Checking valve clearances

[Enzofour_imp]

Has his mistrust ever been vindicated?

I don't know his but mine was confirmed with Fiat

[Gone in 60]

My epiphany on service work came back in the mid 1980’s on my newly purchased ‘83 GS750ED Suzuki. The initial 600 mile service was stressed by the selling dealer as extremely important and vital to keeping the factory warranty in place. I was a poor kid at the time and the cost was rather substantial but I wanted it done right so off to the dealer it went.

Several weeks later I was cleaning the bike and after removing the tank and side panels I noticed several fasteners either loose or altogether missing. Knowing the bike did not come from Suzuki missing fasteners, at that time I committed to getting a factory service manual and doing my own work. No one is ever going to take the time and care doing work on your bike like you would. Take your time, read up on the procedures in advance, ask questions when needed and remember it’s not rocket science.
People are human and we all make mistakes but the tech mentioned above did not make a mistake. He lied and tried to cheat a customer…. big difference and regardless of staffing issues he should have been shown the door on the way out…

My last BMW was subject to numerous recalls which, for the sake of safety, were done at a local dealership with a good customer service record. Still, after each repair, I found numerous missing screws. After the first time, to save the effort of having to go back again, I’d closely inspect my bike when I went to pick it up, count up the missing screws, point them out, and wait while someone in the parts department got some for me.

[peterbaron]

The head tech at my shop who has been working on my bikes for 30 years says to go by symptoms as well. When I ask him if I should get them checked he asks... "Any unusual noises? Is it getting hard to start? Has your gas mileage gone down?" followed by "if you want I'll check them, but you are wasting your money"

Not to offend anyone.... but valve adjustment has no influence on hard starting and fuel economy at all, unless there is at least one valve too tight >> burnt, an engine is not running smooth, produces a"sputtering sound" at a tail pipe, misfiring or low on compression, then in this case it might be already too late for a maintenance and a cylinder head needs an assessment leading into a valve job. Period.

[GoldOxide_imp]

The head tech at my shop who has been working on my bikes for 30 years says to go by symptoms as well. When I ask him if I should get them checked he asks... "Any unusual noises? Is it getting hard to start? Has your gas mileage gone down?" followed by "if you want I'll check them, but you are wasting your money"

Not to offend anyone.... but valve adjustment has no influence on hard starting and fuel economy at all, unless there is at least one valve too tight >> burnt, an engine is not running smooth, produces a"sputtering sound" at a tail pipe, misfiring or low on compression, then in this case it might be already too late for a maintenance and a cylinder head needs an assessment leading into a valve job. Period.

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?

[the Ferret]

The head tech at my shop who has been working on my bikes for 30 years says to go by symptoms as well. When I ask him if I should get them checked he asks... "Any unusual noises? Is it getting hard to start? Has your gas mileage gone down?" followed by "if you want I'll check them, but you are wasting your money"

Not to offend anyone.... but valve adjustment has no influence on hard starting and fuel economy at all, unless there is at least one valve too tight >> burnt, an engine is not running smooth, produces a"sputtering sound" at a tail pipe, misfiring or low on compression, then in this case it might be already too late for a maintenance and a cylinder head needs an assessment leading into a valve job. Period.

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?

Or a 270 degree twin. My NC sounds like its sputtering all the time to me

[peterbaron]

The head tech at my shop who has been working on my bikes for 30 years says to go by symptoms as well. When I ask him if I should get them checked he asks... "Any unusual noises? Is it getting hard to start? Has your gas mileage gone down?" followed by "if you want I'll check them, but you are wasting your money"

Not to offend anyone.... but valve adjustment has no influence on hard starting and fuel economy at all, unless there is at least one valve too tight >> burnt, an engine is not running smooth, produces a"sputtering sound" at a tail pipe, misfiring or low on compression, then in this case it might be already too late for a maintenance and a cylinder head needs an assessment leading into a valve job. Period.

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?
First, do you have a single cylinder lump ?? no, this is why you can not hear engine sputtering. Period

[GoldOxide_imp]

The head tech at my shop who has been working on my bikes for 30 years says to go by symptoms as well. When I ask him if I should get them checked he asks... "Any unusual noises? Is it getting hard to start? Has your gas mileage gone down?" followed by "if you want I'll check them, but you are wasting your money"

Not to offend anyone.... but valve adjustment has no influence on hard starting and fuel economy at all, unless there is at least one valve too tight >> burnt, an engine is not running smooth, produces a"sputtering sound" at a tail pipe, misfiring or low on compression, then in this case it might be already too late for a maintenance and a cylinder head needs an assessment leading into a valve job. Period.

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?
First, do you have a single cylinder lump ?? no, this is why you can not hear engine sputtering. Period

Yep. Four valve single.


So, what is "second"?

[peterbaron]

The head tech at my shop who has been working on my bikes for 30 years says to go by symptoms as well. When I ask him if I should get them checked he asks... "Any unusual noises? Is it getting hard to start? Has your gas mileage gone down?" followed by "if you want I'll check them, but you are wasting your money"

Not to offend anyone.... but valve adjustment has no influence on hard starting and fuel economy at all, unless there is at least one valve too tight >> burnt, an engine is not running smooth, produces a"sputtering sound" at a tail pipe, misfiring or low on compression, then in this case it might be already too late for a maintenance and a cylinder head needs an assessment leading into a valve job. Period.

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?
First, do you have a single cylinder lump ?? no, this is why you can not hear engine sputtering. Period

Yep. Four valve single.


So, what is "second"?

Yep. Four valve single.

So, what is "second"?
"Second" is 1/60th of a minute or number two in a sequence.

[GoldOxide_imp]

The head tech at my shop who has been working on my bikes for 30 years says to go by symptoms as well. When I ask him if I should get them checked he asks... "Any unusual noises? Is it getting hard to start? Has your gas mileage gone down?" followed by "if you want I'll check them, but you are wasting your money"

Not to offend anyone.... but valve adjustment has no influence on hard starting and fuel economy at all, unless there is at least one valve too tight >> burnt, an engine is not running smooth, produces a"sputtering sound" at a tail pipe, misfiring or low on compression, then in this case it might be already too late for a maintenance and a cylinder head needs an assessment leading into a valve job. Period.

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?

Two Honda dealerships have expressed the offended crowd opinion.

That said, indeed a tight valve is the tougher condition that should be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many Honda owners, including those of the Africa Twin forum not doing their valve inspections after 60,000 and over 120,000 miles. The ones that seem to execute the inspection/adjustment are very hard riders (who adjust it themselves), those just following the Owner's Manual recommended service intervals, and those who are suspicious of a new sound or functional/performance behaviour.

Definitely a rough running condition, especially under harder acceleration/deceleration will reveal an issue.

By the way, what does a "sputtering sound" sound like on a single cylinder Honda lump?
First, do you have a single cylinder lump ?? no, this is why you can not hear engine sputtering. Period

Yep. Four valve single.


So, what is "second"?

Yep. Four valve single.

So, what is "second"?
"Second" is 1/60th of a minute or number two in a sequence.

Yep. Four valve single.

So, what is "second"?
"Second" is 1/60th of a minute or number two in a sequence.





(**sigh**) [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/member.php?action=profile&uid=3454]PB.

[peterbaron]

No worries, we are still friends