Valve Clearance Cost

[bertypower_imp]

Hey there guys,

Contemplating getting the dealer to do my VC check and adjust. Got some quotes and looks like it’s gonna be about $550 just for the check. If the valves need to be adjusted it would be another 250 or so. So about 850 or so. Is this normal? I understand it’s a time consuming job...

There is an Independant mechanic that I sometimes use who would do the job for a few hundred less...

Honestly I’m leaning on just biting the bullet I guess. My bike is at 11.5K. Is everyone here adjusting every 8K or waiting till 16K? Or not at all until something happens?

I have some slight weeping on one of the chrome cylinders. I mean maybe a drop every 200mi. But it’s intermittent. Some days it’s just clear.

2c appreciated!

[Cormanus]

bertypower, have a look at [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=14124]this thread and maybe follow the links to the spreadsheet and the other thread referred to. I think it will give you a sense that the valve clearances seldom need adjusting. You could safely wait until at least 16K.

If it were me, I'd be going to the independent mechanic, if you trust him.

[Wisedrum]

Have not checked the valves yet within over 6 years and 67.000km. As here stated once, if the bike runs fine, has fine fuel consumption, starts easily and so on, why worry? I don't. Of course valves clearance can diminish, that's true and can cause some damage. It's up to your own risk. I take this risk and don't want to spend so much money. Some day and after many more km I will get the valves checked. Maybe. I don't push the CB hard and let her warm up long enough on each ride.

[LakeWylieJoe_imp]

You'll hear a loose valve clicking, but one that gets too tight will eventually not be able to cool itself (not enough solid contact with the head material each cycle) and you'll burn it. Then you are looking at a head rebuild at minimum, or maybe the whole engine depending on how the destruction dominoes fall.

It's a gamble to let them go that long. I wouldn't, but it's your call.

--Joe

[Wisedrum]

I know and don't recommend anyone to do the same.

[bertypower_imp]

Update: I decided to get the Honda dealer to work on my valve clearances. Thought it would be best. Especially if I dropped something into a crevice or whatever the guys at the shop would have the RIGHT tools for the job. I am very handy but I probably would’ve taken a few days with ordering the correct shims and probably misc trips to get materials etc. I’ve never even done an oil change... first time working on the bike was re-sealing the crankcase covers.

Apparently 9 out of the 16 valves were out/close to out of spec. Enough to get 9 new shims. They did give me the mechanics handwritten notes which I’ll post here and I guess update the master thread here in the forum. If you guys can look at it and make sense of it that would be awesome.

Glad I didn’t put it off any longer. Not sure I need to check it every 8000mi. I think 12,000 miles will he fine?

[max]

Thanks Berty i have drawn another list of what i think the technician has done as best as i can decipher it, see what you think;



Interesting that they all were too wide, that may have changed over time but good to know.

cheers.

[zirconxi_imp]

Thumbs up for Max ... I was scratching my head over the tech writing, and I always thought my records are messy until this...... hahaha

[max]

Thanks mate, it took me a while but i think i got close enough, interesting those smaller size shims, just as well i got some more.

[peterbaron]

Heh, heh, the greasy notes are techs live data ....Max's are office clean deciphering = all good!