Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club

General => 1500 Tech Board => Topic started by: jackt on March 18, 2019, 01:38:06 PM



Title: What does it cost
Post by: jackt on March 18, 2019, 01:38:06 PM
Need to get valves adjusted and new timing belts. Any idea?
I don't want someone to do it, I will do it. But having argument with friend about what it costs.
He thinks I'm stupid for doing myself?..... And he says I'm to old to ride and crawl around on bike.  He says it doesn't cost that much and it would be done right.
I guess he doesnt realize I'm top notch mech (haha) I'm sure I trust my work been doing it for near 60 years.


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: Chrisj CMA on March 18, 2019, 02:35:11 PM
 Costs less than $50 for new belts.  The work is easy if you go at it smart. Do it yourself


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: Willow on March 18, 2019, 02:41:14 PM
If you want a mechanic to do it for you, Tim Wolfe in Lawrence is a couple hundred miles east of you but very familiar with Valkyries and reasonably priced.   Link to Motorcare in Lawrence (http://motorcaretim.com/)


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: da prez on March 18, 2019, 03:29:42 PM
Last guy that said , you get to be my age , you will quit riding. He was younger. When you get into an accident , you will quit riding. I've been in nine. Any other ignorant comments.

       da prez


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: Chrisj CMA on March 18, 2019, 03:36:24 PM
Need to get valves adjusted and new timing belts. Any idea?
I don't want someone to do it, I will do it. But having argument with friend about what it costs.
He thinks I'm stupid for doing myself?..... And he says I'm to old to ride and crawl around on bike.  He says it doesn't cost that much and it would be done right.
I guess he doesnt realize I'm top notch mech (haha) I'm sure I trust my work been doing it for near 60 years.

Dealer charges could be as much as $400-$500


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: gordonv on March 18, 2019, 04:50:04 PM
Call a Honda dealer and ask. Know for sure. A private mechanic should be a lot less.

The Valk is easier to do the belt than the GW, none of that plastic to remove first before you get to the cover.

What ever you do, research, and do the belts right. The how-to for a GW mentioned removing the plugs, so the pistons are loaded and want to turn the engine.

I wont even get into the valve adjustment, other than why?


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: nogrey on March 18, 2019, 05:54:11 PM
Just did 2 sets of valves. One was way off (boy could you hear it too. Engine sounded like a diesel) the other had some minor adjustment, but nothing to write home about. Anyway, it took about 2 hours from start to finish. Shop rate is $85/hr. They might be able to do it in 1.5, but I doubt it. Still, that would put it in the $150 range. Belts takes me about 45 minutes.


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: John Schmidt on March 18, 2019, 08:36:09 PM
Last guy that said , you get to be my age , you will quit riding. He was younger. When you get into an accident , you will quit riding. I've been in nine. Any other ignorant comments.

       da prez
:cooldude: :cooldude: And Ross, you know I'm more than 77.  ;) I've had that same comment directed at me in just the last couple weeks...."you're too old to still be riding."  I told them "nope, too young to sit around waiting to die."   ;D


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: mello dude on March 18, 2019, 11:34:27 PM
Valve adjustment is stupid easy :cooldude: - Havent needed a belt job yet.


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: 0leman on March 19, 2019, 07:32:40 AM
Belts are easy, except on IS.  Have to take the pods off if you want to pull the plugs.  Add several more minutes. 


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: Challenger on March 19, 2019, 07:42:05 AM
I just replaced the belts on my I/S just because it is 20 years old. Really easy job and glad I did .  After inspecting the old belts, I'm not sure they wouldn't go another 20 years, No cracks and just as pliable as the new ones I installed.   Peace of mind is worth it.


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: Ricky-D on March 19, 2019, 09:47:09 AM
There's probably tens of reasons for wanting a valve adjustment on a Valkyrie but really,

If the engine has and still is running fine, and there is no obvious "tappet noise", it would be foolish to go in and mess around with that.

There would be nothing to be gained,  and might possibly cause some unintended consequences from the activity.

Always consider that an engine of this age is pretty well "set in", and if it's running fine, disturbing things are not warranted, simply as a "feel good" exercise.

***


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: mello dude on March 19, 2019, 06:14:19 PM
I just replaced the belts on my I/S just because it is 20 years old. Really easy job and glad I did .  After inspecting the old belts, I'm not sure they wouldn't go another 20 years, No cracks and just as pliable as the new ones I installed.   Peace of mind is worth it.

That's a good thought - my bike is a '99 but low mile.  Should I (we) do a belt job on generally lower mile Valk? -- Typically belts go 90k, mine is far below that.


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: Jess from VA on March 19, 2019, 07:16:00 PM
The manual says check belts (not replace) at 100K.

Many of our bikes are not to 100K, but 20+ years old.

So the issue becomes age, not miles.

Many (including me) have replaced the belts in the last few years because of this (and rebuilt or replaced the tensioners too) (you get Gates belts from the auto parts for cheap)

Because a broken belt on our interference engines (while running) may bend things badly, we do it.  

But I cannot remember ever reading a story about catastrophic damage from a broken Valk belt.

I do remember many stories about how the 20yo belts didn't seem bad at all, or cracked or stretched.

Here is what the internet says about interference engines:

An interference engine is a type of 4-stroke internal combustion piston engine in which one or more valves in the fully open position extends into any area through which the piston may travel.  If the timing belt snaps, they run into each other, causing bent valves (most common), cylinder head or camshaft damage, and possibly piston and cylinder wall damage.  While it is possible that no damage could occur from a snapped belt on an interference engine, such a case is unlikely. 


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: Forge on March 21, 2019, 03:59:45 AM
I read a post where a guy saw a broken timing belt at Inzane 15. Replacing them is not difficult and would be cheap insurance. I bought my 99 Interstate just over a year ago and it only had 10,700 miles on it. I replaced the belts just because of age. At the time, they were only 16 dollars and change each for the Gates belts. The belts were still mostly supple, but had a dry bearing surface. The big surprise was when I pulled the idlers to give them a spin and check for vibration. There wasn’t any vibration, but they were slinging grease out the backside seals. I replaced the pulleys too.

My son’s 97 standard was a different story. It had about 36000 miles on it. We decided to replace his belts, again, because of age. Not only were his idler pulleys also slinging grease out the back, but they had rubber deposited on the pully surfaces like small blobs had melted to them. His belts were still supple, but had noticable areas on the flat surface  had small “pits” where the rubber had come off. They were original Honda logo belts. We replaced the belts and ended up rebuilding his pulleys much cheaper than buying new ones.


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: mello dude on March 21, 2019, 06:20:18 PM
Well sh!t, looks like time for a belt job. Anybody got a link and photos?
I probly can figure it out, but its nice to have a good photo DIY job reference.


Title: Re: What does it cost
Post by: txtriathlete on March 22, 2019, 06:36:08 AM
Well sh!t, looks like time for a belt job. Anybody got a link and photos?
I probly can figure it out, but its nice to have a good photo DIY job reference.

x2. I'm taking my 99 IS (37K) to AK this summer and think I will change out the belts and adjust valves and carbs before I go.

Anyone have a link for a write up or video for the pulley rebuild?