Repairs vs. Mileage (Last Comments Noted)

[ValkFlyer]

Now that I’ve hit the century point I'm hoping to get some feedback to work through.


Below are some mileage categories.  What I’m curious about is what type of repairs you’ve had to make to your Valk by the time you’ve hit each one of these markers.  I know that some of you have gone beyond what is listed …but I’d like to stick with these if you don’t mind.  

Thanks for making the time to share.  And for those that can't    stick to rules there really aren’t many.

Rules:

1.   Stay within the mileage noted.
2.   Avoid including, general and or routine maintenance
3.   Keep it easy to understand “note the repaired item(s) only
4.   Avoid sharing the details or giving explanations
5.  Don't include modifications


You can track the results by looking at my most resent post below.  I'll continue to adjust as more come in.

Add items repaired under the mileages:

 Less than 50,000 miles:

 Less than 75,000 miles:

  Less than 100,000 miles

  Less than 125,000 miles

  Less than 150,000 miles
  
   Less than 175,000 miles
  
   Less than 200,000 miles

[SANDMAN5]

98 STD. Previous owner was not kind to her. Lots of weather-wear that
needs to be replaced. But, at 63,000 miles (over half are mine) the only
"repair" I've made is to replace the timing belts.....they didn't need it!!
Can't think of anything I'm planning to do before 75 or 100,000. Just
have to wait and see.   

[X Ring]

Iirc, ChrisJ basically rebuilt his Valk at 100K.  If you really want to talk with someone who's hit that 4 times, talk with DDT.

Marty

[Michvalk]

99 Interstate, 40,000 Miles. "0" Repairs. Normal maintainance

[art]

135000 total on my 02 standard.Timing belts at 70000,head gaskets @85000,Swing arm bearings @85000,Drive shaft and pinion cup@120000,fork seals and stearing head bearings @125000,Front brake rotors@135000.So far

[ValkFlyer]

135000 total on my 02 standard.Timing belts at 70000,head gaskets @85000,Swing arm bearings @85000,Drive shaft and pinion cup@120000,fork seals and stearing head bearings @125000,Front brake rotors@135000.So far

Art, with the exception of "head" gaskets, fork seals, and stearing head bearings all sound more like routine maintenance, which of these were failures requiring that you repair?

[art]

The fork seals were leaking and the rotors were worn down a lot,they were below the low limit.The stearing head and swing arm bearings were not bad.I just changed them because I wanted too.I also did the rear wheel bearing mod.

[NITRO]

2000 Interstate, all of this happened before 50,000 (past that point now):

Replaced leaking intake o-rings
Rebuilt petcock twice (once around 40,000, again at 47,000)

[olddog1946]

01 std, less than 50000
fork seals leaking/replaced
left rear wheel bearing went bad/replaced
bad wheel bearing caused abnormal wear on final drive splines before I realized it was bad, have maybe 20% wear, bought another final drive to replace this one.
replaced intake o rings, due to leaks

[Willow]

Replaced timing belts at 145,000.  They didn't appear to need it.

Replaced drive shaft and pinion cup at 95,000.  My fault; not the Valk's.

Replaced rear bearings at 90,000 and 145,000.

Fork seals first time at 50,000 and, I believe, once since then.

Currently at 166,000 and way overdue for an alternator.  Carrying a replacement.

Also have replaced dampers and shock bushings, but that's sort of normal maintenance.

[Thespian]

 Got my Valk last July W 1,6500 had to replace the fork seals when I got it. Not sure if it was neglect or not. 26,690 now, just changed the oil for the second time. Ride her, she likes it! 

[PhredValk]

99 IS, 15K miles when bought two years ago, now 40K miles. Nothing.

Main thing I notice is no actual engine work except for gaskets. Just wait for the hydro lock guys to post..
Fred.

[Black Dog]

'97 Standard.  Currently at 80K. 

Just shy of 50K, left fork seal went south (replaced both). 

