Valve Adjustment

[prometheus578]

Dr. Tim,
As for the shims, once you do it, you'll be amazed at how simple it was. Nothing scary. Now, if you want scary... I'm 45 and just tried to start dating again. I'd rather do shims or a re-build!

As for the oil leak... the gasket may have slipped out of place, no biggie. Mines a thick rubber one which I have reused over and over. (I have a couple 850's and their's are thin paper, so I know not what type you have. The thing about gaskets and sealants, (Silicone, black RTV, is to make sure the mating surfaces are clean. Get some Brakleen from the parts store. I use the regular stuff, but the Non Clorinated stuff, from what I'm told, doesn't swell rubber gaskets nor mars paint, in theory. Before you reassemble, spray some on a paper towel, and wipe down all contact areas (gasket too, if reusing) till the towel doesn't show dirty from oil, etc. Smear a light coating of sealant on both sides and put it all back together. Wipe off excess. (XS?) (Yes, silicone on the half moons)
I too, have one of those useless aftermarket shim tools. Glad that I saw the thread on how to modify it. Boy, will that make a difference

As for you being a Dr. ... The only difference between a Doctor and a mechanic, is that I wash my hands BEFORE using the bathroom!

HHmmm was that FEMALE volleyball? What channel?

Note to Czekus21: What's the name of that shop? I need to go there and work for them!!

And as was already posted, Dr. Tim, find a shop that will swap used shims for free. Yama and Kawasaki use the same diameter shims. Either Honda or Suzuki's are different. Diameter is smaller, I think... can't 'member. Make sure the ones you swap and get are the same size. Smaller ones could hop out of the buckets and cause damage. Just stand two next to each other. You can see if there's a difference. Again, this is not scary nor am I trying to make this appear complicated. It really isn't, just something to know about.
Nothing gives people on this site more pleasure than being able to pass along info to someone that's truly interested in learning how to maintain their own bike. Keep asking your questions.

"Dammit Jim, I'm a Doctor, not a mechanic!" "Bones" McCoy

[jazzrat2000]

thanks, I will get some silicone to use! and I l,ove Star Trek!

[Geezer]

Re: Valve Adjustment

Originally posted by scalded dog
I know the manual calls for the Valves to be adjusted evry 4000 miles, I talked with my local yamaha shop, and they said it would be $195-210. Labor, does this sound reasonable? Later 'Dog

Personally I think that price is very high for something that takes less than an hour to do in a shop that has a shim assortment.

Where are you? Maybe some one on the list is close to you and can show you the basics...

Geezer

[don07tncav]

I asked the nearest Yama dealer the cost and they said four hours at $60 an hour. I think I'll learn how to do this myself!!

[Geezer]

Originally posted by don07tncav
I asked the nearest Yama dealer the cost and they said four hours at $60 an hour. I think I'll learn how to do this myself!!

Back when I was a Yamaha mechanic, I could service the whole bike in 4 hours and I do stuff that many mechanics don't even check...

Geezer

[Czekus21]

Note to Czekus21: What's the name of that shop? I need to go there and work for them!!

That shop is the Mid-America Moto- Plex Here in Sioux Falls.
Also pretty close to the same quote is Power Sports, Rapid City
If things ever go sour working with the cable industry for me, I guess that I could get a very good paying job working at one of these places specializing in older bike.

[don07tncav]

Originally posted by Geezer


Back when I was a Yamaha mechanic, I could service the whole bike in 4 hours and I do stuff that many mechanics don't even check...

Geezer

I think three of the four hours is for the bike to cool down so it will be cold when they check the shim spacing...

[ratbyk]

Valve Adjustment

Just be glad that you own an XS/XJ. If it was a VFR Honda expect to pay between $500 and $700 for a valve adjustment. Apparently it is virtually a dealer only service operation requiring a great deal of time and special tools. Scheduled for every 15,000 miles under normal operation. If you run hard all the time expect to do more often.
Of course I can remember back in the early 80's I had a Suzuki Katana 1100 that was a snap to do. No shims. Just a feeler guage and a box end wrench. They had adjustable rocker arms. If I remember right it had a higher red line then the XS/XJ's as well.
Ken/Sooke

[prometheus578]

At least all we have to do is remove the tank, ballast resister, and valve cover and get to work. On some bikes, it takes 45 minutes to remove the body work, drain and move the radiator, coils, etc, just to get to the valves. Then depending how many need to be adjusted, and then 45 minutes to put all the crap back on. Other's need to have the cams removed, adjust shims ,and then re timed, etc. Can be a real pain, and obviously, the money starts adding up. We have one of the easiest bikes in the world to work on.

With older bikes I always quote high, telling the customer that there's always rusted nuts, stripped bolts, broken studs that I'll probably have to deal with. (And as soon as you "touch" something, it goes bad. Pull the tank, and now the twenty five year old fuel line starts leaking) If everything goes smoothly, then I charge him the actual lower time. I can't afford to spend two hours on a job, and only get paid for one.

I have a Victory scheduled next week and have to pull the engine just to get the valve cover off to see what's goin' on in there! I can't recall what I quoted him, but it'd make your hair stand on end.