Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it? - SV650.org

03-02-14, 02:21 PM

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?

TamSV · 03-02-14, 02:32 PM

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.

yorkie_chris · 03-02-14, 03:15 PM

Personally I would fix that.

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

Sid Squid · 03-02-14, 10:45 PM

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.

05-02-14, 09:09 AM

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...

05-02-14, 09:56 PM

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

jambo · 06-02-14, 10:35 AM

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

Jambo

Sent without a real keyboard

06-02-14, 03:51 PM

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

ChrisCurvyS · 06-02-14, 06:43 PM

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

Sid Squid · 06-02-14, 09:19 PM

Just for you baby!

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

03-02-14, 02:21 PM	#1
kieranc Guest Posts: n/a	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?

03-02-14, 02:32 PM	#2
TamSV Member Mega Poster Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Troon, Ayrshire Posts: 1,812	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.

03-02-14, 03:15 PM	#3
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	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... __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

03-02-14, 10:45 PM	#4
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	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. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

05-02-14, 09:09 AM	#5
kieranc Guest Posts: n/a	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...

05-02-14, 09:56 PM	#6
kieranc Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it? Why did I listen to you crazy people? There's bits everywhere! Last edited by kieranc; 05-02-14 at 09:58 PM.

06-02-14, 10:35 AM	#7
jambo Member Mega Poster Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Croydonia Posts: 5,376	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 __________________ Modern motorcycles are bloody brilliant, enjoy it while we can

06-02-14, 03:51 PM	#8
kieranc Guest Posts: n/a	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

06-02-14, 06:43 PM	#9
ChrisCurvyS Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cheshire Posts: 562	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?! __________________ Red Suzuki GN 125 - sold Black Yamaha XJR400 - sold Current - 2000 SV650S curvy, red. 1969 VW Beetle for the snow.

06-02-14, 09:19 PM	#10
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Re: Valve clearances slightly out - do I fix it? Just for you baby! OK, maybe I labelled one spark plug a bit - the other one's hiding. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

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