So, I'm spinning up on the valve clearance check work, and as part of that, I checked the cost of a dealer performed valve check and adjust.

They quoted me what I though was an astonishing price, considering all the work involved.

The service manager told me: "4 hours for a full service check", about $350 with tax., including an oil change.

I was floored. I read the how-to's, and I'm no slouch with the tool bin, but I'm sure it would be 2 days for me to just get it far enough apart to check valve clearances, let alone adjust them if out of spec.

He was totally reasonable, too, saying it's too soon to consider doing this at 10K miles (what I've currently got on the cycle).

What am I missing? What should I be asking them?

Thanks,
Bob

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That sounds about rite. I have a 2012 ZX14 and I can remove all my plastics and tank in about 30 minunites. I've tore it down far enough to do oil changes, plugs, install PC5, Led lights, even in side of head light. Now actually doing the valves is something I'm probally not going to attempt tho. It may be more if they actually have to adjust the valves tho.

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I got my valves checked and adjusted for the first time at 26,000 miles on my 08 and it cost me $350+ gaskets and all my exhaust valves were just out of speck! I also had a couple of shops in my area tell me they won’t adjust valves on ZX-14’s because it is too much of a pain!

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I'll do it for $150/negotiable plus parts.

* Last updated by: nasty on 6/7/2013 @ 7:22 AM *

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Wow, this is coming up for me in 13k. I am stripping my bike for custom painting and it is SLOWWWWWW and tedius!
Geesh, what did we get ourselves into...Wait, no, I love this bike! Ehh, just part of the charm of owning the most beautiful bike in the world!
W

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If you can be certain they actually do the work, go for it. Ask to come in and view the feeler gauge test. They can't pull the wool over your eyes if you do that. If they say "against co policy," I'd pay someone else $600 if they let me see the test.

The test is the easy part. Seems like the final price should be determined by whether or not adjustments were needed. The adjustment ads a lot of work

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ok $600 would be a lot but $400 to view the test and 200 more if adjustments need to be done sounds fair to me if I felt %100 confident the work was actually done and done carefully.

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Wolf, what are you painting ? details please LOL ! was throwing around the idea myself, I kind of miss the graphics that were on my Gen 1 Busa, but not sure ANY graphics would look good on the 14 .....

Ride safe, but over 180 !

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Rook:

The test is the easy part. Seems like the final price should be determined by whether or not adjustments were needed. The adjustment ads a lot of work

How about if I gave them 4 sheets of paper, each one with the "cylinder / valve" picture on it (from the How-To), and told them:

"
When you measure the clearance, put the number here (indicating the paper).

If they're out of spec, and you need to adjust the shim, then when you measure the Current shim, and the New shim, put the measurement here.

When you re-measure after the adjustment, put the measurement here.
"

You get the idea...

I know the shop cost of this valve clearance work has been discussed before (I went thru the threads, and noted Hub's views on shop costs, so I have that in my head), and so I think I'm willing to pony up more money to have them give me that information, on paper.

You think they would do it? Falsify it?

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Carabuser,
Every time I arrive to bike night I see all the 14r models sold in Ontario in 2012 lined up side by side. We all own em and they look the same. LOL mine looks the baddest...anyway, more to the point, I am doing some custom touches and some air brushing. I'll send you some of my sketches if you're interested (pm) of course. For now I am working with a fellow here in Scarborough, who is doing the paint.

I plan to contrast bright metallic yellow, cobalt grey metallic and black metallic (all with metal flake, that works with the green and black flame patterns. That's the plan my boy...fun, fun!

I might also airbrush the 14 nation signature on the seat cowl with the 14 coming out of it's gaping open mouth.

Of course when paint is done, I am going to post some hot dog pics...

Mad love Cara,
W

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Sounds good Wolf, yea send some stuff my way when you get a chance, those colors should look wicked with the green !

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Once I have finalized my design scheme ( week or two ) I'll pm your way, bra!
W

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Ten years later and the cost for a valve clearance inspection/adjustment has almost doubled! I was quoted and paid $650(labor) + parts. All valves were in spec @ 24,000 miles. Next time I may muster up the nerve to do it myself.

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I stopped checking my clearance. Last check was at 62k and none had moved. I have 82k now and running great

Mad

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Good to hear Maddevill...hopefully I have the same outcome.

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Unfortunately the price of most things has about doubled at this point from 10 years ago. Not all, but much. I know one thing too, my income hasn't doubled. The US Government's Federal Debt was $16,738 Trillion 10 years ago, so it has literally DOUBLED IN 10 YEARS.

It's very difficult for me to accept at first clearance inspection all valves would be in spec. I've never heard or experienced this, although there does appear to possibly be a point the valves may have settled after the first couple clearance intervals. But I still think is temporary, maybe 1 or 2 intervals but it WILL NOT be permanent and at some point the valve clearance will be out of spec, even if it's after 75k miles (125k on the bike).

I've owned many bikes over my life span and only one of them required the valves to be adjusted upon first inspection. Yes, some of the valves moved but were well within spec. I have friends over the years who have had such experience as well as an infinite amount of topics across the net where individuals have reported that their valves were in spec when "they" first inspected their valves. Heck...there are many topics on this forum and just recently in this thread indicating that it's possible to have within spec valves when first inspected. I don't think that just because one bike's valves, albeit intake or exhaust, required adjusting when first inspected that every bike's valves fate is to be out of spec when inspected. Keep in mind that a valve inspection is just that....an inspection to determine "IF" the valves fell out of spec over a period of time/miles.

Like all things mechanical there will be tolerances, whereas it's all about the luck of the draw. Also in play is one's riding style and if they thrash their bike or simply cruise around never getting even close to pushing their bike to redline. There are so many variables in play that if we knew beforehand on how to prevent a bike's valves from falling out of spec, I'm pretty sure it'll be well documented and followed to a tee by many.

Again, there's no "one shoe fits all" in play here. I see it simply as a if you need your valves adjusted to be within spec...great! If you don't need your valves adjusted upon inspection meaning they're within the manufacturer's ranges....great!

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I guess it's possible, although I don't think probable, and who knows maybe someday I'll experience this. Maybe today's bikes are different, as since my primary pool of knowledge is based on 90s sport bikes. I do know I did my 14Rs first valve clearance inspection and several required adjusting. I probably have the spreadsheet I used somewhere around here.

There's a few things I don't want to argue about, but I do want to make a point about.

Yes, some of the valves moved but were well within spec.

I don't know how you would know this unless you recorded the clearances when the bike was brand new.

Also in play is one's riding style and if they thrash their bike or simply cruise around never getting even close to pushing their bike to redline.

I don't think this is as significant of a factor as commonly believed. While I would agree with that aggressive riding may result in more significant movements, I'm not sure I agree that even puttering around like a grandma will result in significantly different outcomes overall. IE the exact same bike ridden by grandma may have 6 out of spec, and if ridden by crackhead 9 out of spec. My understanding of valve clearance is mostly it's heat cycle and movement of the valve seat which causes the clearance to close, which is one reason usually more exhaust valves require adjustment compared to intakes. I'm sure it's possible to some valve stem stretching can also occur.

So I say it has more to do with how well the machining and assembly was vs. riding a specific manner. But I have no evidence to support this.