At about 60K, replaced starter relay.

At 65K, replaced a suspected bad timing belt tensioner pully (was squeeling at times). 

At about 72K, replaced pumpkin and drive spline.  First 4 sets of tires were done by/at dealer.  When I started doing the wheel removal and install myself, I noted the splines were already looking bad (at 40K).  I managed to nurse another 32K outta them, by doing things right.

Black Dog

[alph]

at about 65,000 replaced drive shaft and universal joint.  also, just because, all wheel bearings, they didn't need to be done, just did.  replaced valve stems at the same time.  they were rotten (11 years old!!) still have original timing belt, this last winter replace petcock with 70,000 miles, just because.

everything else is working good.

i do have a slight ticking sound around cylinder #4, could be a sticking lifter, or push rod, not worried about it yet, it comes and goes, it's gone most of the time......

oh yeah, '99 I/S with 74,000 miles. bought it with 42,000 miles and 0 scratches.  sure, both numbers have gone up.....

[6pak2go]

03 Standard 47,000:  leaking intake O rings

[NITRO]

You left out my two petcock rebuilds. Both times the diaphragm tore and the cycle would not run. I beleive this.qualifies as a "repair."

[BigAl]

WHere do you buy the new ones,Valk that is?

I know, they don't make them anymore.

But I think and this is just my opinion.

The shorter your riding season the more the person works on a motorcycle.

Because the longer your riding season the less time you have to tinker and tear up stuff that you then need to replace.

Longer riding season = less maintenance.

ANd Vice versa.

[R J]

135000 total on my 02 standard.Timing belts at 70000,head gaskets @85000,Swing arm bearings @85000,Drive shaft and pinion cup@120000,fork seals and stearing head bearings @125000,Front brake rotors@135000.So far

Why did you have to do head gaskets?

MGM has 242K and hasn't been open for repairs.
Engine mods, yeah it was open, but not due to a failure.

[ValkFlyer]

 replaced valve stems at the same time.  they were rotten (11 years old!!)

You left out my two petcock rebuilds. Both times the diaphragm tore and the cycle would not run. I beleive this.qualifies as a "repair."

Alph - I'm leaving the valve stems out since that should be a typical maintenance replacement unless you're working with the kind that you wrench down. (There'd be to many interpretations here)  

Nitro - I sure did,  I'll make the adjustment in my next update to the numbers.

Thanks to all

[art]

135000 total on my 02 standard.Timing belts at 70000,head gaskets @85000,Swing arm bearings @85000,Drive shaft and pinion cup@120000,fork seals and stearing head bearings @125000,Front brake rotors@135000.So far

Why did you have to do head gaskets?

MGM has 242K and hasn't been open for repairs.
Engine mods, yeah it was open, but not due to a failure.

I had water in the oil and steam in the exhaust.Usually that means blown head gasket.I changed them and tried it again an still had steam and water in oil.Second time I had the heads pressure ckecked and milled flat.I lapped the valves also since I had it apart,they didn't need it.I dye checked the cylinders for cracks and nothing showed up so I reassembled everything and torqued the heads and ran it for a while and retorqued the heads again.Its ok

[Rams]

Just bumping this thread because there's some good stuff to learn here, like what to be watching for.
Only owned my fat lady for three years and haven't had to do anything other then personalizing and routine maintenance.  But, my fat lady is fairly low mileage in comparasion to most.   Hey, I'm try'n to add as much as I can every chance I get. 

[Mr Whiskey]

2K/IS, 36k, just had alternator go south last week. Replaced with HDL's 97 Wing alt & took off for Hillbilly. So far, so good.
Peace, Whiskey.

[ValkFlyer]

WHere do you buy the new ones,Valk that is?

I know, they don't make them anymore.

But I think and this is just my opinion.

The shorter your riding season the more the person works on a motorcycle.

Because the longer your riding season the less time you have to tinker and tear up stuff that you then need to replace.

