View Full Version : Valve clearances - how do you know?
SUPERSTARDJ01
08-05-09, 10:08 AM
How do you know when the tappetts need servicing apart from the service intervals?
jimmy__riddle
08-05-09, 10:20 AM
as long as they are done at correct service intervals i wouldnt have thought they would need doing. quite often they can be within tolerance when checked at service intervals. if theres any doubt though its worth checking, or if they are noisey.
ThEGr33k
08-05-09, 11:08 AM
Under "normal" conditions I dont think you will notice really as the bike will probably lose power over time so you'll think its normal.
Why do you ask?
They tap
Well... not noticeably unless they are ridiculously out tbh.
jimmy__riddle
08-05-09, 11:15 AM
on another note, if the clearance gets smaller, do they make much of a noise?
SUPERSTARDJ01
08-05-09, 01:31 PM
Well the reason I ask is because in the morning the bike sounds fine but when I get to work around 8 miles away it starts to sound like to pieces of metal clanging, well mybe not that bad but you get the idea, sounds a bit like a small tractor.
It had a service less than 1000 miles ago.
ThEGr33k
08-05-09, 01:38 PM
As long as it has oil then it should be fine. The SV does have big internals so does make some noise. Im sure itll be nothing. :)
jimmy__riddle
08-05-09, 01:39 PM
Were the clearances checked at the service?
SUPERSTARDJ01
08-05-09, 01:42 PM
Hi,
I don't think so I bought it from a garage with 14300 miles on it so close to the 15000 miles tappet service, I think they did a full service but not tappets.
ThEGr33k
08-05-09, 01:43 PM
Hi,
I don't think so I bought it from a garage with 14300 miles on it so close to the 15000 miles tappet service, I think they did a full service but not tappets.
Did they not at least check the clearance?
jimmy__riddle
08-05-09, 01:44 PM
i would have thought a ful service would include checking the clearances. although its easy to do.
SUPERSTARDJ01
08-05-09, 02:07 PM
No they weren't but I just spoke to the garage and they said it should be ok till 20k
They said it's very hard to get to and would cost £400+
jimmy__riddle
08-05-09, 02:09 PM
i got told over £400 as well, did it myself. not done it on an SV, but on my IL4, if you can use a socket set and a feeler gauge you can do it yourself.
ThEGr33k
08-05-09, 02:28 PM
No they weren't but I just spoke to the garage and they said it should be ok till 20k
They said it's very hard to get to and would cost £400+
That is complete crap!!! Mine cost £280 I think from a Suzi dealer, the one I bought it from. Id advise shopping about. And yes mine was checked at 20K as at 16K they screwed up. All was in spec apparently. ;)
Sid Squid
09-05-09, 10:36 AM
How do you know when the tappetts need servicing apart from the service intervals?
You don't.
Mostly they close up in normal circumstances - thus they will get quieter and you won't know unless you wave the feelers around.
yorkie_chris
09-05-09, 01:31 PM
They tap
:rolleyes:
on another note, if the clearance gets smaller, do they make much of a noise?
None. But there is a risk of more serious things, like roasting the valve heads.
No they weren't but I just spoke to the garage and they said it should be ok till 20k
They said it's very hard to get to and would cost £400+
Robbing ******s! It's an hour or 2 to check them, 4 hours or so if they need adjusting.
Hello, not trying to derail!
I've often heard about adjusting the tappets/valve clearences and as far as I can make out it isn't a case of adjusting rather replacing the wee disc thingy? err shim, anyway am I missing something?
I've been quoted £75 by a place in Bradford to check valves on my K6.
£400? Refer to Yorkie_Chris' post...
Sid Squid
09-05-09, 04:50 PM
Sookie:
No, you're not missing anything. It is adjusting the valve clearances but instead of having a screw to move back and forth to vary a gap, adjustment is made by changing shims, which are discs of varying thicknesses which make up part of the valve operating assembly, if the measured clearance were too small you'd fit a thinner shim to make the effective height of the assembly shorter and thus the clearance larger, and also the reverse: if the clearance is too large you'd fit a thicker shim to make the gap smaller.
It's more work than screw adjusted clearances - but it needs doing a whole lot less often as the entire business is much more resilient.
Sid Squid, Thank you! the mystery has been cleared up.
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