VALVE CHECK /ADJUST

[captain p]

Just out of curiosity,,,was wondering how many owners bikes have needed any adjustment to valve clearances when dealers have done a service/valve check.
I have had four VFRs including a VFR12

[Skids]

Originally Posted by captain p

Just out of curiosity,,,was wondering how many owners bikes have needed any adjustment to valve clearances when dealers have done a service/valve check.
I have had four VFRs including a VFR12

My 5th Gen (98 800) required new shims on every 16k service. My 6th Gen (07 800) rarely needed them and there are lots of owners who have found the same with that model. My 1200 (14) didn't need anything and neither did my 800X (15) so I wonder if, as the designs have been updated, this has caused a significant reduction in the requirement.

[captain p]

thanks Skids,
none of my VFRs have ever had to have valve adjustments,i sorta wondered if the dealers actually bother to check,but having said that i marked the valve cover bolts at my last service on the 12,and they had been off,so thats at reassuring.
i have two mates here in Spain with VFRs,one X.RUNNER(2015) and one VFR 800VTEC,as far as i know,no valve adjustment ever needed on either of them.

[jan1195xx]

Valve adjustment is a lot of work at the vtec engines. I will do it at my 2012 X the next weeks. Then i will see if the valves need any adjustment.

Jan

[larryblag]

I note that the Mk2 (as I'm calling it) 2015 on, has the requirement for the first check now being at 24k miles now (up from 16k).
So, I guess this answers the question.
Over on the CB1100 forum (which I've also owned) there's a useful thread where people have been encouraged to post their findings at valve check. They list the findings, which - if any shims have been replaced etc. All the useful data collected shows that all clearances were in spec and literally none were adjusted - even with one owner who'd checked his at every recommended interval. His words were that he'd done them every single time and found nothing to be done - adding that now at 60k miles it was the last time he was going to check. And that's on an air/oil cooled motor which probably goes through a lot more expansion/contraction. That said, the CB1100 motor is a lot simpler design even though as it's shim-under-bucket so it does involve taking the cams out.
I've not kept bikes long enough to worry but intend to have the CR for a very long time. It is such a fantastic and satisfying bike 👍

[Skids]

Originally Posted by larryblag

I note that the Mk2 (as I'm calling it) 2015 on, has the requirement for the first check now being at 24k miles now (up from 16k).
So, I guess this answers the question.
Over on the CB1100 forum (which I've also owned) there's a useful thread where people have been encouraged to post their findings at valve check. They list the findings, which - if any shims have been replaced etc. All the useful data collected shows that all clearances were in spec and literally none were adjusted - even with one owner who'd checked his at every recommended interval. His words were that he'd done them every single time and found nothing to be done - adding that now at 60k miles it was the last time he was going to check. And that's on an air/oil cooled motor which probably goes through a lot more expansion/contraction. That said, the CB1100 motor is a lot simpler design even though as it's shim-under-bucket so it does involve taking the cams out.
I've not kept bikes long enough to worry but intend to have the CR for a very long time. It is such a fantastic and satisfying bike 👍

Where did you get that info please? Honda still recommend 16k miles AFAIK.

There's been speculation by many on various forums that Honda moved it to 24k miles, though I've yet to see any definitive evidence that they have and whilst I'm sure we'd all like them to recommend that as it will be cheaper for many of us in the long term, I suspect someone has read 24000 as miles when what they were reading was in km (24000km = 15000miles) which is close enough for an understandable error to occur.

My old 98 VFR800 needed 3 new exhaust shims every 16k miles, my 08 VFR800 needed 1 or 2, my 15 Crossie needed 1 at 32k miles.

[ramski]

Skids
I have just bought a 2018 model and it says valve check at 24k,
just taken a picture of the maintenance schedule but unable to upload,
if you PM me your email I'll send pic

cheers steve

[larryblag]

Cheers Steve and Skids, important we clear this up as it's a biggy. I'm sure I remember reading it in the service schedule part of the OWM. I'll find it out today and take a pic. 👍

[larryblag]

Can I just add that mine is a 2019 registered model so the change may have been quite recent?

[Skids]

Yup, yr correct.

Just been out to rescue (previously untouched) Owners Manual from under the seat and yes, the interval for valve inspection is 24k miles.



Below is an image from a 2015 Owners Manual showing valve inspection at the original 16k miles, so it must have changed around 17/18.



I shall be contacting my local Honda dealer to clarify with them.