Q re: valve clearance check

As you might recall from past posts, I see by the magic owners' manual that the 24K service is due on my machine. Was quoted $650 for the service by the local Honda dealer. Reviewed the service manual and resolved to do most of it myself...it's not that complicated, for the most part.

Except the valve clearance check. Don't really want to try that.

I'm wondering if those of you who have done the 24K valve clearance check observed that the valve shims were due for replacement or if everything was within spec. I was thinking of putting off the valve clearance check until 30K or so.

Hi Bob,

My bike had done 16500 miles when i bought it from a good dealer who i know.

I asked him about the valves as they were due to be inspected, he told me there was no need to check them simply by the sweet noise of the engine.

Done 19500 miles now and still sounds sweet as a nut, i think a lot of people on here will tell you this.

+1 to everything bigbird wrote.

I have a Burgman 400. Not the same bike at all, but it too has the shims for adjusting the valves. I put mine off till around 35,000 miles...well past the 14,000 mile point called out in the service manual. I did find one that needed to be changed. While I had it all open and torn apart, I changed one of the other shims so it wouldn't need to be checked for some time yet.

I'm guessing that the hardest part of the job is simply getting the body panels removed to gain access. After that, if you know how to use a feeler gauge, you can check them yourself.

The problem of ignoring them, is just what bigbird said. You can burn up a valve. The cost of repairing that is more than most of us would want to face. It's worth it to check them. Once you've done it once, you'll realize it isn't that hard and will do it regularly after that.

BTW, write down what your clearance was for each valve. When you check it again, you'll have a better idea how quickly they are changing and in what direction.

Chris

My take on valve adj on SilverWing----I didn't do it, just rode. Let somebody else worry. I get new bike each year, but ride a lot.

My Suzuki GS500E----I checked clearance at 1200 miles=ok. 15 months later with 64,000 miles, still running fine and traded. My Citroen BX Diesel (shims) went 400,000 km with no look at valves.

With Suzuki GS500E, I figured it was cheap bike with warranty---let Suzuki worry about it if anything happened.

Of scooters, Helix had easiest valve adjustment. Could be done in motel parking lot, quick on cold engine. Reflex as I recall used same system, but finding TDC more difficult. Too bad SilverWing and others involve so much expense-----Worst being my TMAX.

Often dealers can screw up operation more than just leaving things alone.

John Grinsel

john grinsel wrote:

Often dealers can screw up operation more than just leaving things alone.

+1

That's sort of what I'm worried about...when you're the only Honda shop around, who's going to do the quality control check on your work?

I'll probably take it in in the next month or two, but I must admit I'm in no hurry to do so...

Hiya, Daboo!!

Wise words...lots of independent service shops around, but don't know if they're familiar with SWings or whether I trust them with it...

I'll get this figured out...