abuse of millions of hits on the ends where it contacts the valve head. And as you mentioned, the fine thread. It allows more metal surface inside the threads to hold it secure and keep it from being hammered out of the hole, as well as make the very fine adjustments that are needed.