VFR 800

[GuiNNeSS]

Hi fellow viffers,

 

just got back my '02 VTec from Looi's for valve clearance servicing.

i gave them the original NGK spark plugs to replace that i got from Hamsterz and Meng Tong also clean the air filter and only charge me $90. is it X or normal or consider cheap?

 

just to ask u guys something:

i tot this servicing is about putting a meter measuring the 4 piston rpm timing thingy with some air tube?

he told me out of 4, 3 went out of specs and he showed me small-short-flat-pill-like-cyclinder thingy with some numbers on it 378 or 178 cant remember...

whats that? the valve clearance measurement thingy?

 

Thanks in advance

[AR2 Performance]

Cheap or not.. not really know as I never really visited bike shops for servicing.

 

"putting a meter measuring the 4 piston rpm timing thingy with some air tube?"

 

Throttle body balancing (for Fi bikes) or carb balancing (for carb bikes). They are actually four tubes plugged in and checked via the pressure difference. They should ideally be all equal upon throttling and idling.

 

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"the valve clearance measurement thingy?"

 

Valve clearance is the distance or gap between the cam and the top of the valve. Upon pro-longed riding, wear and tear increases these gaps. Too much gap causes valve noise (the famous ticking sound) and also obvious felt decrease in power. Other less apparent but deadly detriments include carburetor flashback, carburetor fire valve overheating or burning.

 

Insufficient clearance results in decreased power, valve overheating or burning, and carburetor flashback which may cause a carburetor fire.

 

 

What is commonly (not elaborated) done is that the top block is removed, along with necessary components which vary with bikes. The clearance is checked (against specs) via a feeler gauge, followed by adjustments, or purchasing of correct shims to get back the correct clearance.

 

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So what you did is actually just throttle balancing. Somehow it sounds ex to me. But then again, apart from the labour you pay, majority of it goes to the skill in tuning.

 

 

Hi fellow viffers,

 

just got back my '02 VTec from Looi's for valve clearance servicing.

i gave them the original NGK spark plugs to replace that i got from Hamsterz and Meng Tong also clean the air filter and only charge me $90. is it X or normal or consider cheap?

 

just to ask u guys something:

i tot this servicing is about putting a meter measuring the 4 piston rpm timing thingy with some air tube?

he told me out of 4, 3 went out of specs and he showed me small-short-flat-pill-like-cyclinder thingy with some numbers on it 378 or 178 cant remember...

whats that? the valve clearance measurement thingy?

 

Thanks in advance

[Maverick77]

Hi fellow viffers,

 

just got back my '02 VTec from Looi's for valve clearance servicing.

i gave them the original NGK spark plugs to replace that i got from Hamsterz and Meng Tong also clean the air filter and only charge me $90. is it X or normal or consider cheap?

 

just to ask u guys something:

i tot this servicing is about putting a meter measuring the 4 piston rpm timing thingy with some air tube?

he told me out of 4, 3 went out of specs and he showed me small-short-flat-pill-like-cyclinder thingy with some numbers on it 378 or 178 cant remember...

whats that? the valve clearance measurement thingy?

 

Thanks in advance

 

I'm jus curious. What is your mileage when u send your bike in for valve clearance? How long did u leave it there and did he remove yr top blk?

 

To Hamz: Is it a must to remove top blk for chking and servicing of valve clearance?

 

I'm trying to learn something too...

[snowparang]

I'm jus curious. What is your mileage when u send your bike in for valve clearance? How long did u leave it there and did he remove yr top blk?

 

To Hamz: Is it a must to remove top blk for chking and servicing of valve clearance?

 

I'm trying to learn something too...

Yes you need to remove the head casing to access the valves.

 

I just check the service manual, it seems there are lots of stuff to check for clearance not only shims. At least for my 2000 VFR.

 

Does Looi's uses the service manual or they use 'experience'? What about Stamford?

[GuiNNeSS]

I'm jus curious. What is your mileage when u send your bike in for valve clearance? How long did u leave it there and did he remove yr top blk?

I'm trying to learn something too...

 

80k+

i left it there for 3 to 4 days

 

i presume its something like AR2 mention carb balancing ba but y show me those 'shim'?

assuming got open up engine can b $90 so cheap meh?

