just curious...

[stromin'taylor]

Picking up my Wee from dealership for 1st service tommorrow. Had 740 miles on it when I took it. Just out of curiosity and not wanting to get duped for the service, I took a small dab of wifey's figernail polish and put between the valve cover and the head on the front cylinder just under the gas tank.

I'm just wondering how many times dealers say they have done something and not done it. Another thing is I want to be able to trust my dealer and service dept. If I discover that the bead of polish is not broken, I'll start asking questions like "how were my valve clearances, tight, loose, in spec.?...", and see what they have to say.

Has anybody ever done anything like this and am I just being paranoid? Have never bought any bikes off these guys and thought i'd put them to the test.

I'll post again over the weekend either pleased and slightly embarrassed or extremely pissed. :wink:

[stlrmike]

Never done this, but I can tell you when I got the bill for my first service and compared it to what they did I was none to happy. More or less a $80+ oil change. Don't think they even check clearance on the first service. Didn't on mine. Supposedly they tighten bolts, check idle speed, steering, and brakes. I would be surprised if they do more than a five minute check and the oil change.

[Columbo]

I would do it, but it's not necessary this time (no valve adjust).

I have the same issue with my WRX...how will I know if they even put a feeler gauge in there? A dealer told me they had to pull the engine on the WRX to adjust the valves. In any case, I would insist on watching, even from a distance...I don't care about their insurance rules. I'll sign a wavier!! I don't trust them to do the big stuff correctly...and the customer will never know...AND THEY KNOW THAT!

[Big B]

Valve adjustment "check" isn't until 15k. I have never heard of a dealer checking the clearances on the first maint check.....unless you are gonna pay for it! But....why would you do that???? This aint no BMW or Ducati! :wink:

[cdnt48]

I've decided not to check my valves unless they get very noisy or performance or gas mileage drops off badly. I've owned various Suzukis since 1978 and I've NEVER replaced a shim.

[MWValley]

Hey buddy, check your valves! It's only every 15,000 miles or so. It just takes a little effort and if they're so tight that the valves aren't fully closing, the damage has already begun.

Some Strommers are finding their valves are tightening by 15K and some are not. IMHO I couldn't go past the 15K mark without knowing for certain what the vavle lash numbers were. The curiousity would kill me.

Ride well and with full compression!

[stromin'taylor]

Well, I'm feeling a little foolish right now. :oops: I should have checked out the owners manual closer on the maint. schedule. It's hard to believe that the valves don't get inspected until 14.5 K. The service manager said it's mostly due to the shim under bucket design of the valvetrain and advances in metallurgy. Makes sense, though.

My bill was $122 for the service. Not too bad, I guess, but I'm sure all they did was check a few nuts and bolts and change the oil which I could have done myself for $25 or so! :?

[water warrior]

Stromin'taylor, the owners manual is the first thing to read and try to remember. Now that the dealer has done his bit, it is your turn. Set a couple hours aside to tighten up the bike yourself. There is an owners check list posted somewhere here, that and the manual will be a great start to get familiar with your bike and the tools needed for general maintenance. Check nuts, bolts, fittings, snug up cooling system clamps, cables for no binding and proper routing. You will enjoy it and gain confidence in a hands on approach to the bike. Then make up a wish list. lol. Wrench On.

[stromin'taylor]

I did do a once over on the reachable things to tighten before I took it in and I have read my owners manual but I guess wasn't paying alot of attention on the maintenance interval section. 8)

[water warrior]

Stromin'taylor, good for you. Bad for me. If I had looked at your list of toys I would have realized you are not a newbie to things mechanical. Please accept my apology as I came across a little strong. Now, what's on the farkle list ?

[stromin'taylor]

Not a problem, Water! :) I've been riding and wrenching for over 30 years and at one point I was into classic Hondas. Did restorations on a 67 Super 90, 66 CB160 and a 65 305 Superhawk. Also did a partial on a 71 650 Triumph Bonnie. It was alot of fun and frustration, but those tinkering days are over. Getting older has made me lazier. :lol: Oil and filters and chain tightening is about all I care to do. And keeping my new baby clean! 8) As far as farkles, so far I've added the tank bra, handguards, and the Givi e45 topcase. Really like it! Next on the list is a MP or Cee Bailey windscreen to get rid of that awful highway buffeting! What a literal pain in the neck! :wink:

[water warrior]

Hey Stromin'taylor, the Hondas years ago were really nice bikes. I once begged for a test drive on a used but well kept Honda Dream(250 I think) and still remember what it made me feel like. I offered almost double what he just paid for it. No sale...........Wrench On.

[stromin'taylor]

Jay Leno has to be the luckiest son of bitch in the world to have all those pristine classic and antique cars and bikes. :?

[water warrior]

All it takes is a lot of money.