Usually you can't tell. One way is to insist on looking at the owner's manual for any new model you're considering. Check the maintenance section to see if valve clearance adjustment is mentioned, and how often it should be done. That still won't tell you the method. Some bikes like the C50/M50 use screw and locknut, while others use shims, either above or under the valve opening bucket. A few use hydraulic adjusters which don't require adjustment. Some Kawasaki's use a movable rocker arm which uncovers a shim atop the valve collar, making the job a lot easier than other designs. Harleys use hydraulic adjusters throughout their motors, except maybe some Buells. Ducatis, which use desmodromic valve actuation, require adjustment of both opening and closing mechanisms, a very costly operation and needed fairly often compared to other types of valve adjusters.

Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN) usually spells out the type of adjustment and the frequency in their reports. Few other magazines do that and I wish more reported on it. MCN usually notes the time required for a valve adjustment and the cost based on $80/hr. labor rates, which may or may not be similar to costs in your area. Here in Mpls., the going rate is higher, often in the $90-95/hr area.

Sometimes the web site for a particular brand/model will identify hydraulic adjusters as a feature.

Good luck, do your research and find out. Another way is to find a web site for a particular brand/model and inquire.

Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis and going for a ride today!

 

Showing my ignorance here but by reading the online spec's, how can you tell which motor from various manufaturer's need valve adjustments ?

Jim;

Currently, all the motorcycles I know of require periodic checks of valve adjustment. Even Motoguzzi has done away with hydraulic lifters which made the valves self-adjusting.

My new Beemer has done away with most of the chore. I still need to check the valve clearances but all the other tuning adjustment is done by computer now.

 

Thanks guys !

 

Bikes with hydraulic lifters do not need adjustments and most, if not all bigger bikes have the hydraulic lifters. It is mostly the smaller bikes that do not have hydraulic lifters, that will need to have adjustments. Then there are the bikes that have the shims and they too need to have their valve clearance checked at certain intervals


Henry.

 

Hydraulic lifters rob power! Although minute, they do make a difference in power produced.

A higher performing engine (such as the Concours) uses the shim over bucket method.

Until 1988, Saab 900 8 valves used the shim over the bucket design. They required adjusting the valves at various intervals.

 

Some Kawasaki's use a movable rocker arm which uncovers a shim atop the valve collar, making the job a lot easier than other designs

Kind of bizzaro when you first see this set up but holy cow is it SSSSOOOOO easy to adjust the kawasaki's that have it.

 

Probably the easiest valve adjustments were on the Vincent models. Unscrew the cap and set the adjustment to zero with the screw and locknut - you don't even need feeler guages.

 

My suzuki S83 doesn`t require valve adjustments .

 

Jimks right I had a 94 vs1400 intruder and it didnt require valve adjustments. Il say this I will not buy another bike that requires valve adjustments.

 

Jimks right Il say this I will not buy another bike that requires valve adjustments.

+1 on not getting another bike that needs the valves adjusted.

 

I wanted to bump this to see if anyone knew if there was a good writeup on how to do the valve adjustments on a M-50 here somewhere? I searched but am not used to how the search works on this site.

Thanks.

 

welome to the site.

http://www.therusks.com/index.php?m...m/index.php?module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=downloadFile&JAS_File_id=50

they are all basicly the same engine

also search JPaige.

 

The JPaige method is far simpler and quicker AFTER you get the valve cover inspection caps off.

Basically you position the motor at the correct TDC for each cylinder, then with access to the adjuster screws you begin. Loosen the locknut on one adjuster at a time, then turn the adjuster screw in until it just contacts the valve end. Loosening the adjuster screw 90 degrees for exhaust valves and 45 degrees for intakes will have you at the correct clearance. Using the Suuzki tool makes the job easier of course. Then tighten the locknuts, put her all back together, and go for a ride.

Unfortunatly, putting her all back together will take about as much time as getting her ready for the adjustment and shouln't even be considered without the factory manual. I've reviewed the procedure in both Haynes and Clymer manuals and found MAJOR mistakes in both, such as which way to rotate the engine, etc.

Plan an a whole day the first time, and much less the next.

A helpful hint -- consider cutting out the inside holes on the valve covers to make it a lot easier to reinstall them. That way you can put the bolts and nuts on loosely and slide the covers into place after rotating the engine to allow clearance above the rocker arms.

Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis, and sitting out the rain today.

 

Thanks for the help guys. WOW, this procedure is more complicated than I originally thought. Although I do have average mechanical ability, I may just need to have the dealer do this for now. I have never wrenched on a motorcycle before so it probably would be best if I wait until someone who has done this before can help me.

Do you guys really think this should be done every 6,000 miles? That is alot of work several times per year (I ride alot).

 

If you haven't read road tests that mention maintenance requirments you could visit a dealership and ask to see the owner's manual for any bike that interests you. It's usually available easily and the maintenance section mentions intervals and required checks.

That still doesn't tell the difficulty though and for that you need a service manual, either factory, Clymer or Haines. Sometimes public libraries have the service manuals but often mostly for older models.

Hope that helps a bit.

Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis and sitting out rain today!