Longer riding season = less maintenance.

ANd Vice versa.

Big Al
Yes, your point is well taken.  And long or short, most that love their bikes or enjoy tinkering on them are going to address a problem before it becomes a failure.  All the same some issues and problems we just don't catch until a failure occurs, it was those that I was hoping to be able to capture via members input. 

With regard to new Valks, your also right although I'd imagine information gathered on such a thing should not limit one's thinking to a single bike.

Bottom line, it appears most are in agreement with your line of thinking given the lack of reads vs. reply's.  Thanks for your polite response.

[steve 3054]

40 K front right wheel bearing chirping...
42K Left rear wheel bearing  chirping...

unknown before 40K

[RainMaker]

Within the mileage categories, between 50K and 75K

1) Replaced rear wheel bearings (failing left rear - did double row mod).
2) Replaced dampeners (slop)
3) Replaced intake O-rings (leaking)
4) Rebuilt OEM petcock (leaking when checked when tank pulled - no other symptoms)

Everything else - basic maintenance (headlights, oil, tires, etc)

[tank_post142]

every 100-125,000 new bearings all around, 345,000 clutch. everything else is routine maint as fat as i'm concerned.

lots of people replaced clutches in the 60,000 mile range due to damper crapping out.

[HayHauler]

50k-75k
Water pump - leaking
2 sets fork seals - leaking
U-joint - sloppy
intake o-rings - leaking
Dampeners - slop
Petcock rebuild - diaphragm leaking
75k-100k
Replaced petcock/screen - leaking/clogged
Alternator @~86,500

Hay
Jimmyt

[ValkFlyer]

every 100-125,000 new bearings all around, 345,000 clutch. everything else is routine maint as fat as i'm concerned.

lots of people replaced clutches in the 60,000 mile range due to damper crapping out.

Thanks for the feedback Tank,
Just so I'm clear, this is a complete bearing replacement based on precautionary measures and not failure, right?

Also, any thoughts on why the clutch damper would be failing at 60K for some vs. the 345K you mentioned?

[PhredValk]

BigAl: That depends on one's situation. I have about 5-7 months of riding season, and no garage. I have to store the bike remotely in winter. When I need to do maintenance or want to mod the bike, it has to be a day that is nice enough to ride, and the cage is acting up so I can't drive to work and tear the bike down for a few days of wiring or whatever. Decisions, decisions...

I have a pile of boxes with purchased goodies in the basement because of this!
fred

[shooter64]

If all the final drives have to be replaced there will come a day when there are not enough to go around.

[Canuck]

'01 IS
Last year at 24k fork seals were replaced.
This year at 33k atlernator was replaced.  Also replaced the rear drive dampners while doing maintenane since they had some play in them.

[tank_post142]

i replace the bearings out of caution. although last summer on the way to inzane i lost a front one in nowhere Ga. at 2am.
 i was lucky on the clutch. there was a manufacturer in the first couple of years that used weak rivets to assemble the clutch damper, they seem to fail in the 60,000 mile range although i've seen it up to 20-25 earlier or as high as 80,000. apparently it was one manufacturer and i got very lucky. my bike is outside it's whole life so bearings and things that hate exposure are susceptible to failure but i ride the piss out the old girl.

[Crazyhorse]

Replaced yoke at 58K (forgot to follow proceduce on tighten bolts on pumpkin)
Alternator's brushes 76K
Pinion cup 98K
Shifter seal 89K
Kickstand bolt & spring 99K
Timing belts 103K   (belts looked perfect)
Need to replace front fork seals 123K
She still runs great and has never failed to get me home .

[Willow]

 Valkflyer, I don't want to rain on your parade, but I hope one thing you're getting from these responses is that there doesn't seem to be a consistent correlation between mileage and these repairs.

It appears to me this list once more confirms that for most of the needed repairs, something other than number of miles was the primary participant.

