Valve Clearance Interval Question

[dabigginger]

I currently ride a 2000 Hornet and was wondering... the valve clearances were last done years and years ago at around 9k miles. They were checked and adjusted early due to running problems. The bike is currently on 24k miles. Now, I've noticed in the servicing manual that they need to be checked every 16k miles or every two years. It's unlikely I'll manage to get many miles on it this year. I'll probably be lucky if I reach 25k in time for the next service.

Anyway, I was wondering, do the valve clearances really need doing every two years regardless of mileage, or is that just a case of over servicing? I'd rather hang on to next year when I'll have covered 16k since the last one. However, if it's quite important that it gets checked, then I'd rather get it done than ruin my bike. What do you guys think?

[Walloper]

It would do no harm to check them.
I don't know how it is done on that bike.
You will probably need a gasket or two and feeler gauges.
Valve Clearance will reduce as the engine wears. The seat and valve face wear off allowing the valve to sit further into the head. This causes the stem to move further up the guide towards the tappet/follower.

I would check them as a mater of preventative maintenance/peace of mind.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[YZFR1IAN]

keep meaning to have a go at doing them on my hornet, this page might help...

https://www.honda599.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2710&highlight=cylinder+head
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05 Yamaha YBR125 > 94 Honda CB500 > 98 Honda Hornet 600 > 02 Yamaha R6 > 2000 Yamaha R1 > 2000 Yamaha XJR1300SP > 2000 Honda CBR929RR Fireblade
MY BIKES Past & Present

[Raffles]

I don't see any point in servicing for servicing's sake. Valve clearances are not perishable by time alone so if the manual states 16k intervals then I see no reason to deviate from it's suggestions.
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A good loser will always be a loser.

[DrDonnyBrago]

[dabigginger]

Cool, thanks for your advice, guys!

[That_Hornet]

Honda dealer near me doesn't do cb/cbr valve clearances until 30k unless it sounds like it needs doing. Their solid engines and don't usually need doing.

[YZFR1IAN]

[That_Hornet]

Tapping sound coming from the head, not to be confused with the sign of CCT wear.


Get a long screw driver and stick on the engine and put your ear to the other end. Listen.

[TUG]

You'll hear the valves if they're loose, but tight valves like mine are not audioable, mines not running correctly and i think it might be down to a concoction of things.
you wont be needing a gasket, check the cylinder's valves when its under compression (valves on the rock).
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[Noxious89123]

What are the worries with loose clearances? Obviously tight ones mean you can start losing compression / power.

My bike has always been rather tappety, only really started AFTER I'd had the clearances done. Quite possible that they were tight before, and they adjusted them to the loose end of their tollerance.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[TUG]

Some mechanics like the sound of a loose tappet, some adjust them to be the inbetween tolerance (gives best results apparantly) some do them tight, if yours are loose, then i would imagine its been done within spec to allow for wear, if your not happy with this you should of taken if back when i was done, i doubt they will change it now.
I have to do mine soon, i've never done them before but i will hit the middle number, its not just a 4 min job, you have to correct the timing if its a cam out engine. Sadly mine is, gutted.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[Noxious89123]

The noise doesn't bother me, because I know what is causing it

No power loss or any other problems, CCT is good, so I don't see the point in worrying about it.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[Kickstart]

[TUG]

Thanks keith, now i have to worry about a burn out valve... maybe more of them lol.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[bacon]

checking valves is pretty easy, changing them is a little more tricky.

I "checked" my valve clearances on my zx7r 4 weeks ago, the pain in the ass part is getting into a position to get the valve cover off. Once thats off its relativily straight forward.

If you need to change any you will need to remove the cam shafts, take note of each shim size and what shim you need to replace it with. You may be able to swap current ones around to avoid having to buy them all.

But yeh, every 16k should be fine, unless they were on the border of needing adjustment on the previous check, in which case id do the next check a bit sooner

[Walloper]

I don't see any point in putting a screwdriver to any bit of machinery to determine what is wrong with it.

Unless you know EXACTLY what you SHOULD be able to hear then you are wasting time.
That is like, 'Ocht don't bother going to A&E with those severe chest pains just get someone to put a screwdriver to your chest wall and they will be able to tell you if something is amiss.'

I suggest you merely 'CHECK' the tappet/valve clearances not necessarily 'ADJUST' which is an entirely different animal.

It is not a monumental task to check. Adjustment can be a pain if camshafts have to come out etc.
The exercise will benefit the inexperienced, be a learning curve for the enthusiast and as said no harm done. And it provides peace of mind too.

Some engines have a noisey background even in normal well maintained condition. This depends on the design.
Some are really smooth.

Tappet noise is a very specialist area and I would defy any mechanic to determine if tappets need adjusted just by ear alone.
(Unless they have knowledge specific to the particular application.)
That is why there is a very precise engineered value calculated for clearances.
We CHECK valve clearances not JUDGE them. I would sack a mechanic who told me, "Oh the tappets sounded OK."
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[bacon]

[Kickstart]

[TUG]

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Walloper]