 

thats y i asking any viffer did a valve clearance servicing there?

 

Does Looi's uses the service manual or they use 'experience'? What about Stamford?

 

surprisingly Meng Tong has it when i offer to pass him1

[Maverick77]

I see... I asked for a valve clearance chk at a bike shop in Ubi at 80K+ KM too... Mech recommend a change of air filter, change timing chain, tensioners, do shim adjustment(dunno got replace or not), resyn of throttle bodies, plus replace new gaskets...

 

The whole process also 3 days... Was charged $700...

 

I thought it was quite ex but bike condition has shown great improvements... Wonder if he used the manual though.

[snowparang]

surprisingly Meng Tong has it when i offer to pass him1

Oh that's great!

 

Btw, can I just request for Meng Tong, or do I need to be friends with him or familiar customers? Heard a lot of good things about him, but also heard he is selective....

[GuiNNeSS]

Oh that's great!

 

Btw, can I just request for Meng Tong, or do I need to be friends with him or familiar customers? Heard a lot of good things about him, but also heard he is selective....

 

so far i bought my bike from Mah, my frenz bought at Dexing no problem servicing at Looi's

[Friday13]

Any bros here up their rear sprocs teeth? How's the feel? Have been thinking about this recently...

[sfowner]

Is it reasonable for a bike battery to fail after 1 year? I got a replacement from a neighbourhood bike shop for $85, reinstalled it, got it started, but after coming home the bike can't start again...headache. Hopefully it's just a battery problem.

[blur sotong]

Is it reasonable for a bike battery to fail after 1 year? I got a replacement from a neighbourhood bike shop for $85, reinstalled it, got it started, but after coming home the bike can't start again...headache. Hopefully it's just a battery problem.

 

on general battery will last about 1-2yrs depending on usage..

[snowparang]

Is it reasonable for a bike battery to fail after 1 year? I got a replacement from a neighbourhood bike shop for $85, reinstalled it, got it started, but after coming home the bike can't start again...headache. Hopefully it's just a battery problem.

Check that your bike is charging. Use voltmeter/multimeter to measure the voltage at the battery at 5000 rpm.

 

Since it's a new battery, complain to the bike shop for a new one. A bad battery may cause the R/R and coil to fail too...

[Friday13]

Is it reasonable for a bike battery to fail after 1 year? I got a replacement from a neighbourhood bike shop for $85, reinstalled it, got it started, but after coming home the bike can't start again...headache. Hopefully it's just a battery problem.

Bro, looks to me like a rectifier problem. My humble 2 cents...

[sfowner]

SH*T... thanks for everyone's comments. I took the battery back and the shop charged it up again, but this time after reinstalling the battery... only hear a faint buzzing sound at the dashboard, and no ignition lights, no thing... headlights very feebly turned on. The battery can cause problems for other parts like rectifier and coil? Looks like I'm screwed. Towing to shop tomorrow le...

 

Learned my lesson... always send your baby back to someone you know who will take care of her.

[AR2 Performance]

A new batt might not be "optimal" as it might be left a for long time on the shelf. A good practise is to charge it fully via a proper trickle charger.

 

A "dead batt" (Not able to hold voltage, or not able to supply 1Xcrank current) will cause rectifier/alternator to fry.

 

Why? If batt not able to store voltage well/properly (apart from the usual bike symptoms), the DC converted by the rectifier goes does not get stored... there u go.. you start to fry the rectifier.

 

Now if your rectifier takes in AC from the alternator. So now the batt causes ur rectifier to fry, and the same story as of above comes in. You start to burn some coils in your alternator!

 

vicious cycle......

 

 

 

SH*T... thanks for everyone's comments. I took the battery back and the shop charged it up again, but this time after reinstalling the battery... only hear a faint buzzing sound at the dashboard, and no ignition lights, no thing... headlights very feebly turned on. The battery can cause problems for other parts like rectifier and coil? Looks like I'm screwed. Towing to shop tomorrow le...

 

Learned my lesson... always send your baby back to someone you know who will take care of her.

