Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

I just checked my valve clearances for the first time, the bike has close to 30k on it now, half of which has been done in the last 2 years. It's a 2002 SV650S.
The front cylinder is within spec but the rear is slightly out, intake is around 0.07-0.08 (should be 0.1-0.2) and the exhaust is 0.16-0.17 (should be 0.2-0.3)
It's not making any strange noises or doing anything weird, so my question is, should I bother taking it apart and replacing shims when it's not really very far out? I'm planning on selling the bike within a few months so my instinct says no, unless someone tells me it'll explode if I don't do them...
Thoughts/opinions?

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

At 20% to 30% out of spec I'd want them done. If you can do the work yourself then the cost is really only time, so I would do it.

If I was looking at buying a bike with that mileage I'd be asking if they'd been checked. If they've recently been properly adjusted then it might help your sale - particularly as that can be an expensive job if the buyer doesn't feel able to do the work themselves.

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

Personally I would fix that.

Tight valves run fine until the point where you burn valve seats...

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

You're selling it soon - depends on one's conscience I suppose. Which is not for a moment to suggest you are in any way dishonest - that we're having this discussion strongly suggests otherwise.

If you were to state it needed doing when selling it that would cover you on that front, but then a bike that's in good order is simply a more saleable item.

Considering the cost I would think it bad form not to and keep shut, and it might harm your sale - however incrementally - if one were as honest as one should be. So I'd put it right - it's a small thing.

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

You are all right, of course. Thanks.
If nothing more it means I get to practice doing the job on a bike I'm not keeping... :)

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

Why did I listen to you crazy people? There's bits everywhere!

http://i.imgur.com/c2egmH0.jpg

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

That's twice as many parts as I'd expected to see from your original post!

Jambo

Sent without a real keyboard

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

yeah, I'd read the front cylinder exhaust as 0.19 with a 20 year old set of feeler gauges, came out at 0.17 with a shiny new set so I'm doing it too. the rest were the same and the front inlet cam didn't really need to come out but I didn't think about that until after....
Off to the friendly dealership for 4 new shims now :)

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

Could someone re-post that picture with all the parts labelled (apart from the spark plugs) for mechanical numpties like me?!

Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it?
 

Just for you baby!

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...ketsCovers.jpg

OK, maybe I labelled one spark plug a bit - the other one's hiding.