[czuch]

I think alot of these repairs are done from love of machine rather than need. We're used to having things go. Just dosent happen with the Valk.
97 Tourer, 74K on the clock.
I have 3/4 mile dirt road to navigate every ride, in and out.
I did the wheel bearings at 55K. Turns out when you pressure wash her the water gets in there.
The fork seals went when I hit a depression in the road left by the rain. It was a dandy and I knew I was screwed. Head bearings at the same time just because.
Around 40K valve adjust and carb sync. I did the rear dampners, again, just because.
Other than that, battery, oil change, air filters, tires/spline lube.

[Daniel Meyer]

Ride 'em hard. Fix 'em when they break.



There's a session at Inzane where we'll talk about this...

[ValkFlyer]

Valkflyer, I don't want to rain on your parade, but I hope one thing you're getting from these responses is that there doesn't seem to be a consistent correlation between mileage and these repairs.

It appears to me this list once more confirms that for most of the needed repairs, something other than number of miles was the primary participant.

Well I did see that coming but was hoping to see something different so continued to push...

All the same I'll just say thanks to all that took the time to share.  I've posted the FINAL numbers based on the information from the last members who forwarded their comments.

Thank you again!




Based on - 18 Valks and their owners input, here’s what it looks like:

• Shown in black are repairs needed due to failure, as stated by the owners.

• Those in red are repairs made based on the owners decision and not due to failure.

0 - 50,000 miles:
1 - Alternator
1 - Dampeners (rear wheel)   
1 – Final Drive
6 – Fork seals
3 – Intake O rings
3 – Petcock (rebuilds)
1 – Universal Joint (yoke)
1 – Wheel Bearing - Right Front
2 – Wheel Bearing -  Left Rear

 50,000 - 75,000 miles:
1 – Drive shaft
1 - Dampers (rear wheel)
1 – Final Drive (Pumpkin)
1 – Flange Set (Drive Spline)
2 – Fork seals
1 - Head Gaskets
1 – Intake O rings
1 - Petcock Rebuild
1 - Kick Stand Bolt and Spring
1 – Starter Relay
1 - Timing Belts
1 - Steering Head Bearings
1 - Timing Belts Tension Pulley
2 – Universal Joint (yoke)
1 - Water Pump
1 – Wheel Bearing (Front)
1 – Wheel Bearing (Rear)
1 – Wheel Bearing (Front)
1 – Wheel Bearing (Rear)

75,000 - 100,000 miles
1 - Alternator
1 - Alternator Brushes
1 - Drive Shaft
1 - Petcock and screen
1 - Pinion Cup
1 - Pinion Cup
1 - Shifter Seal
1 - Swing Arm Bearings
2 – Rear Wheel Bearings

100,000 - 125,000 miles
1 - Fork Seals
1 - Drive Shaft
1 - Pinion Cup
1 - Timing Belts

125,000 - 150,000 miles
2 - Fork Seals
1 - Front Brake Rotors   (normal wear)
1 - Rear Wheel Bearings
1 - Steering Head Bearings
1 – Timing Belts
   
150,000 - 175,000 miles
1 – Fork Seals
   
175,000 - 200,000 miles

[Hoser]

at about 65,000 replaced drive shaft and universal joint.  also, just because, all wheel bearings, they didn't need to be done, just did.  replaced valve stems at the same time.  they were rotten (11 years old!!) still have original timing belt, this last winter replace petcock with 70,000 miles, just because.

everything else is working good.

i do have a slight ticking sound around cylinder #4, could be a sticking lifter, or push rod, not worried about it yet, it comes and goes, it's gone most of the time......

oh yeah, '99 I/S with 74,000 miles. bought it with 42,000 miles and 0 scratches.  sure, both numbers have gone up.....

Ain't got no push rods, Alph, overhead cams.  Might need rocker arm adjustment, manual calls for adjustment every so often, I've adjusted mine twice in 100k, weren't off much, though.  Hoser