600 mile valve check

[jason_S]

Is it really necessary to get this done?  I dropped off my GS yesterday for it's first service. and the dealer told me it didn't need it, and it's about $80 cheaper to not have it done.  

BTW, how hard is it to do the valve check on your own?

[dgyver]

Checking valve is very easy to do. The biggest issue is having a feeler gauge that is small enough. Also, having a service manual will be your best friend.

[Hi-T]

You really don't need it-  Mine were fine up until 16,000 miles.  It's easy like dgyver said- just buy a manual and some tools- for the 80 your saving you practically covered the costs.

[jake42]

Just having done mine for the first time since buying the bike, it's not really hard to do at all.

The hardest part is locating shims at a nearby dealer so you don't have to wait for shipping.

I was a little hesitant at first, but once you figure out the motion pro valve shim tool you'll be popping those things in and out in no time.  

The most confusing part of the manual's instructions is when they tell you to line up the notches on the cam shaft gears to check the different valves.  It was hard to tell from the pic in the Clymer's manual what they were talking about.  Next time I have mine apart I'll take pics.

You will also need to be okay with taking off the tank, disconnecitng fuel lines, disconnecitng the clutch or choke cable if they get in your way.

All in all it probably took me a couple hours.

Oh, and it's kinda hard to get the "feel" of what's  just right with the feeler guages.  I developed my own method. I find one that won't fit and then work my way down in size till i get one that slides in nice and easy.

Jake

[Kerry]

The most confusing part of the manual's instructions is when they tell you to line up the notches on the cam shaft gears to check the different valves.  It was hard to tell from the pic in the Clymer's manual what they were talking about.  Next time I have mine apart I'll take pics.

I don't remember the Haynes manual being confusing on this point, but anymore I skip that whole method.  After having done it the "right" way a couple of times I went to the patented "Srinath" method, which doesn't require removing the right-side case cover at all:

1) Put the bike in 6th gear (or so).

2) Rotate the rear wheel until the cam lobe of interest "points to the sky" (180 degrees away from the shim).

3) Measure the clearance.[/list:u]Thanks for the write-up, Jake!

[jake42]

sorry it wans't more detailed.  I had to squeeze it in between students today.

Jake