18k service

[commando 848]

Have booked my K1300r in for its 18k service, part of which includes checking the valve clearances. Have any members actually had to have the valve clearances adjusted?. I ask this as I am always a bit dubious about some aspects of the service, especially with the drama involved with measuring and changing shims, removing cam shafts etc. One example was on a K1600 I once had. I rode 50 odd miles to the dealer and the service was carried out in less than three hours. The valve were checked whilst the engine was hot. When I enquired, I was told the measurement was carried out with a laser measure - am I missing something?

[TomK1300s]

Have booked my K1300r in for its 18k service, part of which includes checking the valve clearances. Have any members actually had to have the valve clearances adjusted?. I ask this as I am always a bit dubious about some aspects of the service, especially with the drama involved with measuring and changing shims, removing cam shafts etc. One example was on a K1600 I once had. I rode 50 odd miles to the dealer and the service was carried out in less than three hours. The valve were checked whilst the engine was hot. When I enquired, I was told the measurement was carried out with a laser measure - am I missing something?

The Laser measure I have used makes the job ten times faster, its as easy as turning the cam to the test position pointing the laser onto the cam follower and then pulling the cam follower up to the lower part of the cam lobe, measurment done.

[richtea]

But presumably it should have been measured cold - right Tom?

[TomK1300s]

But presumably it should have been measured cold - right Tom?

I would say YES to that, but if you are doing the same engine all the time you should also know what the clearances are when hot, or at least when above a certain temperature.

[Steve CH]

My k13s was done checked but no adjustment necessary
Steve

[black-k1]

My K1300S Sport did 54,000 miles and had 3 18K services. My MotorSport did 50,000 and had 2 18k services. Neither ever required a single adjustment.

[richtea]

They only go out of whack when you don't measure them. 

[Matt]

They only go out of whack when you don't measure them. 

So the opposite of a kettle. Which means engines must be anti-kettles, which means engines are students running around a town.

Also: I think it was my first K, somewhere near the end of ownership (which was ~50k) it needed some adjustment. But neither bike did at the first 18k!

[flatfour]

My K1300GT had the valve clearances checked last year at around 44,000 miles, as the plastics were off for new throttle bodies to be fitted. Whilst the work was undertaken a little earlier than required by the service schedule (it had covered around 11,000 miles since last check, which was also carried out early) I was told that no adjustments were needed.

I was charged just one hours labour to check the valves and replace spark plugs with the fairings etc. already removed.

Incidentally, the stick coils were replaced as a precaution at 44,000 miles, as they showed signs of "bulging" slightly. I was told that this is often the case, at higher mileages.