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Rave valves

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bigJake

bigJake

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I have a 96 and 97 GSX that I got 2 years ago, both running good. I have never cleaned the RAVE valves. Yesterday, I just undid the clips and removed the covers, I did not undo the hex bolts and actually remove the valves so I dont know what the slides look like yet.

A couple questions:
1) the tops of 3 of the valves (what i see with the cover removed) look perfectly clean. The top of the rear valve and inside the cover on the '97 is totally covered with black gunk. Is this in itself indicative of anything, or any parts I'm going need to order to replace before I remove the valves. (I dont want to tear the valve out and then find I need to order something and then not be able to ride the ski until I get the part).

2) Shop manual is not real explicit, it basically says remove the hex screws, take the valve out, take it apart, clean it and put it back in. Are there any more detailed things I need to know so I somehow don't get it out of adjustment or something?

3) Manual says to replace gasket, is that necessary if I don't tear it? if i need to replace, where do i order from? can I just use permatex instead of a gasket?

4) Manual indicates to put synthetic grease on the edges of the bellows, I have regular marine grease can I use that or must it be synthetic?

Thanks for your help.
 
Leak....

bigJake said:
I have a 96 and 97 GSX that I got 2 years ago, both running good. I have never cleaned the RAVE valves. Yesterday, I just undid the clips and removed the covers, I did not undo the hex bolts and actually remove the valves so I dont know what the slides look like yet.

A couple questions:
1) the tops of 3 of the valves (what i see with the cover removed) look perfectly clean. The top of the rear valve and inside the cover on the '97 is totally covered with black gunk. Is this in itself indicative of anything, or any parts I'm going need to order to replace before I remove the valves. (I dont want to tear the valve out and then find I need to order something and then not be able to ride the ski until I get the part).

2) Shop manual is not real explicit, it basically says remove the hex screws, take the valve out, take it apart, clean it and put it back in. Are there any more detailed things I need to know so I somehow don't get it out of adjustment or something?

3) Manual says to replace gasket, is that necessary if I don't tear it? if i need to replace, where do i order from? can I just use permatex instead of a gasket?

4) Manual indicates to put synthetic grease on the edges of the bellows, I have regular marine grease can I use that or must it be synthetic?

Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

A couple things to help if this is your first adventure into cleaning the RAVE vavles....

The ones you see that are clean,....they have good seals and are opeating well from the pressure being created in your exhaust.

The one you say has black gunk all over it, .....it's leaking somewhere. I'll try and explain this as simply as I can. I don't think you'll see this in the manual. Between the bellows chamber and the exhaust port, you have a hole, called internal porting. When there is no pressure on it, the slide valve is closed. WHen you start the motor and begin building exhaust gas pressure, that pressure is sensed and increased inside that intenal passage, overcoming the spring, pushing open RAVE slide valve adding to the performance of the engine. When the pressure in the exhaust system changes, dropping it will allow the spring to overcome the lower pressure and begin to slide the RAVE valve closed. This area of internal porting between the inside area of your manifold to the inside of your bellows is what I call, "dead air".......that's because it's in a dead pocket. Therefore, exhaust gas that builds pressure will be without oil or heat.

Now, once you develop a leak either at the "0" ring of the slide valve or maybe a puncture in your bellows.....a weak spring or lost the inner clip at the bottom of the bellows, that exhaust gas will find it's way to move through that port, along with the oil we use for lubrication. Then, you start getting a build up of crude.

You need to examine all your parts, take everything apart.....the spring from the bellows, seperate the bellows from the slide valve and check for holes. You may even see a hole in the bellows before you take this stuff apart.

Gaskets...........no, you do not have to replace the gaskets each time you remove the powervalve (RAVE). They are designed to be re-used because of the yearly maintenance of cleaning off the slide valve. I would not use any sealant unless it's obvious that you are having a leaking issue at that point.

The most important thing is to follow the slide valve orientation. They are marked with "up" on the top part of them. Also, the internal porting hole in the valve body has to be oriented in the correct direction on the manifold before you put al this back together.................:cheers:

I hope this helps you a bit, I may or may not see you reply but if I missed something in your question "bigjake", please feel free to PM me on the issue. I have several pix of them and can send you one that may help you better understand what it is you are looking to accomplish..........
 
The RAVE valve gaskets usually don't get damaged from removal of the rave valves. These gaskets can be reused several time before they warrant replacement. As the years go on the gaskets get harder to purchase too.
 
broken slide valve

I finally got a chance to clean the RAVE valves today, the one with all the black gunk wasn't working at all. The part of the slide valve that the RAVE screws into was missing, just some remnants of broken plastic. There was no O ring either. I'm guessing it disintegrated. The RAVE itself (guillotine) is covered with thick sludge. Underneith the sludge is thick hardened carbon deposits. So I need to order a new slide valve. I had already gotten new O rings so another $10 in shiping just for the slide valve....

My question now is there is alot if sludge and carbon deposits inside the engine head itself when i take the RAVE out. How do I clean inside the head, and how well does this need to be cleaned? What about any deposits that fall down onto the piston, will they just burn up or do i need to worry about them scoring the piston? i figure i can get a can of compressed air and blow out as good as i can.
 
Leakage is a common problem with the bellows.
Not sure if you have the red or green. The green ones were the improved version.


BTW I have a pair of complete valves for sale.

P1010083.JPG
 
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