My dealer told me that after the initial 20 hours of riding or 3 months, that I need to have a full service done which is going to cost me $100 plus parts. They said it's very important to have it done because they need to adjust the valves. Is this something that honestly needs to be done, or is it a gimmick for the dealer to make more $$$? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

If the valves are not make ticking sounds and the engine still runs good, I'd say no. Then again I've seen guys go way past the 20 hr on break-in(like about 100 hours) and all kinds of things are screwed because the oil has major chucks in it and the filter is usually in by pass mode by then.

 

After reading about what other dealers charge for the intial service...100 bucks sounds reasonable. Well, depending on what they do. Oil and filter, fluid checks and belt checks(if that applies). The valve lash should be checked, and most likely wont need adjustment ( but probably will cost more if they adjust them).
If youre handy at all with tools, buy the service manual and do it yourself . Its not that difficult to do, and it teaches you about how things work.

 

well as far as valve adj on a new eng, ive learned alot on that after drag racing cars for 15 yrs. as far as a new 4 wheeler eng, i would check the valve lash after 25 to 30 hrs uf use, just think of this, the eng is new and has to break in right, well those valves are pounding the valve seats hundreds of times per min eventually after break in, the valve lash will tighten up due to it will break in the seat and itself allowing it to rise higher into the seat which means the entire valve will lift into the seat deeper (were talking thousands of an inch) which in return will tighten up valve lash i did my new ac 650 at 25 hrs and 2 out of 8 valves were tight just my 2 cents

 

I have also read somewhere that the 250 and 300 motors need the adjustment more often then the 400 and 500. I know from personal experience that with my riding buddies and the guys out at camp we have 2-250s 3-300s 5-400's, 8-500s and a 650. only one of the 400 needed the first adjustment, none of the 500s, and all of the 250s and 300s did need adjustment as well as the 650

 

Ok well I spent too much $$$ on this machine so I better go ahead and spend a little more to take care of it. I'll take it to get it done this week so I can ride on Saturday. Thanks guys.