airman
Has anyone ever had or heard of anyone that had engine damage form NOT doing this procedure? I would bet not.
How many have never adjusted the Valves
- Thread starter randy the x man
- Start date
Dumb question but what would be damaged if they were out of spec? Is it hard on the valves, cams or something else? I don't know that it would ever be enough for it to hit the pistons but maybe that?
Just wondering.
Just wondering.
Blrfl
Natural Rider Enhancement
Here's one thing off the top of my head:
If there's too little clearance between the cam and the bucket, the valve may stay open longer than it should or be prevented from seating firmly against the cylinder head. That can have some effect on engine performance, but let's set that aside for a minute.
One of the jobs of the cylinder head is to soak up heat from the combustion process and dispose of it through the cooling system. The valves, being front and center in the combustion chamber, also accumulate heat and depend on contact with the head while closed as a way to dissipate it. If that contact isn't solid, long enough or not there at all, the valve's ability to get rid of unwanted heat is reduced or eliminated.
Exhaust gas temperatures can easily climb into the range of 1,200-1,300?F which is the same neighborhood as those used in tempering the steel from which the valves are made. Tempering is a carefully-controlled process, and if the material is heated for too long, it can lose its temper and become brittle. If the valves are subject to more heat than they can dissipate, they're going to accumulate heat and may lose the tempering they got when they were manufactured. Under the beating they get in the engine, that loss of strength could result in failure.
(Not a dumb question, by the way...)
--Mark
And if a valve were to break like that it would likely get dumped into the cylinder and that would cause all kinds of bad things to happen.
Just ask Jeff Bertrand about burning a valve.
My own experience - on my ST1100 I checked the valve clearances every winter during downtime. Only at 70k miles did one valve go slightly out of spec.
32k on my ST1300 - checked last weekend and all dead on balls perfect.
Then again, YMMV.
On the 05 I first did a valve check at 23k (if i remember correctly) and adjusted to valves on the left bank. They were close enough that I could have let the go but since I had it opened!
slo~ride
Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat.
Checked at 16k, 32k, and 48k. Didn't need adjustment 70k now, think I'll check at 100k just for peace of mind.
tdeboeser
that's not me!
wow. About the same intervals for me. No adjustments, although I mess up a check and almost adjusted them - thank goodness I double checked.
Tom de
Just checked mine for the second time, 60K miles. All are still within spec. As far as what happens if they get too far out of spec, read one of my earlier posts and check the picture! Although not an ST, somebody asked if anybody has ever had valve damage, so the answer is yes.
Attachments
only 6,000 miles, so no check yet........no adjustment....
OK - If I had a Suzuki GS 450 twin with 75K (80's era 30 YEAR OLD design) on it I'd think about checking them
!Actually I'd be pretty religious about checking any OLD bike or CAR. Some modern cars aren't even checked until 100K.
I have a 2000 CR-V that I had the valve cover off last Saturday to replace the timing belt. At 190,000 miles the camshafts looked like new. I swear - no visible wear, no scuffing, no discoloration. They don't call it the Honda Motor Company for nothing. However, it doesn't have shim-under-bucket valve actuation and it doesn't rev to 8 or 9,000 rpm either. Car engines generally lead a less busy and frantic life compared to motorcycle engines. Still, the CR-V has no suggested valve check schedule at all. The manual says check the valves only if "noisy". Many cars have hydraulic valve lifters and have no adjustment at all. The Honda 750 Shadows have hydraulic lifters. I had one and never had to adjust the valves.OK - If I had a Suzuki GS 450 twin with 75K (80's era 30 YEAR OLD design) on it I'd think about checking them
Actually I'd be pretty religious about checking any OLD bike or CAR. Some modern cars aren't even checked until 100K.
But it was slow as a stone and about as reliable. I know that many modern bikes and cars thrive on the neglect and abuse of their owners but I wouldn't want to buy those machines when they get rid of them.
The woman I bought the CR-V from had a cardboard box full of receipts for regular service from day one. If she didn't would it still run so well, never burn oil, and be dependable to drive at nearly 200,000 miles? Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it.
What are valves?
A valve is a device that regulates the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways.
I know,,,that's why I replied the way I did ..:crackup....other people just say...."these bikes got valves?"..no worries.
110,000 miles, checked, never adjusted but maybe next time.
KZ
KZ
Boy I know mine needs it badly (91 ST1100) every time I start-off quickly I hear 'em.
I have 104000 miles on it. I believe they were done at some point by the previous owner, but not sure when. When I get employed again, I'll get the bike to the shop, right now, I'll be lucky if I can get some time from the experts here to help me through such an endeavor. :bow1:
Good Luck!
I have 104000 miles on it. I believe they were done at some point by the previous owner, but not sure when. When I get employed again, I'll get the bike to the shop, right now, I'll be lucky if I can get some time from the experts here to help me through such an endeavor. :bow1:
Good Luck!
2004 with 31k miles. Checked no issues.
2006 with 13k miles, will Check this weekend.
2006 with 13k miles, will Check this weekend.