12K mile valve check

[geotiger]

Hey all,

It is time for my 12K service.  Most I am going to do myself, but some I am not equipped to do.

My question is this, of those of you who have checked the valves at 12K miles, how many were out of spec?  The Tigger doesn't start hard or anything and I was just wondering if it is worth the time and $'s to the shop if the majority of the bikes didn't require adjustment.

I have to take it to the shop for the computer stuff and going to have them do fork oil, headstock bearings, plugs, but I don't know if I need to spend the money for the valve check.

What say the collective?

Thanks,
Nathan

[HockleyBoy]

Had mine checked at 13,000 at the dealer and he said there were no problems and that they would not need any adjustment before the 24k check and even then they would probably be ok.

[TigerTrax]

At 12K your valves should still be in spec. When I had mine checked ... the tech said..."perfect".

Do your fluid changes. If you pop the tank, go ahead and replace air filter; Plugs;fuel filter;check your brake pads... rear especially; Look for slop in the throttle cable; Head bearings lube/adjust.

Just follow the manual.

[paulie]

funny you should ask. I have a tad over 12k on my 2005 model. the other day i called my local dealer to inquire about getting valve clearances checked, and TBs synced.

"oh, thats a 4-5 hour job depending on a couple factors"

i ended up getting him talking, and he said that if i spend a lot of time keeping the engine at high revs, then i may have 2 valves that need shimming. if not, then probably just one or maybe even none. he seemed to think that most bikes tend to need at least one, unless you are really babying it.

obviously take it with a grain of salt, but thats just what i was told.



valve clearances and TB sync are a bit out of my league, so i'll be paying to have this done. looks to be a $300-$500 job from the labor quotes i got.

[cbxtc6]

I did my 12k service last Fall, and all valve clearances were in spec, with one exhaust close.  Very easy job to check.  
I agree with checking the rear brake pads (mine were shot!), and I also had to replace the rear wheel  (bearing) seals too.

Buy a copy of the factory manual off ebay (~$25), and do it yourself.

[iansoady]

Mine were all in spec when I did them at about 11,000 miles although a couple were close to the limit.

[Chris Canning]

Mine was done at 15000,it needed 8 doing,they wanted to know what the feck i'd been doing.

[geotiger]

Thanks for the info guys!  I think I will just do the fluid changes myself and have the shop do the computer stuff (throttle body sync, TPS reset, etc.) and the headstock bearings adjust/lube.  I also need rear brake pads.

Thanks again.

Nathan

[Chris Canning]

I'm the same,i do everything except shimming the motor and fueling,on the basis,it's the only one i've got,were as if i was working on more than one i'd have a better idea how well mine was running,the same guy has done it since i bought it in 01,he's worked a 3 different shops,the other two went bust.

[Yukon]

When I had my 6k service done, my local dealer said they no longer check the valve adjustments at 12k.  Triumph has extended this to 18k.

[oldrider]

I just had my 20,000km/12,000mile check done and it cost me $500.00(nz).

They did the whole service and the valves needed 8 new shims.

The mechanic lent me (to try out) and installed and tuned it for a Thunderbike aftermarket pipe at no extra cost as well.

The bike is just running so much better and is performing so well since the tune.

Have got the pipe for as long as I wish or until the owner needs it back.

Unfortunately it has to go back sooner because the noise gives Mrs o/r a headache. (mainly with a following wind)

I thought the warranty check was a pretty good deal bang for bucks actually.

I hope I think the same after the original pipe goes back on! Cheers John.

[JetdocX]

Cos and I just did his 12K mile check.  He needed ten new shims, I think.  Cos may come along shortly to correct me.

Changing the fork oil is a no brainer.  Do it yourself.  It might take you two hours total.

Don't forget to flush your brake fluid.

[Cos]

Cos and I just did his 12K mile check.  He needed ten new shims, I think.  Cos may come along shortly to correct me.

Changing the fork oil is a no brainer.  Do it yourself.  It might take you two hours total.

Don't forget to flush your brake fluid.

9 or 10, something like that. There was that one that we had to do twice and the one that ended up that we had right to begin with after changing the shim. Everybody thinks it's kinda odd there were that many loose valves, but i still don't think we got it wrong. Engine's running fine and there's no ticking or other strange other noises coming from down there.

Other than that, it was pretty straight forward...well, since i had the good doctor around it was anyway.

[geotiger]

Well I had the 12K service performed by the shop in Albuquerque, PJ's Triumph.

8 of my valves were out of spec, throttle bodies really needed balancing, and the TPS was reset.  Head stock bearing adjusted and lubed, new fork oil, new brake fluid.  I also put new rear brake pads on, fronts are good.

Everything went fine.  Got the bike home, loaded in pickup on the way and on the way back, and rode it for about 3 miles.  Got home and noticed there was an oil leak.  Got really pissed, I mean I spent so much money and there was an oil leak.  

So yesterday I pulled everything apart to find out none of my cam cover bolts were tight and one of them wasn't even threaded in, it was just sitting in the hole.  That is the one that the oil was leaking from.

I will call the shop tomorrow to tell them and ask for a refund of some labor.

It is sad that we have to check the mechanic's work that we pay good money for.  Unbelievable to me.  I guess they just got in a rush.  

That was my experience.  Thank you all for your input.

Nathan

[Stretch]

Well I had the 12K service performed by the shop in Albuquerque, PJ's Triumph.

8 of my valves were out of spec, throttle bodies really needed balancing, and the TPS was reset.  Head stock bearing adjusted and lubed, new fork oil, new brake fluid.  I also put new rear brake pads on, fronts are good.

Everything went fine.  Got the bike home, loaded in pickup on the way and on the way back, and rode it for about 3 miles.  Got home and noticed there was an oil leak.  Got really pissed, I mean I spent so much money and there was an oil leak.  

So yesterday I pulled everything apart to find out none of my cam cover bolts were tight and one of them wasn't even threaded in, it was just sitting in the hole.  That is the one that the oil was leaking from.

I will call the shop tomorrow to tell them and ask for a refund of some labor.

It is sad that we have to check the mechanic's work that we pay good money for.  Unbelievable to me.  I guess they just got in a rush.  

That was my experience.  Thank you all for your input.

Nathan

There are a couple guys here that speak negatively about owners performing their own maintenance.  With stories like these, I don't see it.  An owner with a good manual and tools, and who knows his way around his own bike, can perform nearly everything a 'Certified Technician' can, and actually give a crap that the job's done right.

With the exception of warranty work, I've done my own work on all my bikes and have never been disappointed.

If a subsequent owner has a problem with one of my bikes not being maintained by a dealer, he can just get over it.  In the meantime, I'm doing all my own work, and I'll know it's being done right.