52K Mile Valve Check Results

[dcstrom]

Brick - the 3 exhaust that need changing - how far out are they? And don't say "Oh I forgot"!

My Super T now has ALMOST 52K and I'm doing the second valve check. Nothing was needed at the first check. I asked the dealer at the first check to tell me what the clearances were but... I got a "Oh I forgot".

Anyway, all intake are A-OK but three of the exhaust are being changed. I need three 195 shims and didn't have any so will get them from a dealer tomorrow.

All else is cool. Damn, that cam chain adjuster is a bear to get in the locked position... whew got it! Wasn't easy. Is there a trick that I don't know?

 

[Brick]

dcstrom,
Ok... here they are:
From the left side of the bike sitting ON the bike.
1) .008
2) .007
3) .009
4) .008

After searching the forum I believe that it is smart to set all more in the middle of the range. The range is .009 to .0011. So that is the plan to set them more in the middle. I should have the shims that I will need available to me on Thursday. So Thursday night I hope to have this buttoned back up. ::001::

Brick - the 3 exhaust that need changing - how far out are they? And don't say "Oh I forgot"!

 

[dcstrom]

Ok that's not bad then - they are out of spec but I wouldn't say they were tight right? As in, not tight enough to harm anything.

Obviously I'm interested in this because my 52000 mile check is due, and I don't want to do it!

dcstrom,
Ok... here they are:
From the left side of the bike sitting ON the bike.
1) .008
2) .007
3) .009
4) .008

After searching the forum I believe that it is smart to set all more in the middle of the range. The range is .009 to .0011. So that is the plan to set them more in the middle. I should have the shims that I will need available to me on Thursday. So Thursday night I hope to have this buttoned back up. ::001::

 

[avc8130]

Just suck it up and do the check. This bike is great in that it has such long intervals. Think about it, just about any other bike would have required you to be on your 4th or more check rather than your 2nd.

When I have a valve that is tighter than spec, I usually just drop down 1 shim size in my Hot Cams kit. That almost always brings it right into tolerance.

ac

 

[dcstrom]

AC - yeah I would do the check, but it's not convenient right now, down here at the bottom of the world

In hindsight I could have gotten it done in Santiago, but didn't know the mechanic enough to trust him with it. Having worked with him for a day, I think he'd be OK with it... but of course by that time the bike is all back together. Will see if I can find someone to do it in Buenos Aires, which is probably about 3000 miles from here by the route I'm taking.

Just suck it up and do the check. This bike is great in that it has such long intervals. Think about it, just about any other bike would have required you to be on your 4th or more check rather than your 2nd.

When I have a valve that is tighter than spec, I usually just drop down 1 shim size in my Hot Cams kit. That almost always brings it right into tolerance.

ac

 

[Brick]

::018:: yes the 52,000 mile valve check/adjust is finished! ::008:: What a pain in the ass!
We changed the three that were out of spec as such...
1) .008 after changing shim to a .195 it now reads .0011
2) .007 after changing shim to a .195 it now reads .0010
3) .009 didn't change this one as it's in spec.
4) .008 after changing shim to a .195 it now reads .0011

The cam chain jumped twice so we had to keep taking one of the towers off to assist in moving the chain to get it back in time.

Then we couldn't see that the valve cover gasket's front disc was cocked in and not sealing. So we put it all back together far enough to start it and could hear the air leak... grrrr it came apart again and we got lucky in that we only had to take all the valve cover bolts out and lift it straight up and could get the disc in the proper position. The cam chain adjuster is a big pain in the ass! The valve cover was done by my friend Robbie and well it went much better than I anticipated. He only used a few bad words! I REALLY love riding this bike but this service was a real pain in the ass! Of course now that it's done by us the next time will be much easier!
All is well... ! ::003:: new plugs (old didn't look bad at all after over 30,000 miles) and new air filter.

I'm finishing putting on my new Denali D2 lights... cool stuff that! And I also put the Traxx bags on in black... used the adapter from Twisted Throttle which saved me a bundle as they bolted on my Give 1/4 turn racks with only slight modification being required. These bags are going to be much better than the Give Trekker bags I had. Not that the Trekker's were bad... these are just more better!

Let's ride!
::015::

 

[fredz43]

Glad you got that finished, Brick. Is this the first time the valves have been checked?

Also, very cool that TT was able to fix you up with Motech adapters so that you could use the Givi racks that you already have.

 

[Brick]

Fred,
No I had the valves checked around 20,000 miles and while I asked the technician to provide me with the measurements that he got in checking them, he did not. The old, "Oh... I forgot... but they all checked ok". But of course he couldn't remember if any were close. I've always wandered if he ever did really check them???

Glad you got that finished, Brick. Is this the first time the valves have been checked?

Also, very cool that TT was able to fix you up with Motech adapters so that you could use the Givi racks that you already have.

 

[greg the pole]

I only have a paltry country to ride around, our winters don't help much, then again neither do our summers, almost half of my miles get done during a two week escape to Europe.

If I had more decent biking roads nearby with less cars and better weather I would probably do a lot more, if I was lucky enough to live somewhere like the Alps / Black Forest / Pyrenees I would need my own oil rig.

I must have been drinking strong lager....
I have 37.5KM on mine....sorry.
But next to sailxx and escape from DC...that's a day ride ::015::
Off to California next month to break in my FZ....7 days of pure bliss.
Bring it on!

 

[Bryannagirl]

I have owned two BMWs and a couple Harley's also had a Ducati and Triumph and a few odd and ends Japanese bikes. All have issues depends on model, how it was used or abused, and a little luck of the draw. Harley's have come a long way - they had some design issues with twin cam but apart from that the will run and run with nothing more then oil changes (note to self some years have axle bearings that need service or else). I learned to do most of the maintenance on my oil head beemers. But some things need the magic box from the dealer. Most of my issues where addressed by recalls - but they where issues. Never had an issue with my 2007 ducati but could have others did - luck of the draw. My triumph was older triple ran like poop tried to fix it my self - no luck dealer hooked it up to the magic box and found I had a bad throttle position sensor - some times it pays to have a good dealer.

So that being said I try not to brag or dump on any bike - but I do read and pay attention. I am looking very hard at getting a fully Farkeled 2012 Super Tenere - in fact I am sold if I can get the bank to agree. Why - the S10 just runs, takes a licken and keeps on ticken. My only hesitation is weight she is a beast.

I was torn between a used 2014 f800Gs adventure and the super t. I was at a BMW dealer in KC - nice people. I. Picked up a free copy of the BMWOA mag. It was the one with 2013 high mileage winners. Well I was reading a couple of paragraphs from the lady winner. They where eye opening. After reading it I wondered why she was still riding BMW - she had a list of failures many repeats for the same thing on several different models. I mean a lot. If I was her I would have a hard time going more the a 100 miles form home with out a rescue trailer following close behind.

You pay your money and take your chances. I like BMW I really do - my favorite bike of all time was my 2003 GSA 50k in three years - loved that bike. So the force was strong with BMW and that used 800GSA. But - takes a licken and keeps on ticken is keeps ring in my ears.

 

[Mzee]

I have not done any valve adjustments even though my bike has 71,000km. It still runs fine. So I have read this thread with interest. I will have the valves checked and adjusted at 80,000kms.