[dsn_klr650] bike running very very rich.

[transalp 1]

Have been studying my 09's owners' manual since I got the bike and there's an item that keeps getting my interest. In the maint. chart, the 600 mile service no longer lists Valve clearance inspection. In fact, by the manual, the 1st inspection isn't due until a whopping 15,000 miles! (24,000km). I am a firm believer that sometimes things do change for the better. But, I am seriously doubting the recommended interval jumped so greatly without some cause for concern. I'm tempted to check the valves around 1,000 miles and again at say...7,500 miles??... and see how things are progressing. If they go out of spec sooner than 15k, I would make the necessary adjustments, of course. Still.... Fifteen Thousand Miles. Geez. Thoughts? eddie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "transalp 1" wrote:

> > Have been studying my 09's owners' manual since I got the bike and there's an item that keeps getting my interest. > In the maint. chart, the 600 mile service no longer lists Valve clearance inspection. In fact, by the manual, the 1st inspection > isn't due until a whopping 15,000 miles! (24,000km). > > I am a firm believer that sometimes things do change for the better. > But, I am seriously doubting the recommended interval jumped so greatly without some cause for concern. > I'm tempted to check the valves around 1,000 miles and again at say...7,500 miles??... and see how things are progressing. > If they go out of spec sooner than 15k, I would make the necessary adjustments, of course. Still.... Fifteen Thousand Miles. > Geez. > Thoughts? >

We have been finding valves out of spec at 600-1000 miles for as long as I can remember. That has remained true with the '08 and '09 models, notwithstanding what Kawasaki recommends. Your plan is a good one.

[dooden]

Since checking lash is pretty simple I would check them at 1000 miles for a baseline reference, mark it down. Then again at the halfway (7,500 mile) mark. Unless the 09 has completely changed the head to something other than shim in a bucket type adjustments. Fred at Arrowhead sells ( or at least did ) individual shims for less than any dealer will sell them for, unless your local shop swaps them for free. Seems last time I got them I got 3 shims shipped for about what my local dealer wanted for just one shim. I did'nt mind waiting for it for few days. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "transalp 1" wrote: > > Have been studying my 09's owners' manual since I got the bike and there's an item that keeps getting my interest. > In the maint. chart, the 600 mile service no longer lists Valve clearance inspection. In fact, by the manual, the 1st inspection > isn't due until a whopping 15,000 miles! (24,000km). > > I am a firm believer that sometimes things do change for the better. > But, I am seriously doubting the recommended interval jumped so greatly without some cause for concern. > I'm tempted to check the valves around 1,000 miles and again at say...7,500 miles??... and see how things are progressing. > If they go out of spec sooner than 15k, I would make the necessary adjustments, of course. Still.... Fifteen Thousand Miles. > Geez. > Thoughts? > > eddie > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Bill Watson]

Eddie, I like your 1K / 7.5K check plan. The KLR valves seem to make the big changes at the start but then settle in. I did mine at 1K, 6K, then waited 10,000 miles to check them at 16K. The next check was last night at 44K, and they hadn't changed at all! Next check for me: 75K. Bill Watson www.xanga.com/watt_man [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rick McCauley]

My valves were inspected at 600 mi. All was well. Next inspection was at 7,000 mi. All was still well. Inspected again at about 15,000 mi. Still within tolerance, but the exhaust valves were just close enough for the next smaller shim size. I like valve gaps as close to max as possible, so they were changed. Intakes are still as they were from the factory. Now have 19,000 on it. I admit that have always babied my bike. Seldom over 5,000 rpm's, and the bike has never seen redline. Did blast it up to 7,000 one time though. Didn't see any sense in it after that. It isn't a fast bike, so why bother. Rick A17

--- On Tue, 6/9/09, Bill Watson wrote: From: Bill Watson Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: valve lash inspection intervals To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 5:03 PM Eddie, I like your 1K / 7.5K check plan. The KLR valves seem to make the big changes at the start but then settle in. I did mine at 1K, 6K, then waited 10,000 miles to check them at 16K. The next check was last night at 44K, and they hadn't changed at all! Next check for me: 75K. Bill Watson www.xanga.com/ watt_man [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[The Reverend]

I'd be curious to see your oil consumption. -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rick McCauley I admit that have always babied my bike. Seldom over 5,000 rpm's, and the bike has never seen redline. Did blast it up to 7,000 one time though. Didn't see any sense in it after that. It isn't a fast bike, so why bother.

[Rick McCauley]

I have never had to add oil between changes. I usually change the oil about 3,000 miles. Never less than 3,000 but sometimes a couple hundred over. I fill the bike so that no bubble is in the sight glass. At 3,000 miles or so you can just see a bubble at the top of the sight glass. Rick A17

--- On Wed, 6/10/09, The Reverend wrote: From: The Reverend Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Re: valve lash inspection intervals To: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 11:31 AM I'd be curious to see your oil consumption. -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com] On Behalf Of Rick McCauley I admit that have always babied my bike. Seldom over 5,000 rpm's, and the bike has never seen redline. Did blast it up to 7,000 one time though. Didn't see any sense in it after that. It isn't a fast bike, so why bother. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCauley wrote:

> > My valves were inspected at 600 mi. All was well. > Next inspection was at 7,000 mi. All was still well. > Inspected again at about 15,000 mi. Still within tolerance, > but the exhaust valves were just close enough for the next smaller shim size. > I like valve gaps as close to max as possible, so they were changed. > Intakes are still as they were from the factory. Now have 19,000 on it. > I admit that have always babied my bike. Seldom over 5,000 rpm's, and the > bike has never seen redline. Did blast it up to 7,000 one time though. Didn't > see any sense in it after that. It isn't a fast bike, so why bother. >

Some would say the fact it isn't fast is all the more reason to rev the snot out of it.

[Tumu Rock]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote:

> Seldom over 5,000 rpm's, and the > > bike has never seen redline. Did blast it up to 7,000 one time though. Didn't see any sense in it after that. It isn't a fast bike, so why bother. > > > > Some would say the fact it isn't fast is all the more reason to rev the snot out of it. >

I definitely resemble that remark... da Vermonster

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote:

> Some would say the fact it isn't fast is all the more reason to rev the snot out of it. >

rev? 'rev' the snot out it? You talking about me? Some think my angels go on holiday when I hit the start button. shrug. can't really tell...to much dust and vibration in the mirrors. revmaaatin.