Valve check results

Here we go again - what you decide to do with your money is entirely your call.

As I said in post #3 above - if you are using your bike as a regular track day mule with the bike bouncing off the rev limiter then personally I would most definitely get the valves checked. Likewise if the bike is not running or sounding right. Inherently that sort of potential use (abuse) will have been among the reasons which Honda took into account when they specified checks as often as 16K.

However as you can see, this thread is really aimed at gathering and sharing reliable data from real owners (not rumours) so people can form their own view as to the potential value of these checks for their sort of riding experience. Especially as these checks are either painfully expensive or a RIPA for those willing to DIY.

Its perhaps worth putting this into perspective. On this forum we currently have over 27,000 registered members. A fairly conservative estimate would suggest around 5,000 of those registered members will actually own 6th gens. In addition there are going to be whole lot more "forum guests" potentially Googling in on this thread from time to time, who if their personal experience was dramatically different just might be inspired to register and share...

Even so, this thread has had well over 800 views and thus far no-one has reported that when they paid to have that initial 16k valve check done, they were found to be out of spec and actually needed adjustment. I await the first such report - I am sure there will be some! - Most probably from someone who really canes their bikes on a regular basis. But if your riding is rather more restrained - so more touring than sport - then you may well find you have simply invested a heap of money to have someone rip the bike apart and find there is nothing wrong with it.

Only you will know how hard your bike has been worked. Only you should make the call as to whether or not to do the specified check.




SkiMad

 

Had my 2006 checked for the first time at 20k and it was within spec.

Just sayin.

 

How much $$$...guess its like Rollin craps.......

 

My 2002 is hitting 75,00. it had 50,000 when I got it 2 years ago so this winter I am going to check them. I also have to do the tensioner as I have noticed it making noise occasionally when it's hot in traffic.

 

I've been away from VFRW for quite a while and just saw this thread and thought I'd add my 2 cents:
I'm the third owner of my 06 VFR. I bought the bike 4 years ago with only 10k kms on it. This past spring I hit 30k kms. I put off the valve check because of the many posts from those on various forums who reported that the valves on VFR's are almost never out of spec. The fact that it was going to cost me $800 was also a major deterrent.

Being anal about maintenance and not knowing the full maintenance history of the bike AND with a forthcoming trip to The Gap, I decided to bite the bullet and have the check done by my trusty mechanic (not a dealer). Turned out that I had 2 valves out of spec on the vtec side and 2 on the margin on the non-vtec side. Since we were in to it this deep it was a no-brainer to do all 4.
Where this gets interesting is this part of the story:
Since I needed the job to be done quickly, it was faster for me to pick up the buckets and shims from the dealer and deliver them to my mechanic.

When I was in the dealership getting my parts from the parts girl, I thought I'd ask what they charge to do the check. She told me it was "about $250". I told her that I thought she was mistaken; the check on the VFR is much more expensive than that. One of the more senior mechanics at the shop overheard the conversation and walked over to me and said quite forcefully and with good intention, that "checking the valves on my bike would be a complete waste of money. Valves on the VFR never go out of spec".

Of course he didn't know that I was their to pick up new buckets and shims...

Of course I'm glad I chose to have them checked. For me, the peace of mind makes it worthwhile. You'll never know unless you have them checked; you can not trust "hearing" something as an indication of their condition. If they are tight, you won't "hear" anything, and ultimately you could burn a valve.

To each his own.


---David

 

Quite right MD. I worked up the courage to tackle the valves on my 5th gen last night, no known service history and 84000km currently. Happy to find all the exhausts were in spec, as were 4 of the inlet valves, the others were just a little tight (0.002" less than the 0.006" spec). If this info is any use to other 5th gen owners, the inlet shims were all either 1.80 or 1.82mm, so if you are planning ahead and buying Hot Cam shims you might find you'll need quite a few in the 1.75 size range. I needed 4 of this size but the pack only comes with 3 (of course)...and my local Honda dealer had none available to buy. So I have buttoned it up again knowing I really should swap out an inlet shim again sometime soon, but I hate leaving my bike in pieces in the garage.

 

I think having your valves checked if you do the work yourself is a good idea. My 1995 VFR750 has 55000 kilometers on it now. The valves were not checked by the previous owner as he told me so. I bought the bike with 38000 k on it. I checked the valves myself and found that they were either at spec. or just out of spec. Surprisingly the valves slightly out of spec. were the exhaust valves, not the inlet valves.

I have adjusted valves on screw and nut bikes for years, so I am experienced in knowing how to use feeler gauges.

For the sake of piece of mind it makes sense to me to check the valves. If they are in spec. great. If not, put the valve covers back on, and take it to a dealer if you are not able or confident to do it yourself.

In regards to dealers checking and saying the valves are in spec. How do you know you can trust most of them. How do you prove to yourself that they were even checked unless you do it yourself. It's easy money for them to charge for the "check" and say that they were all in spec. Am I being paranoid? No. I've known a number of dealers very well, and worked for a couple. I've worked at the biggest dealer in the area where I live. Would I take my bike there for anything but a tire change? No. I've seen the work they do first hand. I would, and have gone to a dealer 100 k away that I trust.

 

You make a good point about trusting the dealer (or not). I needed one more shim yesterday so I visited the dealer and they didn't have a full range of them and needed to order some in. So...if they were doing the service yesterday would the valves have been "all in spec Sir"?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Hey Randy, with all the miles you have on your 6th. gen. can you weigh in on this topic?

My local Honda shop told me not to do the 16, 000 valve check. I now have 22,000 miles and will probably wait intil 32,000. I use Amsoil at every change and drive like a wuss!

 

Maggot..sorry off topic
Have hauled one those trucks of course with the front wheels off
Do you drive that machine in your avatar?

 

Thanks good points. Whilst it is interesting to discuss the merits, risks etc - they really justify discussion in an entirely separate thread.

The objective of this thread is to simply gather real results from people owning 6th Gen bikes having 6th Gen valve checks done.

OK it would be interesting to hear results from 8th Gen owners in due course who seem to have basically the same engine.

So trying to get this thread back to the topic - PLEASE post up results of any 6th Gen valves checks - tell us the actual mileage, if any were out of spec and needed adjustment and if possible tell us what the bike has been used for - commuting, touring, track days?

Thanks


SkiMad

 

No! I was just on my yearly "Get Lost On The VFR" trip. I always have the camera and just thought that would make an interesting picture. I bet it would be fun to drive though!

 

Incredible. ..great picture

 

I should have said YES, the Red, White and Blue one!

 

Funny....