Valve Clearances - when to do?

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Valve clearances were never recommended in the Phantom forums but on own research a close inspection of the Honda warranty service checklist recommends a valve clearance check every few thousand kms and adjustment every 10,000km, or something to that degree.

 

So because I left my bike at Planet one morning last week to let them fix a relatively minor problem and collect the bike after working hours, I called up Ah Chong to get him to just take apart the top end and do a valve clearance adjustment.

 

The bike was running fine before, with plenty of power for its size, but because the Honda warranty service did specify regular valve clearance checks and adjustment, I wanted to get that done just for the fun of it.

 

When I collected the bike I was amazed at how easily it cold-started and how quietly it ran. The idling was also super stable at a variety of engine temperatures.

 

Contrast with the pre- valve adjustment experiences which involved: -

 

- Manually increasing the idle to cold start

- Manually decreasing the idling as the engine warms up

- Loud tapping noises during idle when cold

 

The bike just feels much more efficient with correctly set valve clearances, possibly benefiting fuel economy. Heck, because valve clearances were possibly, never done for this old bike, it feels like new.

 

It starts on the first few cranks and idles happily at the same spot all day.

 

All of the little problems fixed by a $15 dollar valve job.

 

What's your recommendation with valve clearances? Any specific interval to share? Of course, two strokes don't have valves and never need to do clearance checks.

[Constructicon]

Valve clearances were never recommended in the Phantom forums but on own research a close inspection of the Honda warranty service checklist recommends a valve clearance check every few thousand kms and adjustment every 10,000km, or something to that degree.

 

So because I left my bike at Planet one morning last week to let them fix a relatively minor problem and collect the bike after working hours, I called up Ah Chong to get him to just take apart the top end and do a valve clearance adjustment.

 

The bike was running fine before, with plenty of power for its size, but because the Honda warranty service did specify regular valve clearance checks and adjustment, I wanted to get that done just for the fun of it.

 

When I collected the bike I was amazed at how easily it cold-started and how quietly it ran. The idling was also super stable at a variety of engine temperatures.

 

Contrast with the pre- valve adjustment experiences which involved: -

 

- Manually increasing the idle to cold start

- Manually decreasing the idling as the engine warms up

- Loud tapping noises during idle when cold

 

The bike just feels much more efficient with correctly set valve clearances, possibly benefiting fuel economy. Heck, because valve clearances were possibly, never done for this old bike, it feels like new.

 

It starts on the first few cranks and idles happily at the same spot all day.

 

All of the little problems fixed by a $15 dollar valve job.

 

What's your recommendation with valve clearances? Any specific interval to share? Of course, two strokes don't have valves and never need to do clearance checks.

 

My FZ1 recommended valve clearance check/ adjustment is at 40,000km.

But according to Ah Chong, there is no need to do at such a early stage, given that its a new bike, probably at 60 or 70K.

I am leaving it alone for now.

[mild_slevin]

my current experiences in valve clearance, better response (when u start throttling)... stability during idling... (machine idling did not tune before and after)

Yes, honda recommend valve clearance at the interval of 40,000km.

[CSV]

15 bucks, that's pretty cheap. i just might get mine done as well.

[crazydj]

How much do adjusting valve clearances normally cost?

[MrIce]

my vfr800fi 100k km done valve clearance, shims were still in spec and good clearance,

 

valve clearance doesnt mean that confirm got adjust if the clearance and spec is still good that mean nothing will be done

[MrIce]

my vfr800fi 100k km done valve clearance, shims were still in spec and good clearance,

 

valve clearance doesnt mean that confirm got adjust if the clearance and spec is still good that mean nothing will be done

[Metal_Heart]

How much to do valve clearance on a Super 4?

[Phang]

For engine using the old school rocker arm/screw adjuster, I would check the valve clearances every 10,000km. Shim and bucket types will have longer inspection interval.

