Valve Clearances again!

[madness]

Having established that my valve clearances need adjusting, and due to time constraints, I'm looking for a reliable and trustworthy garage/person in the Midlands/South Yorkshire to do the work. I could take it to my local dealer, but can I rely on them to actually do the work?, or just say that they have.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

[AndyBrad]

yc is a fair treck but a good lad.

[beabert]

dont fancy having a go yourself mate?

[madness]

dont fancy having a go yourself mate?

Originally I was going to, but I'm struggling to find time to do anything much at the moment.

[jambo]

I'll be honest. Phone a garage up and say "I've checked my own clearances and X number need changing but I'm short on time to do them, what would you charge?". Only the most blatant of bent people are going to charge you for and not do something you've just proved you can, and are willing to check.

Though clearly recommendations go a long way towards making you happy you're paying for a good mechanic.

Jambo

[Sir Trev]

1 - go to the Tavelodge website and get a good deal on a couple of rooms in Sunbury-upon-Thames

2 - you and mates ride down to Sunbury-on-Thames and leave your bike with a certain orger called SpannerMan, who's workshop is conveniently fifty yards from the Travelodge.

3 - you and mates go out on the lash in Sunny Sunbury that evening

4 - try and make it back to the Travelodge later that night (or next morning)

5 - have a reviving cup of coffee and heaps of smutty innuendo-laden conversation with Spannerman and Bill when you eventually wake up/get thrown out of Travelodge

6 - pay the very reasonable bill for the work done on your bike, safe in the knowledge that Stewart knows his stuff

7 - ride home (once sober enough, obviously)

8 - write post on org saying thank you to Spannerman and the heroic folk who quite rightly recommend him


ps, I am not buttering Spannerman up here to get an even better price for the valve check on my bike I'll be putting his way soon. Oh no... Well maybe...

[Spanner Man]

1 - go to the Tavelodge website and get a good deal on a couple of rooms in Sunbury-upon-Thames

2 - you and mates ride down to Sunbury-on-Thames and leave your bike with a certain orger called SpannerMan, who's workshop is conveniently fifty yards from the Travelodge.

3 - you and mates go out on the lash in Sunny Sunbury that evening

4 - try and make it back to the Travelodge later that night (or next morning)

5 - have a reviving cup of coffee and heaps of smutty innuendo-laden conversation with Spannerman and Bill when you eventually wake up/get thrown out of Travelodge

6 - pay the very reasonable bill for the work done on your bike, safe in the knowledge that Stewart knows his stuff

7 - ride home (once sober enough, obviously)

8 - write post on org saying thank you to Spannerman and the heroic folk who quite rightly recommend him


ps, I am not buttering Spannerman up here to get an even better price for the valve check on my bike I'll be putting his way soon. Oh no... Well maybe...


:D Nice try Sir Trev!...........But just like Loreal......WE'RE WORTH IT!!!:smt023

[Owenski]

do we hasve a walk through of how to do this?

[5hort5]

If I get time I may put one together for peer/expert review I have taken pictures of everything I have done including the clearances so it's just a case of putting something together. It'll be for a curvy though.

[yorkie_chris]

do we hasve a walk through of how to do this?

In haynes there is

[Alpinestarhero]

1 - go to the Tavelodge website and get a good deal on a couple of rooms in Sunbury-upon-Thames

2 - you and mates ride down to Sunbury-on-Thames and leave your bike with a certain orger called SpannerMan, who's workshop is conveniently fifty yards from the Travelodge.

3 - you and mates go out on the lash in Sunny Sunbury that evening

4 - try and make it back to the Travelodge later that night (or next morning)

5 - have a reviving cup of coffee and heaps of smutty innuendo-laden conversation with Spannerman and Bill when you eventually wake up/get thrown out of Travelodge

6 - pay the very reasonable bill for the work done on your bike, safe in the knowledge that Stewart knows his stuff

7 - ride home (once sober enough, obviously)

8 - write post on org saying thank you to Spannerman and the heroic folk who quite rightly recommend him


ps, I am not buttering Spannerman up here to get an even better price for the valve check on my bike I'll be putting his way soon. Oh no... Well maybe...

