08-11-2017, 01:31 AM
(08-10-2017, 10:00 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote:(08-10-2017, 02:58 PM)jerrycon_imp Wrote: Very interesting that you never had the valves inspected. Nothing against my local shop or the other Honda shops in the area, but you just don't know who you're going to get as the technician when your bike is serviced. Regarding the valve inspection, the chance of an inexperienced tech causing a problem is greater than the chance of finding the valves significantly out of spec.
I believe I will have to follow your lead. As long as everything seems okay, I'm not going to let them open up the engine (while paying a small fortune for the risk). If I happen to befriend a master technician of proven competence, I will reconsider.
Jerry, my shop has a mastertech I trust. 35 years on the job and the only one that touches my bikes. He says it is very rare for a shim under bucket valve to go out of spec and that there are signs of a valve being out of spec...Hard starting, rough running, a drop in mileage, or excessive noise. He says if you're not having any of those issues you are wasting your money on a valve inspection. I forced him to check the valves in my ST at 54,000 miles, even though I wasn't having any symtoms. They were all in spec. It's now at 94,000 miles. I may have them inspected again at 100,000 just for grins. Well, a couple hundred dollars grins lol.
My brothers 2003 Bonneville had the same valve layout. He inspected his at 12,24 and 36,000 miles and all were in spec each time. So he quit inspecting them.
Now I believe each individual must make up their own mind on what to do with their own motorcycle. Honda recommends a valve " inspection" every 8,000 miles. Yamaha calls for it every 26,000 miles ( even on my FZ-1 which had 20 valves and ran up to 13,000 rpms and btw never had a valve out of spec in 50,000 miles. Are Yamaha valves and shims better? Does Yamaha build a more durable engine? If it gives you peace of mind by all means have your valves inspected every 8,000 miles. That's what Honda recommends. Ya takes your chances.
Congrats Ferret!
BTW, the Bonneville is shim OVER bucket....not sure it matters