Has anyone had to get their valves adjusted??

[Barrel]

Good day

My ST has now 55,000km/34.000 miles and I plan to verify the valves clearances this winter...at around 62,000km/38,000km ...basically 20,000km/12,000 miles over what is recommended by the manual..... :

I was wondering how many or if some of you actually needed their valves adjusted and if possible at what mileage and by how much....??

This may have been covered under another post....not sure...??

Thanks!

 

[sail2xxs]

The valves on my bike were checked at roughly 26k and 52k miles - no adjustment needed either time. Adjustment was required at 75k miles.

Chris

 

[motoguy]

The valves on my bike were checked at roughly 26k and 52k miles - no adjustment needed either time. Adjustment was required at 75k miles.

Chris

Did you take it to a dealer or did you do it yourself ?

 

[EricV]

I had my valves checked and adjusted for the first time at 49k miles. Some of the exhaust shims needed changing to get in better spec. Nothing was out of spec, but close to the edge of spec.

Honestly, I skipped the 26k check because of my experience with the FJR where no changes were needed until 98k miles. I put on 10k in 11 days after the 49k valve check I had done, so am glad I took the time and spent the money to have it checked before. I'll have it done again at 75k miles, (in about 10k miles from now), to see where it's at, but don't expect to seen any need for shim changes.

 

[Boondocker]

I got my first valve inspection a couple of days ago at 22,050 miles (3,000 miles early). They were in spec, no adjustment necessary. Had the spark plugs replaced (7,000 miles late) at that time since the labor was covered. Cost $353 at Yamaha of Las Vegas. The original plugs were in good shape too. I'm not here to recommend any deviation from the manufacture's recommended service intervals, just noting my experience. I use top tier 91-octane fuel, change oil & filter at 3,000-mile intervals, and ride conservatively.

I have had zero maintenance issues. ::022::

 

[sail2xxs]

Did you take it to a dealer or did you do it yourself ?

Motoguy -

I took it to the dealer.

Chris

 

[joneil]

Open question for whomever...

What are the odds that failing to have the valve inspection done might cause problems if there were to be a warranty claim with YES?

 

[EricV]

Open question for whomever...

What are the odds that failing to have the valve inspection done might cause problems if there were to be a warranty claim with YES?

Having had several YES covered repairs on my FJR in the past, (minor items and a major one that wasn't covered), it really depends on a couple of factors. If the claim directly relates to the valve train, and the dealer believes it would have been prevented if you had followed the recommended service intervals, it will probably be an issue. The Dealer could make or break your claim, depending on their point of view. As Dallara has said, the Dealer should support which ever side is correct, Yamaha or you.

From my personal experience, while the service records really come into play for a major repair or issue, most claims have specific issues and if it was un-related to the valve train, it wouldn't come up. I log all my service in the back of my owner's manual, which is on the bike all the time. I have a separate tire log for every tire ever used, type, mileage when it was put on and taken off, and comments about it. Despite nearly all of my service being 'owner service' the one time the Dealer told me I may need to provide copies of my service records, including receipts for oil, filters, etc, he scanned my owner's manual records and sent those to Yamaha and they never asked for receipts.

In other words, it's unlikely, UNLESS the repair is directly related to the lack of a valve check/adjustment. But, the if the Dealer believes your skipping a service is responsible, he could make it a problem by conveying that to Yamaha. Clear as mud.

If we start seeing valve related issues, it would be prudent to do the service. I did all the 26k valve checks on the FJR, (there was a known valve/guide issue on early FJRs), but because of my experience on that bike, and it not needing any shim adjustments until 98k, I skipped the first valve inspection on the S10 and did the second one slightly early at 49k since I was about to put 15k or more on the bike the next month. They were in spec, but at the very edge, so they re-shimmed several to middle of spec.

Too bad the inspection costs the same as an actual adjustment.

 

[scott123007]

Too bad the inspection costs the same as an actual adjustment.

Interesting...I would have thought the extra labor to pull and replace the cams and the cost for a shim or two would change the service cost. I guess your shop just does a flat rate and sometimes they make out better than others?

 

[EricV]

Most of the work is in getting to the valves. Once there, it's not a big deal to change shims as needed.

