Valve clearance adjustment

[hmendo]

Does the FZ6R needs valve clearance adjustment? If yes, how offen and difficult is to adjust?

My Shadow Aero needs adjustment (inspection) every 8k. What a pain!

 

[JSP]

Yes they do need adjusted, but not until you reach 26,600 miles. Looking at the process, its a little bit in depth, but if you are used to doing them before it shouldnt be too bad... looks like its a tight space to get into though.

My old Honda Rebel needed to be adjusted every 4k. It was easy though, just 4 valves...

 

[Rowdy]

Anyone got to 26600 miles yet? Wondering what the bill is on that.

 

[Marthy]

You never had to install the block off plate... I can tell. Well to answer your question look at the label on the LH side of your swingarm... amasing the kind of info you need on the go.

For doing the job... well just to give you a picture. 1- you need to mesure your clearance before you do anything with a warm engine is better. 2- You need to remove the cams and lifter mesure the shims in place between the lifter and the valve, then go get what you need. Put everything back together, AT THE RIGHT PLACE! Mesure again, go thru the whole process if you screw up... Then when your happy with all the numbers, put all back together.

If you never did that before... it might be easier and quicker to drop off the bike and ask to do overtime at work! By the time you figure out how to squise the valve cover out of there, you will be kicking yourself in the butt saying WTF I was thinking!

 

[Heineken]

You never had to install the block off plate... I can tell. Well to answer your question look at the label on the LH side of your swingarm... amasing the kind of info you need on the go.

For doing the job... well just to give you a picture. 1- you need to mesure your clearance before you do anything with a warm engine is better. 2- You need to remove the cams and lifter mesure the shims in place between the lifter and the valve, then go get what you need. Put everything back together, AT THE RIGHT PLACE! Mesure again, go thru the whole process if you screw up... Then when your happy with all the numbers, put all back together.

If you never did that before... it might be easier and quicker to drop off the bike and ask to do overtime at work! By the time you figure out how to squise the valve cover out of there, you will be kicking yourself in the butt saying WTF I was thinking!

:Im With Stupid:

 

[Marthy]

:Im With Stupid:

Thrust me... when it's time, I will drop the bike and go to work... :banghead: LOL

 

[JSP]

Everything I have done, and read and talked to said valves must be checked and adjusted on a stone cold engine.

 

[Marthy]

Everything I have done, and read and talked to said valves must be checked and adjusted on a stone cold engine.

Good, I haven't read about the 6R... It's just what I always did with cars. I'm sure the spec are accordingly to cold engine... Thanks for the tip! But still, I'm not getting there :surrender::surrender:

 

[See red]

I agree with Marthy! Lmao! It is not that it is HARD per say, It IS however such a pain in the arse it is just worth spending the money to have someone who does it deal with it.

I did this on 2 aprilias, those were only v twins! Much more access, and those were a pain.

 

[dart1963]

Yep, just called Friday, I have to swing by and pre-order a new gasket and some other non-replaceable parts to make sure they have it... then drop off the bike the night before so they can let it cool. They'll have it done the next day.

Cost: $225

I'm a little late too... hit somewhere around 27400 yesterday.

 

[Marthy]

Yep, just called Friday, I have to swing by and pre-order a new gasket and some other non-replaceable parts to make sure they have it... then drop off the bike the night before so they can let it cool. They'll have it done the next day.

Cost: $225

I'm a little late too... hit somewhere around 27400 yesterday.

Your lucky! It should have blown up at 26 600 miles! $225.00 is a fair price, totally worth it! Let us know the before and after... it would be nice to know how much the gap as changed. I need to check out my throttle body... 11 000. The bike sound and operate good. Nothing sound out of whack! I need to buy or build a gauge. I have a flow meter to adjust car carbs, but doesn't cut it with the 6R. Doesn't have enough flow to even move it.

 

[JSP]

Yep, just called Friday, I have to swing by and pre-order a new gasket and some other non-replaceable parts to make sure they have it... then drop off the bike the night before so they can let it cool. They'll have it done the next day.

Cost: $225

I'm a little late too... hit somewhere around 27400 yesterday.

Just make sure they ACTUALLY do the valve adjustment! When I first bought my first bike and it was time for the adjustment (before I stated doing them myself) I put clear nail polish on the valve cover in a hidden spot and some sharpie marks on some bolts they would have had to remove to get to the valve cover.

The nail polish was not broken what-so-ever and the hidden sharpie marks were perfectly in line with each other on all the bolts I marked. Still ticked super bad just like it did when I brought it in. Confronted them and made them do it again. This time the stuff was indeed broken and then the bike sounded smooth as day 1. Its an easy way for them to make money and not really do the work!

 

[dart1963]

yeah, I thought about that... from what I've read up on the "check", it's nothing catastrophic that can happen... just can run funny... if somethings out... I might still put some indicator on the bolts or soewhere just to make sure they've done something....

I personally trust this shop in Leesburg though... this was the same guy who gave me the advice on the spark plugs, saying 8k is overkill, but it's more to keep the plugs from seizing in the engine, more than the plugs going bad.

 

[JSP]

yeah, I thought about that... from what I've read up on the "check", it's nothing catastrophic that can happen... just can run funny... if somethings out... I might still put some indicator on the bolts or soewhere just to make sure they've done something....

I personally trust this shop in Leesburg though... this was the same guy who gave me the advice on the spark plugs, saying 8k is overkill, but it's more to keep the plugs from seizing in the engine, more than the plugs going bad.

Yeah... Biggest things with valves is they can get loose of course and cause loud ticking and loss of power. They can also cause themselves to tighten up and that can cause you to run hot and burn valves.

As long as they truly measure them and are in spec you will be good.

 

[dart1963]

All good. All valves were in spec (so was it a waste of money.... hmmm).
He said all looked really good, meaning the air filter/coolant were doing their job and allowing the engine to breath and maintain the proper temps (guess it's the temp extremes that can cause the clearance to change).

I think, instead of the next 26.6K mile check, I'll play it by ear and eye... he said keep an eye on the plugs (lean or rich is an indication there's an issue), maintain the air filter, change the coolant and oil and all should be fine for a "while".

 

[CtrlAltDl]

Just make sure they ACTUALLY do the valve adjustment! When I first bought my first bike and it was time for the adjustment (before I stated doing them myself) I put clear nail polish on the valve cover in a hidden spot and some sharpie marks on some bolts they would have had to remove to get to the valve cover.

The nail polish was not broken what-so-ever and the hidden sharpie marks were perfectly in line with each other on all the bolts I marked. Still ticked super bad just like it did when I brought it in. Confronted them and made them do it again. This time the stuff was indeed broken and then the bike sounded smooth as day 1. Its an easy way for them to make money and not really do the work!

This is exactly why I work on my own bikes and vehicles. The only way I know it gets done right is if I do it myself. Even if it takes a couple tries to get it done right.

I don't like to work on my vehicles and I don't like getting dirty, but at least it gets done and it gets done right. ;-)