--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Craig Kahler wrote:
>
>
>
> I have seen many posts of engine problems after a valve adjustment.
I have an 07 and have checked valve clearances twice, but did not
adjust, as they were at or above minimum specifications. Some say
adjust to the maximum spec if the valve is at or near min. IMO don't
do it. A valve at minimum spec is still within specs and should be OK
until the next scheduled valve check. If no valves are under spec,
put the valve cover back on and get out of there.
> Craig Kahler
>
Hi Craig,
You have a good point. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Is there ever an exception?
Perhaps.
What you have not told us in your clnc check is how many miles you
have on the bike. That little detail is important to the
conversation, as I will show in a few moments. My bike
was 'reported' to be checked on OEM interval when I bought it a 2505
smiles. By 3500 smiles the bike would hardly run; dying during rapid
decel, most common at stop signs. Yes, a single data point, but also
found repeated here in my readings of DSN for 5.5 years. I suspect
it was checked, "in spec" and buttoned up, if it was checked at all.
Shame on me for not checking it immediately after I bought it.
Now to the 'what I do' and 'what works for me' part of the post.
That is the beauty of it being 'your' bike. You can adjust, or not.
It is also good to note that your technique is working for you. That
is a good thing.
It also sounds like you are able to faithfully keep the OEM
maintenance schedule, (and I would love to buy a bike from someone
that is as conscientious as you) and probably have access to a very
nice place to work. But keep in mind, there are some on this list
that ride 5,10, 15K miles at a time and valve maintenance is slightly
impractical without the 'clean' space of a lighted and heated
garage. It actually surprises me that motel operators still rent
rooms to KLR riders. cough.
Last season, I rode 6,500 miles in a month/10K in 5 months on valves
adjusted to max--guess what? the valve clnc did not change at the end
of that 10K smile campaign. Presently setting at 31K.
Now,
to look at your equation;
at or above > min specs. =true.
and
min spec = min spec. also true.
and,
if the minimum were not the minimum, it would not be the minimum.
also true.
however, from a practical standpoint-
Why wouldn't you set it to max after you have gone to the trouble to
tear it all down? I suspect the bike shop gets full price for
checking, and no discounts for not adjusting. If I was having a bike
shop do it, it would be, "to the largest spec allowed." From a
purely financial standpoint, get the max for your money. We also
know that from 100's of post concerning valve adjustments, that
valves set to maximum, are almost always going to be in spec during
the next check--precluding the need to be checking the valves
precisely at 6,000 miles.
What is not in the formula (above) is the 'rate' of change and that
is where/why most people are advising to set to max spec. The valve
adjustments are most frequent at the beginning of the engine life;
and decrease with mileage--all things being equal and that the engine
has not been severely abused; ie run hot, low on oil, lean, low on
water, or on AV gas, etc. What most have found best, when the bike
is open, adjust to the max spec.
What others have noted in many years of posting that after 8-10K
total miles, they go 8-10k smiles without the need to check the valve
every 6K miles. Somebody posted here that they went over 40K smiles
without even looking (checked around 8K smiles, if I remember
correctly!) and it was still in spec. (40Ksmiles seems a little
extreme--not that I am advocating that, just the facts ma'am.)
Adjusting to max--That is what years and 100's of thousands of miles
suggest--not that OEM specs of valve maintenance should be ignored--
but based on community experience, after the valves settle in to
their steady state, the valve check interval is actually higher than
OEM published requirements. Knowing all that, it is still your
bike.... Looking at the OEM specs, I suggest that some of them were
written by a lawyer (smile; no offense to anyone reading this).
Checking every 6000 smiles should keep you from burning the valves.
should.
It is true what you suggest; many have problems after a valve
adjustment. Smile.
Why do you suppose that is?
revmaaatin.