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Valve Clearances?

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Gazz
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Joined: 19 May 2009
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PostPosted: 20:52 - 09 Jul 2015    Post subject: Valve Clearances? Reply with quote
Just a quick question whats been bugging me for some time.

Why is it that valve clearances are such an issue on bikes? But don't seem to big a concern on a car for example?
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Rogerborg
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Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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PostPosted: 21:56 - 09 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some really modern cutting edge bikes have hydraulic tappets.

https://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/red-ny-times-c5.jpg
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Nobby the Bastard
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Joined: 16 Aug 2013
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PostPosted: 23:05 - 09 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wohoo! I managed to give the Borg some (justifiable) negative karma!
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Mart_er6
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Joined: 05 Jun 2007
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PostPosted: 23:07 - 09 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'll ask a related question then.. Last summer, at my last service (24k), as I had to save some money I opted not to have the valve clearances checked (It's a Sprint ST1050) as it's expensive on labour hours. At 12k they didn't need adjusting.

What am I risking by not doing it this year at about 27k? Engine armageddon or just a slightly noisier engine and worse fuel consumption?
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bikertomm
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Joined: 03 Jul 2010
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PostPosted: 23:19 - 09 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Not clued up enough to answer that ^

However, my CB600 is coming up to 34k and my local independent who I trust more than any stealership, said he's had a handful of jap bikes open and specifically some hornets with higher mileage than mine and the general consensus is that they never need doing. (*In relation to Honda)

I had actually gone to him to give him some money to check them, and he told me there's no need. Laughing Thumbs Up
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Hefty
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Joined: 25 Jun 2013
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PostPosted: 23:42 - 09 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm on 16.5k on my 1st-gen SV, guess im in the same boat & therefore asking the same question? Since im not entirely sure whats involved?
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talkToTheHat
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Joined: 21 Feb 2012
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PostPosted: 01:14 - 10 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
More of an issue with single cam rocker arm designs as there are more surfaces in the system to wear. Doing clearances in my 535 is easy. They were out the first time In had them checked, have been fine ever since. been another 4k since I last checked, so time to do again. Yes, owners manual says that often.
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Copycat73
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Joined: 11 Jan 2013
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PostPosted: 09:39 - 10 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mart_er6 wrote:

What am I risking by not doing it this year at about 27k? Engine armageddon or just a slightly noisier engine and worse fuel consumption?


difficult starting when hot .. loss of compression... lack of power on the road..
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Rogerborg
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Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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PostPosted: 10:28 - 10 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
bikertomm wrote:
However, my CB600 is coming up to 34k and my local independent who I trust more than any stealership, said he's had a handful of jap bikes open and specifically some hornets with higher mileage than mine and the general consensus is that they never need doing. (*In relation to Honda)

I had actually gone to him to give him some money to check them, and he told me there's no need. Laughing Thumbs Up

Workmate had the same with a 40K miles CBR600RR. The indie ex-Honda mechanic told him to save his money, but he'd have a listen and do a compression test while he was changing the plugs if he was bothered.

I skipped the 12K check on my Nazi Tractor because I have no confidence that the local Motorrad would actually check them, and multiple owner reports have them going 30K+ and still fine.

Conversely, Honda specified a 600 mile check on the new Thai made CB500 variants. Multiple owners who DIY'd it or watched the dealer doing it reported some or many (7 out of 8) of the shims needing done. After plenty of bad press about an expensive first service on a cheap bike, Honda have now decided that these engines don't need the 600 miles / 1000km check. Thinking


Nobby the Bastard wrote:
Wohoo! I managed to give the Borg some (justifiable) negative karma!

Crying or Very sad

The post 2008-ish fuel injected "UCE" Enfield engines do have self adjusting hydraulic tappets. This is a real actual thing, I'm not even trollin' yous.

Another way of viewing it is that the old system which could be checked and adjusted in a (literal) couple of minutes using barbecue tongs and half a house brick has been replaced with non-adjustable tappets that are mostly out of whack - Google concerns itself with documenting problems with them:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=royal+enfield+hydraulic+tappets
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LustyLew
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Joined: 19 Apr 2004
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PostPosted: 14:15 - 10 Jul 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
I had mine checked on the Versys at 25k. No problems. Even got pics of the guts of my bike! Very clean allegedly!

https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/10495376_10153369698954018_6334933330173336549_o.jpg
https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/10646957_10153369698794018_3150582609555862784_n.jpg?oh=a753bc6727f9617009543da0372d8cb4&oe=5659E975
https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10390420_10153369698684018_5309498695492071048_n.jpg?oh=df7cc05a8b253a5c8b7545fbdda0cd6b&oe=5628CCB3
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Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 11 years, 59 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
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