Author Topic: Valve Adjust Intervals (Read 8089 times)

ricklee4570 · « **on:** August 03, 2007, 07:09:24 AM »

I believe my 97 calls for every 7500 miles. Here is my question. How in the heck does Yamaha put out motorcycles that require adjustments at every 26,000 miles??? That is just plain awesome. What gives?? Why cant Suzuki come up with that. I ride a LOT. Which means at least yearly adjustment checks for me. (A real pain)

Anyone know the difference on the Yamaha's?

Red01 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2007, 12:25:35 PM »

The difference is (at least partly) due to the difference in valve adjustment method. The air/oil cooled Bandits use a screw & locknut adjustment in the rocker arms whereas the Yamahas with 26K intervals use shim under bucket on the valves. While the screw method requires more frequency, it is quick and easy for even the most neophyte mechanic to perform. Shim under bucket method requires camshaft removal to adjust as well as an assorment of shims. On the bright side for the Bandit is the valves don't usually move much, if at all, after ~15K miles. Personally, I check mine annualy and I put ~10K miles/year on mine and haven't had to make a physical adjustment since my 15K check.

I do believe the new 650/1250 water-cooled Bandits use a shim under bucket system and have long intervals, too.

Cryptoman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2007, 12:47:38 AM »

The 1250 indeed uses shim-under-bucket technology; however the maintenance schedule calls for the first check at 600 miles and then 7500 thereafter. That seems a little ridiculous. Maybe Suzuki wants to be on the conservative side since it is a totally new engine.

Blade · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2007, 01:15:34 AM »

My GSXR are shim under bucket and only require check/adjustment every 15K

Cryptoman · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2007, 02:05:08 PM »

I took a closer look at the service manual today, and the scheduled maintenance table in the front of section 0B calls for a 14,500-mile valve check interval, while the text description later on calls for a 7,500-mile interval. I think what happened is they updated the old Bandit manual and missed the change. So indeed it looks like the interval is typical of other shim-under-bucket setups, around 15K miles.

shrike · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2007, 10:45:23 PM »

call me crazy but I prefered the shim underbucket method on my KLR

Cryptoman · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2007, 01:10:22 AM »

I had a Kwak ZRX1200R, and you could swap the shims without pulling the cams. Nice. Damn I miss that bike.

terrebandit · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2007, 12:05:01 AM »

The water cooled engines have tighter tolerances and thats why they have longer valve adjustment intervals. The B-12's are very easy to do so its no biggie really. I can whip it out in an evening easy. I do mine 2X a year, normally.