8000 miles, did your valves REALLY need adjusting?

[the Ferret]

Good deal fang.

[LARIDER_imp]

LARIDER, That was my plan... once my valve cover started to leak (and after I confirmed with the forum that there was no risk of damage to the engine if I waited on the repair) I would make the warranty claim around 8K and ask them to check the valves while they had it open. My line of thinking was if they had it open for the repair then the inspection couldn't be more than 30 minutes on my dime. Did you try using that line of reasoning with them? -A

I use this dealer mainly for parts, tire mounting and any warranty work. They are good mechanics and nice people but even with the cover already off, it was too much just for an inspection. Especially on a bike that most likely will not need any adjustment in the near future.

I have an independent mechanic that will do the inspection for much cheaper after the bikes' warranty is up later this year. I'll probably do the inspection a bit after 10K.
And other than a quick scare from some bad gas, my 1100 is still running beautifully.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Good deal fang.

Thank you sir! Took about 6 hours all told working from the service manual in no hurry. No special problems but I would note that the PAIR valve connections through the cylinder head have these little rubber doughnut seals, not really an O-ring. There are four. These tend to NOT stay on the metal tube and could for sure fall into the nooks and crannies of the cylinder head, either into the spark plug recesses or into the camshaft area. Really something to watch out for.

I used some regular heavy-duty grease on them when reinstalling, almost thought I lost one but it was stuck up at the top where I couldn't see it.

The grease keeps 'em in place. Maybe not spec, but won't hurt anything.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

I took about 8 hours for the first time and less for the second. All in spec. Next check I will do before going to PI in October. The nearest Honda dealer quotes four hours for the check (without service) with another hour if adjustment is required. At AUD120 an hour. A major service, which includes a valve check, runs out at about AUD1100. Adjustment is extra. A major service on my Ford Territory is less than that. That's why I do the work myself.

Cheers

[Ulvetanna_imp]

I took about 8 hours for the first time and less for the second. All in spec. Next check I will do before going to PI in October. The nearest Honda dealer quotes four hours for the check (without service) with another hour if adjustment is required. At AUD120 an hour. A major service, which includes a valve check, runs out at about AUD1100. Adjustment is extra. A major service on my Ford Territory is less than that. That's why I do the work myself.

Cheers

Sounds about right. I saved about $500 doing that myself. I'm all for it, been doing those on all my bikes for ages. Learn a lot about the bike too. Good to be self-reliant, you know what you got.

[Elipten_imp]

That cost and interval is making me wish it had the system of the Nighthawk. But at least not as pricey as the older Ducatis.


2014 CB1100 DLX
2013 CB1100 Std
1990 BMW K75 RT

[emptysea]

Self-reliance is overrated. I'd rather be riding. Maybe when I have nothing better to do during the day, I'll resurrect my long-dormant mechanical skills, but for now it's the VIP service contract with my dealer to control maintenance costs and Roadside Assist from Progressive if my Honda stops acting like a Honda.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

I took about 8 hours for the first time and less for the second. All in spec. Next check I will do before going to PI in October. The nearest Honda dealer quotes four hours for the check (without service) with another hour if adjustment is required. At AUD120 an hour. A major service, which includes a valve check, runs out at about AUD1100. Adjustment is extra. A major service on my Ford Territory is less than that. That's why I do the work myself.

Cheers

Sounds about right. I saved about $500 doing that myself. I'm all for it, been doing those on all my bikes for ages. Learn a lot about the bike too. Good to be self-reliant, you know what you got.

Very true. Assuming a reasonable level of mechanical competence it is also a comfort to know that the service items have been done, completely and competently.

Cheers
MTC, Darling agrees with you 100%. There's no way she is going to break her fingernails doing stuff that Ford can do.

[LARIDER_imp]

I took about 8 hours for the first time and less for the second. All in spec. Next check I will do before going to PI in October. The nearest Honda dealer quotes four hours for the check (without service) with another hour if adjustment is required. At AUD120 an hour. A major service, which includes a valve check, runs out at about AUD1100. Adjustment is extra. A major service on my Ford Territory is less than that. That's why I do the work myself.

Cheers

I pretty much had the same estimate details at $100 USD per hour. Around 4-5 hours if adjustment needed.

I do most of my own maintenance as well, but I've never done this particular adjustment before. And I'm a little apprehensive about me doing a valve shim adjustment for the first time on a bike that's less than a year old and still under warranty.

I will however eventually learn to do it in the future. The Scrooge McDuck in me will eventually win out and make me learn.

[pdedse]

One of the things that I've enjoyed about owning my KLR650 is the "tech days" we have where between 10 and up to 35 of us get together on a Saturday morning and do minor to major fixes on the bikes with several "tech gurus" watching you do your own work and guiding you through steps if you're in doubt. Oil, tire, fork oil changes, modifications, air filter, spark plugs, running rough, carb isses...and valve checks and adjustments with shims. Now I don't think I would have attempted valve checks / adjustments on my own, but with this group of KLR owners, it wasn't that bad, maybe 2-3 hours total time. What about the CB1100 makes the check / adjustment "daunting"? More valves? Or are there a number of difficult steps? Maybe someone will put together a nice "how to" video?