Valve Adjustment

[AdvSac]

Ok everyone, my bike is coming up on 20,000 miles with abuse. I'm having a moment where I'm starting to really consider at least checking to see how much they have stretched. I have never cracked opened the engine on this motorcycle and I am a bit intimidated to do so. If anyone out there is willing to free up some of there time to assist a fellow CBR rider threw a mechanical adventure, let me know. there will be some Guiness and maybe, maybe, some PeiWei's in it for you...

I'm not a retard when it comes to mechanics, I have done my share. I just rather have someone with experience so I don't mess it up. If not at least throw in some encouraging words to ease my fears of tackling this project alone...

[Vtec44]

I'd love to come by and learn a few things, but like you I don't really do this on my own on my first try. :ohno So, anybody??? :D

[HollywoodBush]

How often you do a valve adjustment?

[Vtec44]

Typically, you check when it's about 16,000 miles for Japanese bikes (unless it makes funny noises ealier than that). I know Ducati's have some weird intervals. It sucks to own a Duc! :lmfao

[AdvSac]

To follow up and finish this post... I bought the factory Maintenance manual for the 2003-2006 CBR and proceeded to tackle this project alone. Turns out it aint shit. All valves are well within tolerance and the engine has been approved for return to service!:thumb

Easy money.

[Vtec44]

How long did it take you? I need to check mine soon!

[Dr. GoFast]

I've seen three people on various forums report that when they checked their valves at 16K miles, they were within spec. I have 12,400 miles right now and I do rev. the shit out of my bike from time to time (rev. limiter at the track). I think I will check at 20K. I've done valve adjustments on three different bikes in my life. like the guy said (advsac), it's not that big of a deal at all, ESPECIALLY if they're within spec. (if they're not it's a bit harder because you have to remove the camshafts, etc...)

[AdvSac]

Vtech, it took me about 4 hours to figure out what to take apart, check the valves, eat, shit, eat some more, and put most of it back together.

[Dr. GoFast]

Just finished inspecting my valves, inspecting my spark plugs and synchronizing my starter valves :D (16,000 mile service). i'm happy to report that the valves were in spec, the spark plugs looked perfect and my starter valves were way off sync so after the sync my idle and revs are much smoother now :banana . NO MORE BACK-BREAKING SERVICE FOR ANOTHER 16,000 MILES!! :woot

[Vtec44]

Nice! I gotta do that on my bike... soon :(

[Dr. GoFast]

Yea, i think advsac is either some kind of genius or on crack, because it definitely wasn't some really easy job that only took me a total of 4 hrs.... everything combined took me 1.5 days, but i went step by step straight from the official service manual.... how many miles do you have on your 03? i can help you with it if you want, but if you follow the service manual- you should be able to do it just fine. most of your time will be spent tearing it down and putting it back together.... fairings, air box, move the radiator out of the way, throttle bodies, valve cover, hoses, wires, etc.... make sure you have a lot of space to put stuff and stay organized with all the parts and nuts and bolts etc.. the actual checking of the valves takes only about half an hr.- it's getting to the valves that's a bitch.

[Dr. GoFast]

here's the short version of what you'll be doing:

http://cbrworld.net/forums/1/248256/ShowThread.aspx

there's actually a lot more little things that he doesn't go into detail about, but this link is a good summary.

[Vtec44]

Yeah, it's a freaking pain to remove everything. I have the service manual and it seems pretty straight forward. I'm coming up to about 13k track miles. :ohno

[Dr. GoFast]

eh- wait for 16K, it's now 4 people (including myself) who've all reported "within" spec at 16K- i push my bike hard too. it's my opinion that the 16K is conservative and that your valves will most likely be within spec even at 16K....but you never know. if you have to actually adjust- it really gets challenging because you have to remove the camshafts.... i'm glad i didn't have to do that. i don't feel that checking them was a waist of time even though they were fine. it gives me peace of mind (worth a lot in my book) for another 16K. if i would have not done it- it would've been always weighing on my mind, so i prefer to just do it and be sure that they're ok.

[Vtec44]

Yeah Honda recommends to inspect it at 20k, but I've always had it done at around 15 or so cuz I'm paranoid.

[Dr. GoFast]

actually, for our bikes, the service interval is every 16K per both the owner's and service manual.

[Vtec44]

actually, for our bikes, the service interval is every 16K per both the owner's and service manual.


Really? Damn I gotta read the manual again. I read it once like 3 years ago and haven't touched it since. But then again, my car's manual always recommend to change oil at 7k (Accura) but I've always done it between 3-5k.