$350 Valve Check

[Dochatley]

Yes, you are reading that right. I was at the dealer in Dallas Sat. to pick up a new battery (trying to support my dealer) and I ask him "how much to get the valves checked". He yelled back at the mechanic and was told $350 dollars. I asked if I brought it in with the plastic off if it would be a little cheaper. He said no not really. I know it is not hard to do but having never checked them I am a little apprehensive about checking them for the first time. But $350.00. OUCH, bend over.

[Daveh]

The valve check and adjustment article at gunsmoke.com makes the job easy!

[Dochatley]

Thanks Dave. I have read over it several times for the last few months and it sounds pretty straight forward. I guess maybe once I got in there it might make more since. I have done all other maintenance with no trouble but this seems scary:eek:

[zimbazi]

Jerry,

Save your $$ I will be in Fort Worth to go Dancing this Saturday night.
If you want some help I could stop by ?
It is like eating a stack of pancakes...
We did four bikes in the tech session here in austin.
The last bike took less than one hour from beginning to end.
Just send me a PM before thursday with your information...Phone # and Address?
I do NOT work on Fridays and rarely check the forum over the weekends...

[BLBantz]

Had mine checked last week at my local BMW dealer. $140.00

[BecketMa]

For me, the hardest part was installing the new valve cover gasket. I was concerned that it might leak. Probably shell shock from many leaking HD valve cover gaskets.

It was pretty easy to turn the engine over by pushing on the rear wheel with my foot, when it was in 5th.

I bought a new feeler gauge, and made sure I had the proper gasket seal material.

With the advent of MP3 players, I had enjoyable music to listen to as I slowly went through the procedure. Did mine during normal change and check.

Bob

[Dochatley]

Thanks for the offer Jeff. I still have a couple of thousand miles before it's time (that is if the dealer really checked them before I bought this bike used). I guess I will start ordering the stuff I need and give it a go. Heck if I come to a roadblock I know where to come for answers. Thank you again Jeff for the offer.

[ronlray]

Jerry, after you do the valve check you will be shouting.."Man this is a piece of cake!" It's really that easy! In fact it will take you twice as long to take off the plastic as it does to do the valve check. Word to the Wise: make sure you write down the clearances once you check the gaps! next time you check the valves you'll have a "standard" to cross check to see if things have changed. Also, I marked the inside of each screw hole in each plastic piece with a S, M, or L which stands for short , medium , and Long ( screws that is!) It also helps to have 3 cups for the screws to keep them separated.
Good luck and don't spend all that money you will be saving in one place!
Ron Ray

[mjordans2000]

Had mine checked last week at my local BMW dealer. $140.00
It's been a long time since I had a dealer do work on my bike but with the plastic off they also charged me a little less than 150.00 to check the valves. In fact, I believe they actually did an adjustment at that time (for some reason the invoice was not very detailed but the mechanics checklist showed a change).

[Dochatley]

Thanks Ron Ray....I will take your advice. Some how all those short/long screws get all mixed up when it is time to put her back together. I am going to copy the chart that was on one of the threads not to long ago to keep up with clearances.

[Shogun54]

Jerry, you won't need parts unless they need adjustment. A little care removing the valve cover gets the gasket off intact nearly every time. If you need buckets, you'll have to buy them after calculating the size...you may find they are all OK.

[BecketMa]

I taped my valve clearance paper to the side on my tool box.

Try a little nail polish on the screws and a little dab on the on the hole they come out of.

Bob

[Dochatley]

Great idea Bob. My wife has about 50 bottles in a basket in the bathroom that she NEVER uses. Keeps them "just in case". Of what I don't know.

[dpaz]

Is the procedure to check the valves on a K1200LT the same as a K1200RS? I am new to this and I am starting to do my homework on it before I tackle it. I am reading the procedure found on gunsmoke.com under the K1200RS section. Thanks again,
dpaz

[Daveh]

Yes, the valve check is the same for the K1200LT as the K1200RS.

[dshealey]

Is the procedure to check the valves on a K1200LT the same as a K1200RS? I am new to this and I am starting to do my homework on it before I tackle it. I am reading the procedure found on gunsmoke.com under the K1200RS section. Thanks again,
dpaz

There is a BIG error in the gunsmoke procedure. DO NOT remove the spark plugs before doing any measurements! That is very important. If any dislodged carbon particles from plug removal drop down onto the valve face or seat surface of any open exhaust valves, incorrect clearance measurements will be the result.

[stevie1]

Jerry
Am presently doing my valve checks on k1200lt 2003, followed Gunsmoke instructions, have previously done same task on k1100lt, it really is quite basic, before you start, buy a decent torque wrench & use it, you will find that the standard of work you have recieved previously at dealers workshops, may not have lived up to your expectations, i found a stripped thread on the cam cover, if dealer had used correct settings i should not have found that. some jobs are best left to dealers, this is not one of them, you can also get the settings you want, not just that old chestnut, its in tolerance??.
Good luck
Regards Stevie

[Dochatley]

Thanks Stevie. I did get a torque wrench when I started to do my own wheel removal. I was shocked when I torqued the front tire. The setting is 30nm on the main axle if I remember correctly which isn't much. Without that wrench I would of tightened it a lot harder as I did most stuff.

[myk_edwards]

My wife has about 50 bottles in a basket in the bathroom that she NEVER uses. Keeps them "just in case". Of what I don't know.

She kept them for you! now all you have to do it choose a nice colour or three to mark up them screws.

[dpaz]

Thanks for the info guys. I will not remove the plugs. Thanks for the warning.