I am just wandering do many quads need there valves adjusted when there bike goes in. This is my second quad and I have had a Harley for years. I do all the maintenance on my trucks trailers and toys. I am just wandering how often the valves need adjustments on the first service???

 

I hope this helps. Not all bikes NEED their valves adjusted BUT the clearance SHOULD still be inspected.

Since you are mechanically inclined, you should get a clymers or factory manual and check the valve lash on your own first. Now if you find it to be out of spec, then I would take it to the dealer and have them adjust it SPECIALLY if you have the "shim and bucket" type of valvetrain.

Otherwise, I suggest trying to do the adjustment on your own since at this point you most likely have the valve cover/s out anyways.

Good luck.

 

You are right, alot of people do thier own 1st service which usually only involves an oil change, which in turn means thier valves do not get checked. But I also know most of the Eigers do not need adjusting at the first service, which tells me that the service is done too early. So even more owners are out there with valves out of spec. You know you can hardly blame owners for opting to do thier 1st service and then not bothering to get the valves checked. My dealer is not too bad on pricing, but I've seen on here where some dealers charge way too much for the 1st service, one as much as $400. Put that on top of a new quad payment and insurance and there you go, not hard to see why. I believe in maintenance but i can also understand the reason some people fail to do it.

 

I might wait till I have 150 miles-200 miles on the Eiger before I bring it in to get the valves looked at.. The bikes still sounds fine.. I have had a trailer on it moving all sorts of stuff.. The engine sounds good no tapping. I am going to change the oil soon its coming up on 50 miles..

 

I'd say 150 /200 miles should be adequate to gain some valve clearance. I really think the dealers(directed by Suzuki Motors) should wait like you are doing, then owners will have their bikes serviced properly.

 

I did not need my valves adjusted till about 1000 miles.

 

there you go, 1000 miles. so even if people don't get thier valves checked til 500 miles there's still a chance they won't need adjusting.Goes to show that most Eigers out there are probably not set up to optimal performance specs.

 

Well thats the answer I wanted. I will keep changing the oil. And air filter. I am going to put on an inline fuel filter too. As far as the valve thing I am definetly waiting a few hundred miles. Atleast 500.

 

My dealer says "if its running good, dont waste your money on having me check your valves"

 

Exactly....

It seems sometimes people are adjustment happy with their valves these days. One of the techs at my local shop told me that probably 90% of the valves he inspects need no adjustment, and the ones that do are so minor that it makes no difference.

When your valves are getting out of whack you will know it..... or at least most people who know the sounds of their engine will know something is sounding different.