Save money on valve adjustment.

[peterrose]

I was talking to the head mechanic at Lings where I work about valve adjustment as my SV is coming up to 7000 miles and is supposed to have them checked. As this is a time consuming job, read expensive, I was wondering if it really needed it done.
He said that unless the engine is becoming difficult to start, leave it as that is the first tell tale sign that it needs doing.

Sounds good to me, any thoughts on this ?

[andmoon]

If it gets hard to start it might be too late. There was some talk over at the dl site about valves getting tight way before the 1st check mileage.
I have also heard mechanics decide on the need of a valve clearance check by listening to the engine but noise only occurs with loose valves not tight ones.

I am going to check the valves myself and if it looks easy and I do have valve(s) in need of adjustment, I'll do it myself. I don't think it is too hard to check the clearances...only to remove/replace shims.

[jrl305]

I haven't done mine yet but I suspect that the hardest part of the job is getting the covers off. Should be a piece of cake after that. Use a manual and double check the timing if you have to pull out a cam or two before you button it up.

Anyone done this themselves yet on the SV1K?

John

[Tundra Tom]

Spaz posted a thread of this sometime back...............
http://www.sv1000.zyns.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6426&page=2&pp=15

[Ebenhorst]

I was talking to the head mechanic at Lings where I work about valve adjustment as my SV is coming up to 7000 miles and is supposed to have them checked. As this is a time consuming job, read expensive, I was wondering if it really needed it done.
He said that unless the engine is becoming difficult to start, leave it as that is the first tell tale sign that it needs doing.

Sounds good to me, any thoughts on this ?


There´s 27000km´s on my bike now and more coming at summer.

I didn´t have my valves checked at this summer and when I asked from the guy (mechanic) that "should they be checked" he replied that, withing long time when he has serviced tl´s they haven´t been needing adjustment before 50tkm´s or even more.

But of course, bikes are individuals as we, humans...

[mrgenius]

i agree with andmoon. i think it is an unecessary risk to wait for the bike to get difficult to start.

[spasonatwin]

Ok... a few things:

'Checking' the valves is a short job. Changing the shims is the intensive part (thanks for posting that thread Tom :niceone: ). If the bike is -stone cold-, checking the clearances is a two hour job at most.... and easy enough for anyone to do in their carport. No sense in taking it to a mechanic for a 'valve job' if you can easily tell yourself whether or not it needs it.

Now, if the engine is hard starting (because of the valves tightening up) you are in fact already late in adjusting them. The valves can get tight without manifesting hard start symptoms (mine did.. the exhausts were tight, but the bike was starting fine). If I had let it go until I could feel it hard strarting, they would be far more out of wack. You -can- hear loose valves, but that might be tough on the bike (clutch noise, cam chain tensioners noise, etc. etc.). I remember TLRMan saying that he -checks- his valve clearances twice as often as the manual suggests.... I think that's good advice. Doing so prevents performance loss that cannot be reversed without yanking the head(s) off. Just remember, it's really easy to check them.... don't let it scare ya' ;)

As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to check mine this weekend when I check my buddy's 650. Only good can come of doing it, while potential damage could result in not doing it, right?

Cheers :beer:

[peterrose]

Spasonatwin, Good point, CHECKING them doesn't sound hard, just a bit time consuming, plus I could check/change the spark plugs at the same time. AS you say, if they need doing then I could always take it in to my dealer if it looks hard.
I've always done my own valves when they were the nut and screw adjustable type.

Pete

[spasonatwin]

Good thinking, but I promise that 'adjusting' them isn't so difficult either. The treachery lies in having a place to source new shims if you need them. The only special tool(s) you need are a torque wrench, the manual, and PATIENCE. If done carefully, it is very easy: The shim-under-bucket valve system is nice, and the way the cams are driven is equally pleasant (the cam chain never touches the cams.... so long as you take one out at a time per head, there is no extra complication with timing :D ). Truth is, the exhaust valves are likely to tighten up on the first service, and stay fairly constant after that. My intakes were perfect, and the exhaust were the next size shim away from being right. I'll know in a couple thousand miles if they have changed any more.

It's easy enough that I'd gladly do it for beer... if I was in the area ;) ...But G'luck, either way :beer:

[andmoon]

Good thinking, but I promise that 'adjusting' them isn't so difficult either. The treachery lies in having a place to source new shims if you need them. The only special tool(s) you need are a torque wrench, the manual, and PATIENCE. If done carefully, it is very easy: The shim-under-bucket valve system is nice, and the way the cams are driven is equally pleasant (the cam chain never touches the cams.... so long as you take one out at a time per head, there is no extra complication with timing :D ). Truth is, the exhaust valves are likely to tighten up on the first service, and stay fairly constant after that. My intakes were perfect, and the exhaust were the next size shim away from being right. I'll know in a couple thousand miles if they have changed any more.

It's easy enough that I'd gladly do it for beer... if I was in the area ;) ...But G'luck, either way :beer:
Next time you are in NJ...all the beer you can drink AFTER you do my valves. Any type that is available here. :D

[andyw]

I was talking to the head mechanic at Lings where I work about valve adjustment as my SV is coming up to 7000 miles and is supposed to have them checked. As this is a time consuming job, read expensive, I was wondering if it really needed it done.
He said that unless the engine is becoming difficult to start, leave it as that is the first tell tale sign that it needs doing.

Sounds good to me, any thoughts on this ?

The manual says the tappet clearances only need to be checked at:

24000km / 15000 miles or every 24 months

[peterrose]

The manual says the tappet clearances only need to be checked at:

24000km / 15000 miles or every 24 months

:oops: better have another look in the manual again..... :blush:

Pete

[SV DAVE]

Mine have been checked three times with zero anything needing to be done. They will be checked again weekend after next.

[andmoon]

Mine have been checked three times with zero anything needing to be done. They will be checked again weekend after next.
at what mileages were they checked? I have a feeling that once the initial adjustment of the valve seat and head is done, the changes will be minimal.

[sinic]

Engine must be stone cold.