C14 valve adjust interval?

[deagle10]

Rider magazine for the new 2010 says adjustment interval is now 24,000 miles.  Is that a typo or have the extended the interval (used to be 15,000 I believe)?

[j1mmyj4m]

I believe only the US had the lower intervals printed in the manual.  They must have caved in and admitted it after everyone noticed.

[jeepinbanditrider]

US bikes always seem to get shorter adjustment intervals.  Maybe we ride our bikes less overall compared to people everywhere else and they just shorten them due to time between adjustments or changes??

Take the FJR for example.  The US model's manual says 4k miles oil changes (as well as other maint. related items) and the European manual says 10k Kilometers or something along those lines.  Basically it's an extra 2 thousand miles over the US interval even though the bikes for the purposes of oil changes and what not are the same.  I simply split the diffrence between the US and "everyone else" maint. schedule and use that number.

[DosEquis00]

The question is has anyone adjusted the valves at 15k and found them all in spec? All the folks I have talked to so far have said a couple were out of spec.

[mcrider007]

Rider magazine for the new 2010 says adjustment interval is now 24,000 miles.  Is that a typo or have the extended the interval (used to be 15,000 I believe)?

Its an error.  Most of Rider's "test" looks like it was copied from a Kawasaki press release and the 24K valve adjustment interval looks like it was copied from Rider's October 2007 issue.

[FBRR]

The question is has anyone adjusted the valves at 15k and found them all in spec? All the folks I have talked to so far have said a couple were out of spec.

When I checked mine at 14K they were all within spec.  Many of the folks that said they "were out" found they were on the edge, not truely out of spec. As you are in there already, they adjusted several of their valves to be "mean of spec." Also many of those that found out of spec valves are the guys that show "hard use photos" and admit they run 'em hard. The harder you run your engine the more adjustment "wear" that will be evident.

I rarely rev'd to redline, and rarely ride "hard."

[Smoker]

The question is has anyone adjusted the valves at 15k and found them all in spec? All the folks I have talked to so far have said a couple were out of spec.

I had 9 out of spec, none center. 16K miles.

[DosEquis00]

When I checked mine at 14K they were all within spec.  Many of the folks that said they "were out" found they were on the edge, not truely out of spec. As you are in there already, they adjusted several of their valves to be "mean of spec." Also many of those that found out of spec valves are the guys that show "hard use photos" and admit they run 'em hard. The harder you run your engine the more adjustment "wear" that will be evident.

I rarely rev'd to redline, and rarely ride "hard."

Now that is good news

I had 9 out of spec, none center. 16K miles.

So much for the good news.

[steveWFL]

states in the '08 service manual every 26,000 miles.

maybe i should peek at my '10 owners manual. but I'm only at 3000 miles in 3 weeks

[mcrider007]

states in the '08 service manual every 26,000 miles.

That's odd, it states in my 08 Service Manual (page 2-3) that the valve clearance for US and CA models should be inspected at 24KM (15K miles).

Note:  CA is the Service Manual abbreviation for Canada (see page 6).  The abbreviation for California is CAL.

[steveWFL]

That's odd, it states in my 08 Service Manual (page 2-3) that the valve clearance for US and CA models should be inspected at 24KM (15K miles).

Note:  CA is the Service Manual abbreviation for Canada (see page 6).  The abbreviation for California is CAL.

yes sir, it says this in Kawi service manual  that ONLY the CALIFORNIA MODEL gets 15,000, and then it clearly says:

"Other than US, CA Model Every 42 000 km (26 000 mile)"

[Punchdude]

yes sir, it says this in Kawi service manual  that ONLY the CALIFORNIA MODEL gets 15,000, and then it clearly says:

"Other than US, CA Model Every 42 000 km (26 000 mile)"

I read that as "other than a US or Canada model, 26k miles...which would mean US and Canada are 15k..below is a paste of the service manual..I'm pretty sure the US is 15k miles.

Valve clearance - inspect US, CA Model, 24,000 km (15,000) mile
Other than US,CA Model Every 42 000 km (26 000 mile)

That being said, there are no differences between the European GTR1400 and the C14. It is likely that the U.S. has lower mileage for clearance checks for emissions.

I am having mine done at 25k miles. Believe it or not my Kawishop assured me that would be fine and I know others who have gone that long without isssues. Sure a few were out of spec but most were still in tolerance. Just my .02

[tjhess74]

guys, this has been hashed to death and confirmed with mother kaw...us AND ca models are listed at 15k mile intervals.  other get 26k mile changes.  it is an emissions requirement to keep the bike withing stricter tolerances in the states.

more guys are reporting valves that needed changing than not.  also, it has been discovered that most of the guys reporting that thier valves were all good at the first check had thier valves checked by the dealer.  either the dealer isnt doing the check, or they are calling borderline/bad valve specs good to save them time and earn $$$ (cause it is a pain).  i dont know of anyone that has done the valves themselves that has reported all new valves in spec.  if you think about it, on a new engine, its unlikely they would be perfect.

for the record im getting ready for my third check;

-1st- @15k miles- ALL but two were out of tolerance.  the two were within the acceptable range, but not perfect.  i was able to trade 8 shims between valves, and had to buy the rest.

-2nd @26k miles- All were in tolerance.  two were at the very edge however.  one exhaust was at the tight spec.  one intake was on the loose spec.  i was in a hurry to take a long trip so i left them until the next time.

-upcoming third @ 45k miles (in the next month)-i will bring those two borderline valves back into spec.  if all the others are where i left them last time, im abandoning the valve check process, as the motor has settled.  i might do it again in the 70k range.

with as tight as many (including myself) are reporting some valves to be on the first check, i would highly suggest you NOT wait to do until 26k miles.  by then, the damage is done.

[FBRR]

 " i dont know of anyone that has done the valves themselves that has reported all new valves in spec.  if you think about it, on a new engine, its unlikely they would be perfect."

Perhaps you missed my post above! I did my own valves and all were in spec. A couple( three) were on low side so I did change shims!
However, I ride moderate and rarely hit redline or high load, so mine did not wear much.

[Smoker]

I only bring the front end down because it's bouncing off the rev limiter.

[tjhess74]

 " i dont know of anyone that has done the valves themselves that has reported all new valves in spec.  if you think about it, on a new engine, its unlikely they would be perfect."

Perhaps you missed my post above! I did my own valves and all were in spec. A couple( three) were on low side so I did change shims!
However, I ride moderate and rarely hit redline or high load, so mine did not wear much.

youre right, i did miss that!  you are certainly in a minority in that case, but if you ride as easy as you say then that would be a good explanation.  its hard to keep this thing in the lower revs!