 

As McIce said, just check the clearances at the specific interval. If all within spec, nothing need to be done, put everything back and continue to ride

[sghondarebel]

"- Loud tapping noises during idle when cold"

 

My CB400N has that tapping when both hot and cold and I know it's the valve clearances.

[Demon]

"- Loud tapping noises during idle when cold"

 

My CB400N has that tapping when both hot and cold and I know it's the valve clearances.

 

When you can hear it, it means the valves are loose however it is always better to be loose than tight (only for valves, and not any other things in life)

 

Like the saying goes "a tappy valve is a happy valve"

[Rider Saje]

How much to do valve clearance on a Super 4?

 

$350 Valve Clearance Package:

- Replacement of cam cover o-ring

- Balancing/ Replacement of shims

- Replacement of standard coolant

- Lubricate/ adjust drive chain

- Check spark plugs

- Check both front and rear brakes

- Check tire pressure

- Check electrical lightings

- Check clutch

- Workmanship

 

This was taken from Unique's thread.

[sghondarebel]

In my case, it's not so much as the valves being loose, is that I didnt adjust the clearances properly after assembling back the head. Anyway, long story short, I know I have to do it, just need a nudge. Pandora heard it last week...what a noise.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

In my case, it's not so much as the valves being loose, is that I didnt adjust the clearances properly after assembling back the head. Anyway, long story short, I know I have to do it, just need a nudge. Pandora heard it last week...what a noise.

 

Shall nudge you by summoning your awesome vintage to the next haunted outing. Lol.

 

Unique's package looks more of a yearly 'full' service package. They love to upsell a lot of things which are unnecessary if you, like me, are the sort to tinker around regularly in order to keep everything in good condition.

 

I would also recommend @Team HKL Racing for servicing package, they do have valve clearance quotes somewhere but I am not a regular there. I go there for tyres end of the year only.

 

Can also give planet motors a call, because if they don't have to replace parts they will only charge for labour which is really cheap compared to Unique's.

 

Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk

Edited April 29, 2011 by Pandora's Kitten :3

[sghondarebel]

Gosh....it's really not that awesome at all. More like a rush job.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

That is why I like it even more. :-) It sounded like a Duke from a distance and looked totally like a modern custom.

 

Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk

[MrIce]

i done my valve clearance at less than half price of the package and my bike is v4 engine somemore

 

for inline4 u should be able to do it at 3 times less than the package

 

haha you wont need to replace ur coolant FYI

 

anyway u will only hear noise if the shim is loose if it is tight nothing will be heard

 

beware that if the shim happen to drop into ur engine = overhaul therefore it is recommend to do valve clearance for certain mileage

80k km would be good but mine was done at 100k km and still perfect

[plasticprison]

i done my valve clearance at less than half price of the package and my bike is v4 engine somemore

 

for inline4 u should be able to do it at 3 times less than the package

 

haha you wont need to replace ur coolant FYI

 

anyway u will only hear noise if the shim is loose if it is tight nothing will be heard

 

beware that if the shim happen to drop into ur engine = overhaul therefore it is recommend to do valve clearance for certain mileage

80k km would be good but mine was done at 100k km and still perfect

 

care to recommend where did you do it?

[MrIce]

bikeworkz =)

[plasticprison]

thanks man

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

i done my valve clearance at less than half price of the package and my bike is v4 engine somemore

for inline4 u should be able to do it at 3 times less than the package

haha you wont need to replace ur coolant FYI

 

Yeah, such packages should not be called "valve clearance" at all. They're just selling coolant in the package just for the sake of earning money. It's misleading.

[crazydj]

Yeah' date=' such packages should not be called "valve clearance" at all. They're just selling coolant in the package just for the sake of earning money. It's misleading.[/quote']

 

Should i do a valve clearance for my bike?

[MrIce]

what bike are you riding ?

[crazydj]

yammie ybr125

[MrIce]

hmm i nv really heard that 2b need to do valve clearance hmm u can try 80k km or consult ur trusted mechanic, if the price is cheap even can do it to have peace mind