charging dilema fixed

[Jim]

I bought my A-15 with 2K miles and did the first valve check at 6.5K and found all but one valve clearance to be out of spec. tight. I changed out all four shims. Well now a year later and I know I know, over 10K miles since last removing the valve cover I finally got around to it today, it's raining. Well I open her up and slip in the feeler gauge, no change. Not bad I guess there is something to that Mobile 1 synthetic oil ;^) Oh well I felt better knowing my inattention caused no harm and then proceeded to torque the cam caps with my new in/# wrench, my guesses were a bit soft it seems. I then rechecked the clearances and buttoned her back up. Did the t-mod as well and if it keeps raining I may have an opportunity to see how well that works. --Jim

[weave7112003]

Checked my valves at 6500 miles (not adjusted at 500) all within spec.

[wefixit4u]

Hello all, I have an A15 approaching 8000 miles. I purchased with 3000 miles. First owner supposedly had the 500 mile service performed. I have not yet checked the valve clearances. The bike runs fine and sounds great, no backfire or strange noises. Am I flirting with trouble by not yet checking valves? I am going on a 1000-1200 mile trip in 2 weeks. Do those of you (that are more mechanically inclined), find it absolutely necessary to check valves prior to this trip or can this wait until winter (probably have 11-12000 miles by winter)? Thanks much, Chris-Central OH

[Rich McNamara]

Chris, I did my own valve check at 1,000 miles and found all four valves were at the tight end of the tolerances with no room to tighten up. I set the clearances at the upper (loosest) end and rode the bike to Alaska and back, about 11,300 miles. They stopped slapping in Calgary on the return leg of the trip and I'm sure that when I open it up next week at 13,000 it will need new shims. Although there are no signs of tight valves yet such as hard starting, etc. The moral of the story is that I would do the valve check, set them loose and you won't have to think about them again for a good long time. Rich -----Original Message----- From: wefixit4u [mailto:wefixit4u@...] Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 7:21 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Valve check Hello all, I have an A15 approaching 8000 miles. I purchased with 3000 miles. First owner supposedly had the 500 mile service performed. I have not yet checked the valve clearances. The bike runs fine and sounds great, no backfire or strange noises. Am I flirting with trouble by not yet checking valves? I am going on a 1000-1200 mile trip in 2 weeks. Do those of you (that are more mechanically inclined), find it absolutely necessary to check valves prior to this trip or can this wait until winter (probably have 11-12000 miles by winter)? Thanks much, Chris-Central OH List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . Yahoo! Groups Links

[Guy B. Young II]

C-H-E-C-K T-H-E V-A-L-V-E-S They come set all over the place from the factory, and different engines and riding styles can affect their clearances. Do it! Guy At 12:20 AM 8/5/04 -0000, wefixit4u wrote:

>Hello all, > >I have an A15 approaching 8000 miles. I purchased with 3000 miles. >First owner supposedly had the 500 mile service performed. I have >not yet checked the valve clearances. The bike runs fine and sounds >great, no backfire or strange noises. Am I flirting with trouble by >not yet checking valves? I am going on a 1000-1200 mile trip in 2 >weeks. Do those of you (that are more mechanically inclined), find >it absolutely necessary to check valves prior to this trip or can >this wait until winter (probably have 11-12000 miles by winter)? >Thanks much, > >Chris-Central OH

[hominyridge]

What should I do about my dealer who refuses to check the valves on the 500 mile checkup? He said if they aren't set right, it will show up in other ways. He said it was better not to check than to get some trash in the engine. Billy

[Conall]

Well, at least he's not charging you for the job and then not doing the work, or attempting to do something that he is not competent to do. But it's not really that hard, have a look at http://klr6500.tripod.com/valves.htm and contact the list for help with any questions. Ask away someone will answer. Depending on where you live you may be able to hook up with a tech session to get you going. Hope this helps, Conall

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "hominyridge" wrote: > > What should I do about my dealer who refuses to check the valves on > the 500 mile checkup? He said if they aren't set right, it will show > up in other ways. He said it was better not to check than to get > some trash in the engine. > > Billy

[Rodney Copeland]

What Conall said. Alot of dealers do that, we're sure. IMO, 500 miles ain't squat anyway, and you should wait till 1500 miles. I've not heard of a case where they were too tight at 1500. I think thats why the dealers don't do it at 500 miles, it's a waste of time and labor at that point. Rod

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Conall" wrote: > > Well, at least he's not charging you for the job and then not doing > the work, or attempting to do something that he is not competent to > do. > But it's not really that hard, have a look at > > http://klr6500.tripod.com/valves.htm > > and contact the list for help with any questions. Ask away someone > will answer. > Depending on where you live you may be able to hook up with a tech > session to get you going. > > Hope this helps, > > Conall > > > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "hominyridge" wrote: > > > > What should I do about my dealer who refuses to check the valves on > > the 500 mile checkup? He said if they aren't set right, it will > show > > up in other ways. He said it was better not to check than to get > > some trash in the engine. > > > > Billy

[Billy Cupit]

thanks for the offer of help. I probably will need it. I had planned on doing the later valve checks myself but kinda wanted the dealer to check them this time and write down the numbers he found. I guess there is not much sense in getting this guy to do anything at all for the initial service. Living in Mississippi, there probably aren't many tech sessions close. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

[Randy Shultz]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Rodney Copeland" wrote:

> > What Conall said. > Alot of dealers do that, we're sure. > IMO, 500 miles ain't squat anyway, and you should wait till 1500 > miles. > I've not heard of a case where they were too tight at 1500.

Well, you have now. I had two valves that were tighter than spec at 500 miles. I do agree with you and Conall, though, that at least the dealer isn;t charging you for a valve check and not doing it. I do wonder what it says about a dealer who feels like he can't oen a valve cover without introdcuing dirt into the engine. Though, I guess technically, anything but a clean-room type environment would introduce a small bit of dust and such. Perosnally, I'd rather have my valves set properly. I do find it interesting that a dealer would make a recommendation contrary to the manufacturer's recommendations. I hope he'd stand by you if there were ever an engine-related warranty issue. I might be tempted to ask him to put it in writing that he refused to do the recommended valve check for you at 500 miles. I suspect, though, that he's just trying to do you a favor, and genuinely doesn't think it is necessary. Like I said, I had two tighter than spec at 500. I have read of at least one other on this list who has as well. I imagine there is a lot of seating and what not going on in the first miles of a new engine. Lots of initial heat cycles. Clearances can change surprisingly early. Randy