Valve Clearances

[ash t]

Hi.

My NC29 needs the valve clearances doing. I have been getting prices from different places and some are cheaper than others.
My question is, can you do a poor job of doing valve clearances?

Im simply asking this because the most expensive place has a good reputation, and the cheapest place is a small quiet shop which does mainly tyres (Bikerz tyres in Stoke on Trent if anyone knows it)

Just some advice really on whether I would be ok going with the cheapest option.

Ash
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[Kickstart]

Hi

It is perfectly possible to screw up doing the valves, but Bikerz should be more than capable of doing the job.

From looking at a CBR400 I suspect it is quite a fiddly and time consuming job. Also note that I think they are shimmed so quite likely that any mechanic will need to do half the job then order the new shims (you might be lucky if the shims are the same as those used on a fairly common UK model).

All the best

Keith
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[ash t]

I will get it booked into Bikerz then. Its convenient for me and close to home
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[dotti]

Just out of curiosity, how long do you think it would take a mechanic to check the valve clearances, and make the necessary adjustments? I will get my bikes done soon (GN250 and GS500)and am trying to estimate the cost.
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[fazed]

Couple of hour's I would say, depends on the bike.
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gixxer thou K6 , Cbr400 gullarm x 2 , cb400 superhack.

[mchaggis]

If it is a locknut adjuster type, it might take up to half an hour to remove anything stopping you from getting to the valve train, then a minute or so per locknut and then up to half an hour putting everything back together again.

If the valves are adjustable by different thickness shims, expect to spend the time taking things to pieces, then 5-10 minutes per valve checking, plus the additional effort to take the camshafts out(?), then time spent replacing the shims with the right thicknesses, then time spent reassembling. Several hours work.

The GN250 and GS500 would hopefully be locknut adjusters rather than shims, so they would fairly straight forward to adjust and there would be little to need to remove to get the head cover off.
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[instigator]

If I were getting it done on a sportsbike, I'd take off the mid fairings. Saves time as it may take them half an hour to do and they'll charge you for it.

[deputy]

ash, how much did Bikerz quote, as I could do with mine looking at and haven't got a clue how much it costs and I only live about 10 miles from Stoke.

[the grim reaper]

Also bear in mind that, if you have a big-ish engined bike and you ride it to the dealers, the engine will be too hot to touch for a couple of hours.

The labour time for a good mechanic on an in-line 4 is about an hour and a half, double that for a v2 or v4.

Cheers

Grim
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[Kickstart]

[TOM M]

[deputy]

Cheers for that.

[Zimbo]

Generally expect to pay £80 - £100 from a reasonable independant bike shop, for a jap IL4.
They usually have to be checked cold, so you need to allow time for the engine to cool completely before checking them.

[iCraig]

[Ichy]