Valve clearances time?

[DomP]

If they rarely need doing then I think I will just check them myself. Are new gaskets required on the valve covers,

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[Craig380]

I don't think new gaskets are needed - I bought my SV from a Suzi dealer with 7,500 miles in 8 years, and they did a full service including a valve clearance check. There were traces of black RTV around the valve covers, so I think they re-used the gaskets.

[Dave-the-rave]

No need for new gaskets if you're carefull taking them off.

[DomP]

Thanks for your replies guys, think I will enjoy for now and delve into it later in the year unless I get a lean period of work

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[R1ffR4ff]

Originally Posted by garynortheast

Erm, confession time. 76000 miles and never even checked them. I do all my own maintenance but for this I would take the bike to someone with the setup and shims in stock to do the job.

There's a guy on the US forum @ almost the exact same mileage as you.I asked him just out of interest what he had had to replace/do on the bike over the years(not consumables).He has had to recently replace his fuel pump,that's it!

He too hasn't checked his valves so I reckon he should<grin>

I'm with you as well.I think I would rather pay some one even though I've rebuilt engines.I'm lucky as I have a good MOT Mech who also works on bikes and knows the SVs and has done all these jobs on them

[SV650rules]

Had the same discussion on Honda Jazz and Civic forums about valves and checking, Honda recommended Jazz valve clearances checked every 25,000 miles on 2002 - 2008 model - did 120,000 before selling on, never had valves checked, did nearly 200,000 in a Civic - never had them checked. Trouble is that people who did take theirs for 'checking' at over £350 a pop reported that paint and dirt on screws and bolts that would need to be removed (quite a few as it involved taking a lot of stuff off just to get to rocker cover) was undisturbed when they got the car back - something funny going on I reckon. I have done extended mileages with cars and valves never checked or adjusted, maybe different with bikes but with modern valve materials, hardened valve seats and much better oils makes you wonder if driving normally (not revving the pants off at every occasion ) exactly when they would need adjusting.

[R1ffR4ff]

As above.Thing is we are more precious about our Motorcycles and of course two cylinders have to work harder than four or six at the same CCs.I too see no need to abuse these engines.

Jeez the acceleration just going up smooth through the gears takes me from 40 mph to Motorway intro/overtaking speeds and above in no time and I barely need to break 6,000/7,000 Rpm in any gear.Then just sit there @ 70 Mph around 5,000 Rpm in sixth.Joy

[Dave-the-rave]

If ya don't check them ya don't know if they need adjusted.
If ya do it yourself ya know it's been done.

[shiftin_gear98]

Mines an SK6, I bought her about 5 years ago. She had 5000 miles on the clock. I put off getting the valves checked at 16k and did it at 22k. That was two years ago. She now has 41k on the clock. I might have to think about getting this done again soon. Or then I might not....

[Chris_SVS]

This is all fascinating because, the K6 that has yet to be delivered to me is sitting on 32000mi and I have no idea if anything along this line has ever been done. The bike seems to have been cared for by at least some of it's previous owners so hopefully it'll be alright.

It would be my luck that the engine defecates itself if I don't do it and not be one of these higher mileage examples that have never had a feeler gauge near them