Valve check results

[vagrant318]

How many of you have checked valves or had them checked needed shimming or were out of spec?
Im at a bit under 27K miles and neglected to have them checked earlier and am now getting ready for a trip. The shop could only get me in a couple days beforehand and Im not sure about taking a big trip after things have been taken apart.
So get them checked after I get back or before? If before will likely make things more hectic for the departure as well. Everything seems well, no hard starting or anything so feel like everything is probably fine but you never know.

[Lewie]

Are you concerned that the ‘shop’ won’t put your bike back correctly?
id take it elsewhere 

if you trust their work I’d definitely get it done before 

[vagrant318]

Not that I don't trust them, I haven't lived here long and haven't had it in a shop. I trust myself  too but would prefer to have a few shake down rides before a big trip after bigger maintenance. 

[Samm]

Valve checks/shimming is a simple everyday task for a motorcycle shop. I wouldn’t consider it “bigger maintenance” and wouldn’t worry about needing multiple shakedown rides. 

[vagrant318]

Should be. But the removal of the gas tank, fairings etc, things usually need to get retightened. My bike also has some uniqueness with fairings and parts the shop may not be familiar with. It's just another thing to think about on a long ride. 

[Peen]

I did my valve clearances at 24000 miles and they were all just out of spec on the tight side and I adjusted them, but it could probably have gone a fair bit further before it was a problem.

 

It depends on how hard you ride the bike perhaps, I heard that Long Haul Paul has done over 170,000 miles on his and not touched the valves and it still runs ok apparantly, but I imagine he does mainly highway miles.

 

Its a bit of a faff but, personally, I would get them done if I could because I'm a bit OCD and it would bug me the whole trip.

[AZJW]

Personally if I didn't have any other concerns, i.e. hard starting, unusual valve noises, I'd just go ahead and take the trip, unless you're going 10,000 miles.   If you're only going say, 10% over the suggested valve check interval, that to me wouldn't be a big deal. 

 

On the other hand, getting them checked before you go shouldn't be a concern either.  It's a pretty routine inspection, but I do my own work so I don't depend on a shop to get it done.

[thepointchris]

had mine done on 24029: intakes were good, the exhausts needed shimming.

my engine's sounds have changed a little - both the "startup-whine" and cold-idle sound a little different. can't say that the bike runs any different. 

[Hawkerjet]

 A good friend owns a dealership in Santa Barbara and is the lead mechanic. He tells me that the CP2 engine we have in the T-700 is probable the most reliable motorcycle engine on the planet. Yamaha builds great bikes as evidenced by the 24,000 mile initial valve clearance check. Compare this with most Ducati bikes which are around 6000 miles. He also told me that if you do a lot of dirt riding you better check your valves at 10,000 miles.

 

Back in 2014 I bought a new Yamaha FZ09, the 3 cylinder bigger brother to the FZ07 which shares the same engine as our T-700.   I did my first valve check at 19000 miles. All intakes were in spec while the exhaust valves were a bit on the tight side but nothing dangerously tight.

 

Rest easy my friends as your Yamaha will take good care of you.

Edited August 14 by Hawkerjet

[Totti]

Checked mine at 37.000 km's. Seven of them were out of spec, on the tight side. 

[vagrant318]

On 8/10/2024 at 6:43 AM, Hawkerjet said:

 I good friend owns a dealership in Santa Barbara and is the lead mechanic. He tells me that the CP2 engine we have in the T-700 is probable the most reliable motorcycle engine on the planet. Yamaha builds great bikes as evidenced by the 24,000 mile initial valve clearance check. Compare this with most Ducati bikes which are around 6000 miles. He also told me that if you do a lot of dirt riding you better check your valves at 10,000 miles.

 

Back in 2014 I bought a new Yamaha FZ09, the 3 cylinder bigger brother to the FZ07 which shares the same engine as our T-700.   I did my first valve check at 19000 miles. All intakes were in spec while the exhaust valves were a bit on the tight side but nothing dangerously tight.

 

Rest easy my friends as your Yamaha will take good care of you.

Was I off thinking the valve check was 26k?

[AZJW]

4 hours ago, vagrant318 said:

Was I off thinking the valve check was 26k?

Pg. 7-3 in my Owners Manual states 26,600 miles. Pg. 3-1 in the Service Manual states 24,000 miles. Take your pick I guess.

[Hawkerjet]

18 minutes ago, AZJW said:

Pg. 7-3 in my Owners Manual states 26,600 miles. Pg. 3-1 in the Service Manual states 24,000 miles. Take your pick I guess.

Hey good catch there John. Apparently I grabbed the 24k interval from the Service Manual.

 

Awe shucks, what's a couple of thousand miles among friends.

[BikeBrother]

In europe valvecheck is after 40.000 km, my converter calculates this as 24.854 miles.

[Hibobb]

15 minutes ago, BikeBrother said:

In europe valvecheck is after 40.000 km

That's because you don't change your oil enough 

 

North America 7,000km (4,000 miles)

Europe 10,000km (6,000 miles)

Per owners manuals...

Strange but true!

Edited August 14 by Hibobb

[BADDANDY]

25 minutes ago, Hibobb said:

That's because you don't change your oil enough 

 

North America 7,000km (4,000 miles)

Europe 10,000km (6,000 miles)

Per owners manuals...

Strange but true!

 

It's because their bikes are made in France and ours in NA are made in Japan.

[Totti]

On 8/14/2024 at 6:11 PM, BADDANDY said:

 

It's because their bikes are made in France and ours in NA are made in Japan.

The same parts assebly diffently in different countries? 

[thepointchris]

the Euros are cleaner than us in the US...we're a derty bunch of riders, need to clean more often 

[Prestone]

I just did mine here at 36.000 km’s or 22.500 miles.

 

all were at minimum spec. And some even up to 0.03mm under, they are all now in top of the specs. And i wont check them again for the next 60.000 km’s