Valve adjustment

[mark81]

Background:  She's got a little over 60k on her now. 20k in the last year since I picked her up. Lots of highway miles on this last oil change and its been about 6k. Hearing some valve noise on cold starts gone when warmed up. She is 20 years old now  (will be 21 in may 05/96 according to vin tag. Cant wait till she is old enough to really go out and party)  My guess is she has been pampered all her life until I came into the picture. 1/3 of total miles put on her in less than a year.

Question:  How often do you guys actually adjust the valves?   Think it should be done? Im sure some of the noise is the 6k mile rotella t6 in her now. (Just did almost 3k on a trip last week, she is getting fresh when it stops raining)

[Chrisj CMA]

You have questions about valve noise. Then check them it's an easy job

[da prez]

   Make sure you look at the timing belts and idler pulleys. They can be foolers.  If you do the valve adjustments , I , personally would start with the belts. Most that I have done look good , but remember , they are 20 years old.                         

                                                     da prez

[Hook#3287]

Mother Honda says every 12K.

Some do them religiously, some never do them.

If you don't know when the last time was, time to do em. IMHO.

As Jeff said, it's an easy job, just follow the instructions in the service manual.

[hubcapsc]

I've never adjusted my valves, changed my timing belt or synced my carbs.

I remember a fellow on here who got into a bunch of trouble trying to
adjust his valves - he'd never done it before and was learning on his
bike.

I wish I lived closer to Attic Rat or Big BF... I'm sure all of these jobs
are NOT HARD, but they can have little room for error.

-Mike "in the meantime, my bike runs great  "

[The emperor has no clothes]

Compared to every other bike I've ever owned these are the easiest to adjust. Just follow the book. With 90k between 2 bikes I've only had to do one valve adjustment. I think only 3 or 4 valves needed slight adjustment . But if you are hearing them click they probably need a little.

[DarkSideR]

When I got my bike I went over everything including the valves. I picked a day, and planned the entire morning to do the job. Brewed a big cup of coffee and got to it. 1.5 hours and not even two cups of coffee later and I was done.

Follow these instructions (http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/carlvalve.htm) and you will find it's an easy job.

Hope this helps,

DarkSider 

[..]

DO NOT
DO NOT
DO NOT

Over tighten the bolts.

Find a child with small hands.

Getting the cable back in place is the fiddliest part of the job.

(Can't remember what is does. It's over 10 years since I did a valve check on my first Valkyrie but that was a PITA.)

[MarkT]

If they wear loose then all you have is a noisy valve train.  But if they wear tighter then you have blowby, loss of compression, and hard to start.  I've adjusted mine several times.  Always find a couple too loose & a couple too tight.

[mark81]

Thanks guys