4 hours sound right for valve adjustment and carb sync?

[Jehu Bandit]

The valve adjustments on the Bandit seems very simple and straightforward, what with threaded adjusters and lock nuts but getting at it seems like a chore.

I've got 750 miles on the bike, changed the oil after riding it home 335 miles from the dealership but my schedule will not let me get a block of enough time to do the dismantling.

Sooo I make an appointment at a dealership where I trust the mechanic, (brought him a case of Heineken) and made the appointment. When I asked him about how long he figured it owuld take, he stated "about 3 or 4 hours."

I don't want to do anything to upset the applecart but does that seem right to you guys?

Thanks in advance for your experience and advice.

[smooth operator]

I think that even if you had the time to do it yourself,being that its a new bike, its probably a good idea to have the dealer do it just so you do'nt void your warenty. My only consern when I took mine in, (when I was breaking it in in 99) was I had doubts on weather they actully adjusted them or not. Later on (long after the warenty) I did it myself. It took me a few hrs., but I took it slow (just a dumb tilesetter) with my Haynes manual. And had a couple of interruptions along the way(had to fill my beer mug) By the time you get everything out of the way, get them adjusted,torque everything back down,put everything back together, I would think it would take all of a couple hrs. Maybe a little more. You will probably get charged for 3, I would'nt worry about it,you did say you trusted him. Just get r done, so you can finish breaking in that bad motor scooter.  Dan

[Bob Holland]

I was told by a person that when he took his bike in for the first major service, valve adjustment, that he marked the nuts and bolts, and when he picked it up, they had not been touched. When he confronted the service manager, the service manager said that the valves did not need adjusting anyway, he didn't pay for it and lost all trust in the dealer. It was a Honda.

[ray nielsen]

I do my own servicing and recommend the 750 mile check.  The engine beds in a bit at first and that first valve adjustment seems important to me.

It took me a full afternoon, mostly because a cylinder head cover gasket around a spark plug opening dropped into the cam chain valley and had to be retrieved.  Putzy work with a claw type retreiver, mirrors and a friend with good eyesight to help.  

I adjusted the clearances to the maximum -- 0.006" intakes and 0.009" exhausts.  At 7500 miles they had not moved a bit so the next check will be done at 20K or so.  I expect them to be within specs then too, based on the sounds from the engine -- the sounds of many (16) mice busy typing away.

[amboman]

Thanks for your post Jehu Bandit.  My new B12 has almost 600 miles on her and according to the dealer service schedule is due then.  I have a mechanic that I trust for the things that I am unable to do myself, he says that on rare occasion there is no need to adjust valve clearances during the first service.  This does not mean that they should not be checked.  Also here in New Zealand if service is not done by nominated service center the warranty would become void.

[Red01]

I think that even if you had the time to do it yourself,being that its a new bike, its probably a good idea to have the dealer do it just so you do'nt void your warenty.

Also here in New Zealand if service is not done by nominated service center the warranty would become void.

Depends on the country you're in. As amboman notes, in NZ, service must be done by an authorized agent. IIRC, the UK is that way, too. In the USA though, that is NOT the case. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act not only allows an owner to have the service performed by an outside source such as an independant shop, or even themself, it allows you to install aftermarket parts and not void the warranty - unless those parts cause the warrantied product to somehow fail. In other words, if you installed a header and the charging system fails, you're OK, but if you burned a hole in a piston because your header made the jetting too lean, the expense is yours. If you do the service yourself, you should keep records and receipts to prove you did the required work in the event you need to file a warranty claim.

[solman]

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act not only allows an owner to have the service performed by an outside source such as an independant shop, or even themself, it allows you to install aftermarket parts and not void the warranty - unless those parts cause the warrantied product to somehow fail.

I have a friend who has a Buell and they told him that unless they do the work, the warranty is null and void.

[txbanditrydr]

I figure my first shot at a valve adjustment took about 8 hours over 3 nights.  Now that included removing the tank (freeking hoses took 30 minutes to remove   ), removing the entire fairing, cleaning things, adding some foam tape on the windscreen along with several other assorted minor things.  The actual valve cover removal, adjustment and cover replacement was on the order of 3-4 hours.  I had some help and it was more about learning how to do it right than a speed thing.  All valves were within spec but I chose to "even" them all out to their respective middle settings - for nothing else than practice.  I would anticipate a shorter amount of time next go around but will never rush it.

[Red01]

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act not only allows an owner to have the service performed by an outside source such as an independant shop, or even themself, it allows you to install aftermarket parts and not void the warranty - unless those parts cause the warrantied product to somehow fail.

I have a friend who has a Buell and they told him that unless they do the work, the warranty is null and void.

Well then, "they" lied. Do a search on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, if you have any doubts. A lot of dealers will try to make you think you have to come to them without coming out and saying the warranty will be void through hints and implications, but that's because they want your service money. OTOH, I'm guessing your friend's Buell service requirements are about the same as Harley's. One of the initial service requirements on one of my co-workers new Road King was to run it on an exhaust gas analyzer to make sure the bike is in compliance with EPA regs. This is something the average do-it-yourselfer isn't equipped to do, so that's one way HD has you by the short and curlies. A decent independant shop will probably have that capability though.