+1

Stewart and Bill make the pain of spending money on ones bike less painfull...because they are good decent people and they do an excellent job.

[thedonal]

+1

Stewart and Bill make the pain of spending money on ones bike less painfull...because they are good decent people and they do an excellent job.

+ another 1.

Highly recommended- a good job, done well, in an entertaining fashion. With coffee chucked in too.

Bl00dy smashing is what I'd say...

[Spanner Man]

Good evening all.


Why hasn't our fan club got any nice ladies in it?

Thanks for the plugs chaps, What's that going to cost us?:D


Cheers.

[cbay]

How much does Spannerman charge for a 15,000 service including valve clearances etc?

[Spanner Man]

Good morning all.


For a 15k service we usually like to get stuck right in! Besides the valve clearances, we balance the carbs/throttle bodies, clean calipers, change brake fluid, & indulge in lots of lubing, greasing, tweaking, bantering, coffee drinking, being rude, & adjusting things :D In short, It's a pretty thorough going over.
For this we charge 6 hours at £36+VAT to .org members. We also give you 10% off all parts used.


Cheers.

[Taipan]

Spannerman is there a mainline train station near you? I work in central London and it'd be handy to have a place I could drop the bike off and then go to work and collect the bike later on.

[beabert]

So £253.80 for full 15k service

kempton park rail station is right next to him on the map.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=TW16+5DA&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Sunbury-on-thames,+Middlesex+TW16+5DA,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=16

[cbay]

I'm guessing its £253.80 plus parts. How much are parts??

[Spanner Man]

Good morning all.


As Beabert says Kempton Park station is but a minute or two away.

Cbay, as to the cost of parts, it would depend on what you need. Spark plugs, oil & filter, (castrol + o/e filter), airfilter, coolant, brake fluid & sundries are around the £65 mark, with your .org discount.
Valve shims, should you require any, are £3 exchange each. Obviously things like pads & bulbs, etc would be extra, but there would be no extra fitting charges on such items.


Cheers.

[Drew Carey]

+1 for the Spannerman recommendation. I would however suggest, that should you be able to take a day off work, its well worth spending the day learning. I had a cracking time learning all the basic servicing tasks from Spannerman before he moved down south.

[cbay]

Is that possible Spannerman to watch??

I would be interested in seeing it all done, lol.

So how much approx would a 15K service be labour plus parts? £320ish?

[Spanner Man]

Is that possible Spannerman to watch??

I would be interested in seeing it all done, lol.

So how much approx would a 15K service be labour plus parts? £320ish?



You can indeed stay whilst we get stuck in. However, coffee making aside, you will be getting dirty too:D £320 should well cover all the service bits & other odds & ends.


Cheers.

[Drew Carey]

You can indeed stay whilst we get stuck in. However, coffee making aside, you will be getting dirty too:D £320 should well cover all the service bits & other odds & ends.


Cheers.

Trust me......you WILL get dirty!!!!! I seem to remember you misleading me into thinking you were a nice bloke until you kept playing pranks on me which resulted in oil down my arm, gags a plenty and more filth than you can shake a stick at!!!!! Was a brilliant laugh, educational and you can see it being done correctly.

I have been to a garage where twice my bike was palmed off to trainees, due to....and I quote..."Silly little SV's.....give it to the <Whomever> to learn a bit more on". This resulted once in the rear tyre being put on the wheel the wrong way round!!!!!

[Taipan]

So £253.80 for full 15k service

kempton park rail station is right next to him on the map.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=TW16+5DA&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Sunbury-on-thames,+Middlesex+TW16+5DA,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=16

Good morning all.


As Beabert says Kempton Park station is but a minute or two away.

Thats handy! Might see you soon to do the valve clearances on mine!

[Spanner Man]

Good to see you Drew, although I never mislead you, & a bit of oil never hurt anyone :D & I'm sure the jokes weren't that bad :smt023

Give me a call Taipan, as & when you're ready.


Cheers.

[cbay]

I think I'll take you up on that offer Spannerman soon. Maybe late Feb / Early March. Not sure what the exact miles on the clock are to mind.

I would be well up for getting a little dirty and learning a load of stuff. :-)