So Im getting a tuneup on my bike at a local shop this weekend, and the tech I was talkin to said I should get the "full tuneup", a 200 dollar difference, because apparently at 21,000 miles my F2 should have had a valve adjustment (Im sure mine hasnt.)

200 bucks is a lot of extra money for 1 extra service, do our bikes really need this valve adjustment?? According to this guy (who did seem pretty credible) if our valves are too loose it just results in a loss of some performance, but if they are too tight the engine will be ruined, and that I shouldnt even take the chance if I want to ensure my engine lives on.

 

I believe valve adjustments are at the 16K service...If you can't swing that and it's running good, leave it...
RB

 

As it happens its running a little rough in lower gears but Im not sure why. It was fine when I got it and I think things might just need some lube, but in the lower 3 gears its rough when accellerating. It goes fine, and pretty smooth under heavy throttle, but mid to light throttle it almost stutters as it moves lurching forward then losing momentum, then lurching again, then repeating again and again till I give it more gas.\

What would I notice if something was wrong with the valves? It also afterfires when I gear brake, but I think thats fuel/air which shouldnt be valves.

 

The F2s and F3s have the toughest valvetrains of any bike in the world.My F2 has 55k and no valve adjustments yet.Yes,I run her hard.

Now,ask the dealer what he is going to do specifically.

Is he going to look at the valves,or shim them?

Are they going to be in spec,or close to spec?

All a dealer does is look,and shim when/where necessary.The shims (16 at the right height)will cost quite a bit.Some racers (like me) sometimes buy heads just to get the shims.200 bucks? Sounds fishy.

Sounds like you have a carbs issue.The valves will clatter when the are out of whack.

I'll be back,gotta run,lunch is over

 

just an fyi, www.denniskirk.com sell a box of shims for something like a 100 bucks. and you can always switch em out back and forth to get them to spec.

 

Well, I can afford it, I just dont know how much its worth it. The bike itself was only 1400 bucks, It seems like this maintainence would almost be more than its worth. But what he said about the engine bitin the dust if I they were adjusted wrong didnt sit well with me.

 

Thanks guys, from what I can tell the valve adjustment most likely isn't necessary, especially since I wont be driving it once it gets icy (which isnt too long from now). Called the guy and told him I only wanted a basic tuneup which it definitely does need, and Ill have him mount my tires at the same time. Thats about 240 dollars saved total

 

Seafoam will clean the carbs out.You can pour it right through the carbs while running,but make sure you are outside in a well vented area.That'll be a big help.

 

I was told the same thing by a Honda mechanic. He has seen Honda motors go 50,000 miles with no valve adjustments needed.

I spoke to him by phone when I was asking about my f2 with 21,000 miles