Performing 16K Valve Clearance early or late

Hello All,

I am coming up on my 16K valve clearance check (VCC). I want to take a 4000 mile ride that will push me close to 20K miles and have pondered putting the VCC off until I return. The other option is to do it now at 15,300.

Has anyone pushed the service interval in either direction? Your thoughts/experiences....


Regards,

Keith

I just checked all mine at 19,563 and they were all within spec. Hope that helps.

Todd

Just did my first on this bike at 34,800 and all were in spec.

Very few st1300's I have heard about are out of spec at 16K.

Even if you're a bit out of spec, it won't hurt to wait 4K.

Mine had a few at the ends of spec ranges on its first check. On its second check, a couple were out and I adjusted them while also adjusting those which were at the ends of the spec ranges. On its third check, all remained good.

With that said, you likely can go 4000 extra miles before the first check without issue.

Also consider that when you go to sell it someday, a potential buyer may ask you about the valve checks and may not like it if it wasn't 'on schedule' (your choice of course, just saying that some will ask).

Over 128,000 miles with no adjustments needed yet.

Mine were checked at/about 16k, 32k, 48k and 64k, never one out of spec.

I didn't do my first valve check until 22,000 miles. I stretch mine just about like that. 22k, 45k, 65k, 86k, 106k, 116k (was in there for something else, might as well check the valves). Then at 138,000 I had the opportunity arise to ride from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean and back but the time window was tight. I knew a major service including the valve check was due but I never do an involved service just before a long ride. Superstitious .... So I rode the trip and checked them at 148,000. I felt confident to double the recommended 16k distance at that high mileage as I had only had one valve requiring adjustment at that 86,000 mile check. These V4s are bullet proof. Stretch the interval - no problem.

Why not do it now for peace of mind. You have to do it sooner or later anyway. As long as you have time.

The importance of the first two checks is to establish whether or not the clearances are changing with hours on the engine. Doing the first one a bit early isn't going to hurt anything, but do try to get the second one in about 16K later.

There's lots of evidence that most 1300s don't require shim changes at either check. Most doesn't mean all, and there's no sense risking damage to the engine early in its life.

--Mark

It's really up to you. Depends on available time and energy before your trip, and how comfortable you are pushing this back. I tend to try to do things close to the book, and were I in your position, I would probably want to do it before, but knowing how busy I am before vacations and trips, it might not get done until afterwards - and I'd worry about it for every one of the 4k miles. No reason to worry, that's just my style. As I get older, I value peace of mind more and more, and now I'd bite the bullet and do it before - at least check them and record the clearances. I would hate to find that I had to change one shim on each side...too much work.

Thanks everyone for your feedback!

Keith