Valve Check & .......

[Zepfan]

Well 30k/mi on the clock (48,000/km) and figure I need to do my valves. 1 year of ownership!
Bike running well with typical knock on hard acceleration ( the way it was from day one) and a little stumble (TB?) occasionally / rarely from a stop to acceleration.
She's been ridden HARD at Ouray and trip to Belize, east coast horrible mexican roads. Dented front and rear Excell rims from the frick'in Mex pot holes!

Seems rather daunting from the discussions so my dealer quoted $500./ w TB adj.

I could do it with help from a skilled neighbor mechanic and I wonder if it would be best to have dealer w/ docs due to Cornerstone Extended Warranty (5yr.).

I reckon if something does break they will want to see some dealer TLC.

Whats your thoughts?

 

[~TABASCO~]

I've seen that bike being put though its paces in Ouray... Do you feel you have the skill and patience? I would say go for it, and you know there are people here that will help walk you (us) though it... ::008::

 

[Koinz]

Well 30k/mi on the clock (48,000/km) and figure I need to do my valves. 1 year of ownership!
Bike running well with typical knock on hard acceleration ( the way it was from day one) and a little stumble (TB?) occasionally / rarely from a stop to acceleration.
She's been ridden HARD at Ouray and trip to Belize, east coast horrible mexican roads. Dented front and rear Excell rims from the frick'in Mex pot holes!

Seems rather daunting from the discussions so my dealer quoted $500./ w TB adj.

I could do it with help from a skilled neighbor mechanic and I wonder if it would be best to have dealer w/ docs due to Cornerstone Extended Warranty (5yr.).

I reckon if something does break they will want to see some dealer TLC.

Whats your thoughts?

It's really personal preference. In my opinion, Checking them is about 2/3 of the way there, but that last bit of work of actually removing the cams is kindof a bitch. If you decide to do it, take your time and mark everthing as you go. I'm thankful to the others here that shared their experience and tribulations and got through it mostly unscathed, except for 1. :-X

 

[Zepfan]

I've decided on DEALER valve check, TB and Light Harness recall.

The revised estimate is $630.44.

My thinking is to establish some documentation with Yam in case I need warranty work from my extended (5 yr.) warranty. I can imagine if something went wrong, I'd have a relationship established to help me get covered. Walking in with a problem w/o any documentation of service might be a stretch!

Gona ask they call me when they have cover is pulled so I can see what the actual clearances are. Seems 80% of the time I catch mechanics lying.

 

[snakebitten]

Re: Valve Check & .......

I totally get having a pro do a Tenere valve check. This ain't no Guzzi.
But I don't get letting a pro you don't trust do that valve check.
There are some fine folks out there that work on motorcycles. Your mission is to find one. Surely we, as a Tenere community can assist.

 

[OldRider]

I've decided on DEALER valve check, TB and Light Harness recall.

The revised estimate is $630.44.

My thinking is to establish some documentation with Yam in case I need warranty work from my extended (5 yr.) warranty. I can imagine if something went wrong, I'd have a relationship established to help me get covered. Walking in with a problem w/o any documentation of service might be a stretch!

Gona ask they call me when they have cover is pulled so I can see what the actual clearances are. Seems 80% of the time I catch mechanics lying.

IMHO, they're over charging you and asking to look over a mechanics shoulder because you don't trust him will cause ill feelings. On the other hand, if I couldn't trust the mechanic, I would never let him work on my motorcycle. Sounds to me like you need to get a second opinion.

 

[avc8130]

I've decided on DEALER valve check, TB and Light Harness recall.

The revised estimate is $630.44.

My thinking is to establish some documentation with Yam in case I need warranty work from my extended (5 yr.) warranty. I can imagine if something went wrong, I'd have a relationship established to help me get covered. Walking in with a problem w/o any documentation of service might be a stretch!

Gona ask they call me when they have cover is pulled so I can see what the actual clearances are. Seems 80% of the time I catch mechanics lying.

How did the estimate go up $130.44 when you added a factory sponsored recall to the mix?

I've heard guys paying as low as $300 for the valve check. $634 sounds crazy. TB synch is ~30mins work and very easy to do yourself.

ac

 

[Toto]

$630?
I think if that includes actually lifting the cams if shims are required...then quite reasonable.
The problem is that many places will just "listen" to it and if no ticking...all is ok.
Tight valves don't tick.
Shim adjustment is a labour intensive job and I believe that many dealerships just don't want to do it, no matter what, or don't have the staff capable of doing it.
Pretty sad really , but this is the sign of the times and has been that way for a long time.
Best to do it yourself, but I will admit that it is a big job that would tax the abilities and patience of the majority of us.
...and you better not fk up!

 

[tubebender]

Zep,

If you don't mind asking, what dealer?
NC House of Motorcycles, NC Yamaha, Fun Bike Center, etc?
Just to establish some informational data points.
Looks like there are at least 6 Tenere owners in San Diego county that I am aware of.
I'll be using NC House of Motorcycles for the recall work.

 

[Zepfan]

I'll use http://www.ncy-motorsports.com/ for the work.

Came recommended fro a Yamaha rep I talked to after I had problems w/ the dealer I bought the bike from (Vey's).

I don't know what to say! Most of the mechanics I've had do work on any of my vehicles fib. Always catching them in a lie.

