Predator valves?

[J.S.@SMS]

About a month ago, I bought three go karts including a Manco Eliminator with a 2016 predator 212 non hemi (pn 69730). Yesterday I pulled the valve cover off to check the valve lash. I noticed that the valve spring retainers and valves didn't look the same a one which I recently rebuilt. The retainers have what appear to be a two piece clip locking them onto the valve. And the exhaust valve appears to be tapered.
I don't know if these valves and retainers are stock or not. So any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[bob58o]

Gen 3 non hemi's come with valves that have 5.0mm stems and split (automotive style) keepers.
So you have a Gen 3 non hemi. The Hemi's and Gen 1 Non-hemi's have the slide into place spring retainers (no keepers) and 5.5mm valve stems.

So yes, those are stock on the newer non-hemi's.
You should be happy to know that you also have 27mm / 25mm Valves instead of the 25mm/24mm valves that come on the older non-hemis.

 

[J.S.@SMS]

Thanks.
Anyone know when they switched from the gen 1 to the gen 3 non hemi's.

 

[bob58o]

After the Hemi's (Gen 2) LOL

I can't give a date. I started looking around and keep seeing OMB with stuff that says the Gen 3's have the smaller valves (25/24mm). As far as I know, this is incorrect. I'll have to look into this.

https://karting.4cycle.com/showthread.php?73940-non-hemi-predator-stock-valves-Question

W5R W5R is offline
4 Cycle Advanced User
Join Date
Oct 2013
Location
Central Kentucky
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The non hemi heads with the 5mm valve stems are light compared to the hemi or older predator valves already, and lighter than the clone valves. I really like this style of valves, have one open predator engine that has an rtc-8 head, with the stock 27/25mm valves with 5mm stems, and stock split keeper retainers, this engine has about 60 races on it over a season of racing and has ran dual 37lb springs for half a season already, with absolutely no wear on the tips of the valves, the seats, or the retainers that you wouldn't normally see with lighter springs like the stock ones guys run. We pull the valves every couple months and lap them, then put it back together. They seem to be a really strong valve to have such small stems. Guys wouldn't trust stock clone or Honda valves with dual springs for fear of dropping a valve when the retainer failed or valve head broke off, but I have never seen that happen with the 5mm stem valves yet. Hope this gives you some insight on the valves. I am not aware of anyone making aftermarket 5mm stem stainless valves to replace these yet unless SI Valves is making them now. I will say, you can order new oversize 5mm stem valves at your local Suzuki motorcycle shop and cut the stems to the stock valve length, then cut a new retainer groove in them if you have the tooling, I know guys who have done this.

 

[bob58o]

Found this as well....
From another good source..

JPR57
4 Cycle Advanced User
Join Date
Oct 2013
Location
The Engine Room @ ARC Racing

The easiest way to tell the difference in a Hemi vs a Non Hemi predator engine is the valve cover. If you look at the link below you will see the difference, and which flywheel goes with what engine. The blocks are different and take different top plates. Both are 212cc engines and take the same connecting rods, but different cams. The Hemi will take the clone cams and sidecover while the Non Hemi takes a specific Predator cam. If you are not confused yet the Non Hemi engine has two different generations. Gen1 have small valves like a Clone 25mm/24mm. The latest generation Gen3 has bigger valves 27mm/25mm with smaller valve stems 5mm instead of the 5.5mm the other engines have and also has an automotive style split retainer. The Hemi which is Gen2 also has big valves 27mm/25mm with the 5.5mm stems. If that confuses you even more feel free to give me a call and I can explain it to you a little better... http://www.arcracing.com/search.php?...dator+flywheel
Jody Powell

WWW.ARCRACING.COM
jody@arcracing.com
jpr106@outlook.com
(800) 521-3560
(229) 435-2647


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