FYI - Some shops will re-use the valve cover if it appears to be in good condition. Probably fine at 26k. I was a little disappointed to see that they re-used mine at 49k, but it does not appear to be leaking. I did have to clean up some oil from the work though, dripping from the seal area. I cleaned it up and it did not return, so guessing it was just from the separation activity during the work.

I spoke with the service adviser about it and the issue of the breather hose being left off, (which I fixed myself, using the tank up time to inspect for other mistakes and signs of leaks).

Next time I will specify a new valve cover gasket be used.

The less stock your bike is, the more likely something will be screwed up when you get it back.

 

[Dallara]

Open question for whomever...

What are the odds that failing to have the valve inspection done might cause problems if there were to be a warranty claim with YES?

As EricV has stated, it really all depends on the dealer and your relationship with him...

I didn't have the 26,000-mile valve check done. I wanted to, but my dealer's service manager specifically told me *NOT* to have it done... Saying that in literally hundreds of R1's, R6's, FJR's, etc. the past few years he had yet to any Yamaha with a valve out of spec at the first check. I even pressed him on it, and he said he'd do it if I really wanted it done, but that he wouldn't worry about it, especially if the engine had no abnormal noise from the valve train, etc. I then specifically asked him about the warranty if I had a problem, and he said, basically, "Well, I'm the one who would be handling the warranty claim, and it sounds fine to me..." ::025::

Now let me say this... I usually do all my own work, but I have known this guy since 1972, from back when he first went to work as a Kawasaki mechanic at this same shop (it's had 2 other owners since then, and now handles Yamaha and Victory, too), and he is the *ONLY* guy in the area I would let work on any of my bikes. He has built record-setting drag race bikes over the years and now does gorgeous MX restorations in addition to being the lead mechanic and service manager at this shop. I have also known the current shop owner for well over 20 years, and he is a good friend, as are his sons that now run the dealership. Point of all that is simple - I may have a small advantage some others may not enjoy... But I don't worry in the slightest about any warranty issues there.

Still, the service manager was adamant that Yamaha engines had very robust valve trains when it came to clearances. He said I definitely should have the valve inspection done at 52,000 miles, as he usually saw one or two valves out of spec by those kind of miles. Oddly enough he's a huge Kawasaki fan... more so than he is in any way a Yamaha fan... but he said repeatedly that Yamaha valve trains were the toughest when it came to wear he'd ever seen.

As Sail, Eric, and others have mentioned, I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you're hearing noises you think are abnormal from your valve train.

Just my two centavos... YMMV.

Dallara



~

 

[snakebitten]

My bike has been serviced by my dealer from the beginning.
(Except at 28,000 miles, I was in Albuquerque. So I had the dealer there do a few things while I flew home to work for a week)

I too am blessed to have a service manager\lead mechanic that has earned my trust.

At the 24,000 mile service I asked him if it was absolutely necessary for me to get the valve check done. He laughed and asked why did I care since I had a service contract and it wasn't gonna cost me a cent? When I told him that regardless of the contract, I trusted his judgement and didn't want him to be influenced by anything but his own true feelings on the subject, he really was appreciative.

He smiled. Said he really appreciated that. Then he reminded me that he was the only person who does anything to my bike beyond normal non-Tenere specific tasks. And then said he was kind of looking forward to getting a good look inside my bike because he hadn't popped the top of one yet.

Then, because I was heading to Ouray, I didn't get a chance to leave the bike for the necessary cool down. So I get back from Colorado with 30,000 on the clock. I ask him if he wants the bike right away for the valve check? He says the bikes not due for service yet. (Next service is at 32K) So I floated the warranty question. The one that was just asked a couple of posts before this one.

He looked me in the eye. And told me that I have nothing to worry about if I bring HIM a broken bike. He explained that I have perfect service records with them. And that if they (the dealer) "goes to bat for me", I wouldn't have a problem with Yamaha.

Don't know how true all that is. But it jives with what a few guys here are saying as well. And they have far more experience with Yamaha than I do.

Don't know for sure if and when my first valve check will be performed. But I know I won't skip the second one. I'll probably insist. Hope I get there before my contract is up. But I will do it regardless.

 

[Mzee]

Good reading from Dallara and Snakebitten