Valve clearances - how do you know?

How do you know when the tappetts need servicing apart from the service intervals?

They tap

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.

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?

Originally Posted by Holdup

They tap

Well... not noticeably unless they are ridiculously out tbh.

on another note, if the clearance gets smaller, do they make much of a noise?

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.

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.

Were the clearances checked at the service?

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.

Originally Posted by SUPERSTARDJ01

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?