Poway Motorcycle wanted to do a $1k clutch job on my Vstrom. I balked and pulled the case myself to discover perfect plates and dirt / rock jamming the clutch push rod from the slave.
It was slipping due to the push rod being jammed. I got a ton more stories but why be negative!

 

[Zepfan]

I'll use http://www.ncy-motorsports.com/ for the work.

Came recommended fro a Yamaha rep I talked to after I had problems w/ the dealer I bought the bike from (Vey's).

I don't know what to say! Most of the mechanics I've had do work on any of my vehicles fib. Always catching them in a lie.

Poway Motorcycle wanted to do a $1k clutch job on my Vstrom. I balked and pulled the case myself to discover perfect plates and dirt / rock jamming the clutch push rod from the slave.
It was slipping due to the push rod being jammed. I got a ton more stories but why be negative!

IS MY LOGIC SOUND TO GET SOME DEALER DOCUMENTED WORK FOR WARANTEE PURPOSES?
HOW MUCH HAVE YOU GUY'S PAID FOR A VALVE CHECK / ADJ?

 

[Kelvininin]

Folks,

Keep in mind there is a federal law, Magnuson-Moss Warranty act, protecting owners who do their own maintenance. The law makes it illegal to for a dealer to refuse warranty to those who perform there own maintenance. I do almost all my own maintenance and when it come times, this will include the valve check. It's not about money for me, I just enjoy the work.

 

[avc8130]

I do almost all my own maintenance and when it come times, this will include the valve check. It's not about money for me, I just enjoy the work.

I'll be curious to hear if that is still your tune after the valve check. LOL

ac

 

[greg the pole]

I'll be curious to hear if that is still your tune after the valve check. LOL

ac

::025:: ::025:: ::025:: ::025:: ::025::
I still have nightmares about mine...well not really, but it is labor intensive, and you must take your time.
Next go around it will take me less, as I know what to take out of the way, and what to watch for.
I know you spent the money but read here: http://thetenerist.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/tenere-valve-check-and-adjustment/

 

[Zepfan]

NICE! Good to know, thank-you!

Folks,

Keep in mind there is a federal law, Magnuson-Moss Warranty act, protecting owners who do their own maintenance. The law makes it illegal to for a dealer to refuse warranty to those who perform there own maintenance. I do almost all my own maintenance and when it come times, this will include the valve check. It's not about money for me, I just enjoy the work.

 

[avc8130]

NICE! Good to know, thank-you!

Be careful with that one in all reality. I always read of that being thrown around on forums and referenced throughout the internet. What you never read about is what actually happens.

Do you think you just wave a printed copy of the act to your dealer and everything goes happily? Sometimes the cost to enforce a law in your favor is more than the benefit.

NJ has a great lemon law on paper. When I had a lemon vehicle, the lawyer walked away with more of the settlement than I did. Just because there is a law "protecting" you, doesn't necessarily mean it is useful.

ac

 

[Kelvininin]

Re: Valve Check & .......

This issue I have is I have seen more damage done by dealer wrenches than anything else. I don't trust my dealer with tools with in 200 miles or my bikes. Keep in mind. I do all of the maintenance for all of my vehicles. Not just the bike. If I let my stealer do the valve check and adjustment on my bike they would eff it up anyway then I would waiting 6 months for them to make it right. No thanks.

I have rebuilt engines and transmissions. I can handle a valve adjustment. This isn't rocket surgery.

What blows my mind is how many folks put blind faith into their dealers mechanics. Good luck with that.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Turned mine in on Saturday for the valve check, swing arm and steering lube. I've done all that type of stuff on my old V-Stroms, but I don't enjoy wrenching. I've read enough here to know I'd be miserable doing the valve check on the bike. My dealer does have a very experienced Tenere mechanic, who has done at least 3 valve checks on Sail2xxs' bike. It's not his first rodeo with the S10, and I know he'll do a better job than me. Could he make a mistake...sure. Am I 100% confident my dealer will take care of it if he does...yep. But I have a really good dealership. I know that's not always the case.

 

[EricV]

When having a dealer do the valve check, One thing I always do is ask them to write down the measurements, because I'd like to have a record of where the valves where, so I can track if one intake or exhaust in particular is behaving differently from the rest. That accomplishes a couple of things, besides giving me the info, it usually means no one will just make up numbers, but will actually check the clearance and write it down, then get into the re-shim if that's necessary. It also lets me compare to the previous valve check and see if I'm going to need to worry about one or more valves or if they are settling in and stable. I'm coming up on my third interval.

 

[Kelvininin]

Be careful with that one in all reality. I always read of that being thrown around on forums and referenced throughout the internet. What you never read about is what actually happens.

Do you think you just wave a printed copy of the act to your dealer and everything goes happily? Sometimes the cost to enforce a law in your favor is more than the benefit.

NJ has a great lemon law on paper. When I had a lemon vehicle, the lawyer walked away with more of the settlement than I did. Just because there is a law "protecting" you, doesn't necessarily mean it is useful.

ac

The way the Magunson-Moss act works is the dealer has to prove the owner cause the issue to avoid the warranty claim. No lawyers required. If you have a reputable dealer your cool. I learned long ago that most dealers are not to be trusted.