Sprint ST Valve Adjustment

[Air_Bob1]

I just had my valves clearances checked on my '03 Sprint, and they were all within spec. This is amazing. They were checked for the first time at ~18K miles; all within spec. And again at ~34K miles; again all within spec.

The technician working on the bike said, "The valves adjustment looks great. I don't know what you are doing, but keep doing it."

What I've been doing is using Mobil 15W/50 oil from Wal-Mart or Costco and changing it every 3K miles.

The technician did say the bike needs a new Cam Cover Seal and new Seals for the holes in the Cam Cover where the spark plugs pass through. Not being a Triumph dealer, they did not have the parts, but said I could purchase them and bring them in.

So, I blissfully called the local Triumph dealers: Cycle Barn, I-90, Champian in Bellingham and Condottas in Wenatchee. None of them had the parts. It amazes me that a dealer does not stock simple gaskets for a product that they sell and service. Cycle Barn said they could order them and it would take about a week to get them. And they wanted ~150% of what everyone else was charging for the same parts. Cycle Burn lives!

Cascade Moto in Beaverton, OR was very nice and helpful. They had the parts and shipped them directly to my service shop, Monroe Motorsports in Monroe, WA.  

[trotsky]

I did my valves for the first time and they were all within spec at 24k.

I figured since it took me to long to take things apart I should at least play with one of the valves. So i tried out my home made valve tool on it to make sure it worked and all is well.

Maybe next time I will actually get to change some shims, but it doesn't sound like it since you made it to 34k without any adjustment needed.

[katrider]

I'm glad to hear that your home  made valve tooling worked as advertised...since I too have one in my rollaway

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

I'm glad to hear that your home  made valve tooling worked as advertised...since I too have one in my rollaway

The new Triumph motors (the 1050s at least) don't require a special tool.  Once the cams are out, the buckets are right on top of the shims, which are right on top of the valves.  Very easy to do.  Now the fun to be had getting the cams back in was another matter, but once figured out, is actually quite easy.

[stk0308]

I'm glad to hear that your home  made valve tooling worked as advertised...since I too have one in my rollaway

Have you used it yet?  Because the '02 and later motors are shim under bucket.  The 99-01 motor is shim over bucket.

I'm scheduled to take mine in for it's 86k mile service this Monday.  I have them check the valves every 12k and very rarely do any need adjusting.

[Air_Bob1]

The new Triumph motors (the 1050s at least) don't require a special tool.  Once the cams are out, the buckets are right on top of the shims, which are right on top of the valves.  Very easy to do.  Now the fun to be had getting the cams back in was another matter, but once figured out, is actually quite easy.

The 02-04 955 motors also do not require the valve tool. It is just the earlier 99-01 models that required the tool.

[trotsky]

yeah...the tool I made is just for the 900 triples that need the tool described in the shop manual and here.

[davenay67]

You did better than I did, 11 of my 12 valves were out of spec (tight) at the 12K service.  

As for the gaskets, I suspect the reason that most dealers will not stock them is because they are re-usable and should only require replacement if the original is damaged in some way.

Dave.

I just had my valves clearances checked on my '03 Sprint, and they were all within spec. This is amazing. They were checked for the first time at ~18K miles; all within spec. And again at ~34K miles; again all within spec.

The technician working on the bike said, "The valves adjustment looks great. I don't know what you are doing, but keep doing it."

What I've been doing is using Mobil 15W/50 oil from Wal-Mart or Costco and changing it every 3K miles.

The technician did say the bike needs a new Cam Cover Seal and new Seals for the holes in the Cam Cover where the spark plugs pass through. Not being a Triumph dealer, they did not have the parts, but said I could purchase them and bring them in.

So, I blissfully called the local Triumph dealers: Cycle Barn, I-90, Champian in Bellingham and Condottas in Wenatchee. None of them had the parts. It amazes me that a dealer does not stock simple gaskets for a product that they sell and service. Cycle Barn said they could order them and it would take about a week to get them. And they wanted ~150% of what everyone else was charging for the same parts. Cycle Burn lives!

Cascade Moto in Beaverton, OR was very nice and helpful. They had the parts and shipped them directly to my service shop, Monroe Motorsports in Monroe, WA.  

[DennyMoto]

I did the 12K valve clearance check on my '02 Sprint last week.  All was fine, in fact, none were even in the tighter half of the ranges.  I'm convinced that if one takes their bike to the dealer for a 12K service (and pays the nearly $500 cost!) the service writer will always say the clearances were off ... just to make the customer feel better about having spent so much money.

I too am surprised that local dealers don't stock gaskets and seals, especially something like a cam cover seal (since presumably most bikes they sell will be back for this service).

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

I too am surprised that local dealers don't stock gaskets and seals, especially something like a cam cover seal (since presumably most bikes they sell will be back for this service).

The cam cover gasket and plug (actually cam ladder) seals are reusable, and shouldn't need replacing.  You would think they'd still have one or two on hand, though, just in case.

[maddjack]

Mine were in spec (middle) at the 12k I am coming up on the 24k but am not worried if I go a bit longer .I think its how its maintained and how its ridden .I have had older screw and locknut bikes stay in adjustment for 30 even 40 thousand miles

[davenay67]

The bucket and shim valves just take awhile to bed in, and then they are tremendous at staying in tolerance. Not worried about having 11 out of 12 needing adjustment at 12K, I bet they are all perfect at the 24K check.

Yours may never need adjusting....

Dave.

Mine were in spec (middle) at the 12k I am coming up on the 24k but am not worried if I go a bit longer .I think its how its maintained and how its ridden .I have had older screw and locknut bikes stay in adjustment for 30 even 40 thousand miles

[DennyMoto]

The cam cover gasket and plug (actually cam ladder) seals are reusable, and shouldn't need replacing.  You would think they'd still have one or two on hand, though, just in case.

Right, and I did reuse mine without a problem.  But like any gasket, there comes a time that they plain wear out, and a replacement becomes necessary.

[Air_Bob1]

I picked up my Sprint form the Kawasaki shop where the valves were checked and the throttle bodies sinked. The cam cover gasket arrived the next day (shipped direct to shop) from Cascade Moto in Beaverton. The Kawi shop made no money on the gaskets or the iridium spark plugs I provided. I did provide the Triumph shop manual for their use, which they were quite happy about.

The bike runs great! It is now ready for ~5700 mile trip to Alaska over the next 2 weeks, leaving Saturday.

When I went to pick up my bike, the owner of the shop let me take a new (25 miles) Connie 14 out for a spin. All I can say is, "I want one!"