Valve Service

Just not certain I could tell when a valve is getting tight. Or do the bucket and shim only get loose? I would hate to save $360 just to spend $2k on a valve job.

 

Yeh. But we are metric here !:wink:

 

I just got my 25K valve service done on my 02 and it cost $680 CDN total. The valve service was $375and the rest was parts and tax. I was expecting around $800. I also got the wiring harness recall done at the same time. Here is a copy of my invoice. (Hope it shows up)

 

They can do either. The scary thing is that you won't hear them if they tighten up. Worst case scenario is that an exhaust valve will start running tight. If that happens, it looses "seat time", as in it is not making contact with the valve seat in the cylinder head as long as it should, so there is less time for it to transfer heat to those surfaces. If the valve were to get hot enough, the valve head could break off and fall into the cylinder. Then it gets catastrophic...

I don't know if this type of failure is common anymore. A lot of my information is historic, such as the proper way to set a trap for a Brontosaurus, or how to avoid burning your feet on the Earth's crust where it hasn't cooled yet. :smile:

One of the indicators of a valvetrain going out of adjustment is slightly rough running, from idle on up. That's generally caused due to the cylinders making disproportionate amounts of power.

 

Well I have an 04 vfr with 32,500 miles and just had the 32k service done. I did not take it to the dealership. I also needed my thermostat and chain replaced at this service. Tires have about 8k miles on them, and will need to replaced soon. My local dealer wanted $1500 to do it all! I found a local shop, who's tech guy was from one of the area dealers. I had the whole service done, except the tire replacement, and it was $600 out the door. My valves needed a bit of adjustment, they changed all fluids, syncronized the throttle bodies, new thermostat, chain, plugs, brake pads, and anything else involved. I've had the bike out for a fast paced weekend of riding the local back roads. The bike runs much smoother and really good. Now just need to decide what tires I want to get next month.

 

My ex mother-in-law knows how to do this>:bolt:

 

WTH!!!! 71.00 for an air filter...what was it, gold??? And, 23.00 spark plugs??? They can't be THAT expensive, can they?

 

You guys are now starting to get me all stressed out. If you don't stop, I am gonna get a Scotch to sooth my nerves.

 

When I was at my dealer (In Canada eh!) I checked on parts prices. Most of the parts up here are at a 100% mark up. I plan on heading down to Al's Honda in Bellingham WA to grab my stuff. $50 bucks worth of parts will most likely get waved through at the border and it's not that far away. I have had enough of this crap personally.

 

I don't know too many people personally that own or have owned a VFR. Maybe a total of 4 people. Not one of them ever had to adjust their valves. When the mileage came up & they were inspected, they were all still in spec. From what I understand & from what the Honda techs tell me, the VFR's never have their valves go out of whack. I am going to ask my local dealer how much they charge to adjust them the next time I make a trip over there. Since everything costs more in NJ, I'm curious to see how much they will try to extort from me. The Maintenance Manager at the local dealer has repeatedly told me that the VFR & ST1100/1300 are the two most bullet prood bikes Honda makes.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

KC,

I don't know if I have been taken for a ride financially or not, all things taken under consideration. I didn't even think my bike ran that bad when I took it in. I have owned it since it was in the crate and have put 50,000 km on it since Aug 2006. But I can say for a fact that when I got it out, it ran CONSIDERABLY better than when it went in. I was surprised. Now why it ran better, was it valves or plugs, I don't know. Actually I have been trying to go over my old posts trying to track down a member form I believe Minnesota who joined a while ago but never stepped up to say anything until about two months ago. He is a mechanic, and I was going to see if I could get his opinion on this. Hopefully he may be reading.

All that time looking and all I found out is I may talk too much.