Valve clearance

[Twistedtree]

Hello all, just bought a 2008 tiger 1050. The previous owner told me the valve clearances had been done by the guy he bought it off. However he has no evidence of this. Bike has 29000 miles on it. Seems to be running well. Want I want to know is are there any signs that I should look for or sounds to listen for to show any signs the valves are running fine. I don't want to start into getting it all checked if it's not needed. Many thanks in advance.

[Freddy]

You will hear nothing from the valve area ever.

Althoug valve check is recommended at lower intervals, experience has shown that even at 60,000m they are still in spec.  I'd ride more and worry less.

[Paul2bikes]

All depends if the valve clearances have ever been done, if I didn't know for sure, I'd check them.

The earlier first 900's & 955's shim over, needed adjusting at every major service on my bikes which get oil & filter every 3k. Our 1050's are shim under, they seem to stay in tolerance better.

We don't know how they were when they left the factory. My first 1050 had 2 inlets near min at 1st major, my current 1050 had 6 shims changed at 1st major, they were all within spec but close to bottom limit, so all were put mid to top spec. They should be good to 36k now.

When people say they were checked or done, we don't know how they were, mechanics will use go/nogo gauges, so they could be almost bottom limit & zilch by next check.

[turtle]

Congrats on the new bike! 

I agree with P2B.  If you plan to keep and ride the bike, I would check them the next time you service it.  That way you get a baseline and peace of mind that they are right.  I agree they don't move much.  My 2011 has almost 50k miles and I have never had to adjust any of them.  But if you don't know, you don't know, and in my experience you can't get any insight from listening or looking (like Freddy said).  Just gotta bite the bullet and do it.  It is tedious but it is not that hard.  I have a good 'how-to' that I got from somewhere, probably from this forum (check the maintenance section).  If you don't find it there, I can look an electronic or copy and post it, if that helps.  Enjoy your Tiger!

[Twistedtree]

Thanks for the replies much appreciated.  Yeah I would like to have the link if you can provide it for me to have a check on it.  I'm not very mechanical minded so it might be out of my league.

[Freddy]

lt is tedious but it is not that hard. 

Agreed, and probably a good learning experience if you have a bit of mechanical knowledge and skill - until you have to start changing shims, then it becomes quite challenging/complex/risky.  Shim-under-bucket engines a not a thing to start learning on when it's time to change shims.

[turtle]

Originally Posted by Freddy

lt is tedious but it is not that hard. 

Agreed, and probably a good learning experience if you have a bit of mechanical knowledge and skill - until you have to start changing shims, then it becomes quite challenging/complex/risky.  Shim-under-bucket engines a not a thing to start learning on when it's time to change shims.

Freddy speaks truth.  Like I said, I never had to adjust - I have only checked them.  I've done shim under bucket shim changes on a single cylinder with some help.  I would not be too eager to jump into it on the 1050.  I will look for the procedure.

[Twistedtree]

Very much appreciated everyone. Thankyou

[turtle]

I am sorry for the delay.  I could not find an electronic copy so I had to get to a scanner.  Nonetheless, here you go.  This is just an assembly of information from various posts, comments, and other information I have pulled together and that I have used on my personal Tiger.  It is NOT an official procedure of any kind, but it should give you an idea of what is involved.  I also included a picture of the sheet I use to record the clearances so I can watch for trends as I go (it won't let me upload the actual Excel file).  Hope this helps!

[Mike_B]

Mine is on 67k miles now and is 9 and a half years old - they’ve been checked several times (including last December) but they’ve never needed adjusting.

Bike place I use reckons they never will now, if they haven’t so far.