[snowparang]

SH*T... thanks for everyone's comments. I took the battery back and the shop charged it up again, but this time after reinstalling the battery... only hear a faint buzzing sound at the dashboard, and no ignition lights, no thing... headlights very feebly turned on. The battery can cause problems for other parts like rectifier and coil? Looks like I'm screwed. Towing to shop tomorrow le...

 

Learned my lesson... always send your baby back to someone you know who will take care of her.

Check the fuse. Switch off the headlights. Are there any FI light flashing?

[sfowner]

Thanks for the additional comments, hams and snowparang.

 

When I re-installed the $85 battery the second time, just some hissing sound from the dash and feeble headlights. Straight away call for help. Up lorry to workshop today... diagnosis... $85 battery not up to the job.

Replaced with bigger $100 tok-kong made in Japan one, and bike fired up straight away. Start -stop- start a few more times over the past few hours... everything A-OK... keeping fingers crossed.

 

Luckily, uncle at first shop kind enough to refund me the $85 when I returned the first battery. So glad to have my baby back...

[none]

Is yours a Vtec?

 

Better check your LHS signal relay and the blue connector from the main wire harness to the meter. Some users in US report hissing sound at the dashboard and found these items melted!

 

The blue connector contains HISS connections too, if they are melted, your bike will be stranded.

 

Thanks for the additional comments, hams and snowparang.

 

When I re-installed the $85 battery the second time, just some hissing sound from the dash and feeble headlights. Straight away call for help. Up lorry to workshop today... diagnosis... $85 battery not up to the job.

Replaced with bigger $100 tok-kong made in Japan one, and bike fired up straight away. Start -stop- start a few more times over the past few hours... everything A-OK... keeping fingers crossed.

 

Luckily, uncle at first shop kind enough to refund me the $85 when I returned the first battery. So glad to have my baby back...

[sfowner]

Is yours a Vtec?

 

Better check your LHS signal relay and the blue connector from the main wire harness to the meter. Some users in US report hissing sound at the dashboard and found these items melted!

 

The blue connector contains HISS connections too, if they are melted, your bike will be stranded.

 

Oh dear... thanks for the tip. will check.

 

Anyway, another problem... cracked my mirror.

Anyone knows where to get replacement VFR mirror set please?

[blur sotong]

Oh dear... thanks for the tip. will check.

 

Anyway, another problem... cracked my mirror.

Anyone knows where to get replacement VFR mirror set please?

 

u may want to try FJT along Rowell Rd.. they deal in honda parts..

[sfowner]

u may want to try FJT along Rowell Rd.. they deal in honda parts..

 

Thanks... was struggling along in the morning without a mirror... feel very vulnerable indeed on the road. Called up Boon Siew... yes they carry. On the way there but thought I'd swing by LAB first to try my luck. Bingo... bought it for 2/3 the price. Feel much safer now.

 

On the way back to office saw this SP with a young couple on board, and the girl in spaghetti straps and shorts... the bike had its mirrors folded back. Is it me being kiasi or others being foolhardy? I dunno.

[none]

I saw a P-plate young girl riding a KRR with both mirrors removed!

 

Thanks... was struggling along in the morning without a mirror... feel very vulnerable indeed on the road. Called up Boon Siew... yes they carry. On the way there but thought I'd swing by LAB first to try my luck. Bingo... bought it for 2/3 the price. Feel much safer now.

 

On the way back to office saw this SP with a young couple on board, and the girl in spaghetti straps and shorts... the bike had its mirrors folded back. Is it me being kiasi or others being foolhardy? I dunno.

[SiaoSter]

they are asking for it....they wont know what is coming from behind...if a vehicle comnig form behind super fast.....good luck to them....

or maybe they have 9 lives...hrm....

[snowparang]

On the way there but thought I'd swing by LAB first to try my luck. Bingo... bought it for 2/3 the price.

 

..the girl in spaghetti straps and shorts...

How much for the mirror?

 

..the girl in spaghetti straps and shorts...

Tsk tsk....we shouldn't be distracted while riding!! Very dangerous!

[Friday13]

No mirrors? Let's hope that they dun join those lying down covered with white cloth/ trash bags on the roads.