Valve check at 50 K

[Sandman North]

Ok the bad news Is I am due for the valve clearance check at 50,000 k . The good news I have put 50 K on my bike !

The manual says needs to be rechecked every 25K  I had them done at 25k and they needed shimming to get the correct clearance.

It was pricy 4 years ago at about $ 1300.00 Canadian dollars.

Is this an absolute must do or Hondas suggestion so lets them off the hook?

Thanks

[Art]

Just to be clear the thousands you speak of here are Kilowotsits.

Honda recommend a service interval of 24,000 Km (16,000 miles) for the valve clearance inspection. There are potentially two costs here, firstly there is the cost of the inspection and secondly the additional cost of any adjustment that may be necessary. For my two penn'orth which is echoed by many dealerships and independent workshops that is a far too cautious service interval. Assuming the engine is running smoothly and returning an expected fuel consumption I'd leave it longer, much longer. How much longer is your call. I left my first valve clearance inspection until the 48,000 mile (72,000 Km) service and adjusted the two exhaust valve clearances found to be outside of the specification. I've now no intention of re-checking them again until the 96,000 (144,000 Km) service.

Of interest here is spark plug replacement. Honda recommend a service interval of 16,000 miles (24,000 Km) which coincides nicely with the valve clearance check, two birds with one stone maybe, who knows. However, NGK recommend a service limit of 30,000 miles (48,000 km) for their OEM CR8EH-9 (5666) nickel/nickle spark plugs. I side with NGK, the manufacturers, here and replace the spark plugs at the 32,000 mile (48,000 Km) service interval to coincide with the 4,000 mile (12,000 Km) step service interval.

[jm2]

That is a lot - at today's rate (if I'm correct) that is £800 (now, not 4yrs ago).

But I think the above is misleading.  We know most engines don't need adjustments there at 16k (MILES), but if yours did (maybe you ride it hard/experience more temperature gradients) then there is every possibility it will need doing again.  After all, that is what the maintenance check is there for.  Other possibilities are out there but you just don't know until opened up and measured.

Also note, the plugs recommended for an "F", the OEM plugs, are the iridium IRMC8C-9HES (not the same as installed on a mkI).

[Art]

Some fair points, as always, from jm2.

Yes, the NGK IMR8C-9HES iridium spark plugs that some YouTubers and others have recommended and fitted to the SC58 (MK1) are for the SC64 (MKII).

The correct iridium spark plug for the SC58 (MKI) that NGK list as an alternative to the OEM NGK CR8EH-9 nickel spark plug is their CR8EHIX-9. However, I have heard of fuelling issues that some have rightly or wrongly attributed to the fitting of iridium plugs, whether that was as a result of fitting the incorrect iridium spark plugs, or due to some other fault, or if reverting to the CR8EH-9 spark plugs cured the fuelling issue was and remains unclear.

My spark plug of choice remains as the NGK CR8EH-9 and to replace them every 32,000 miles in line with NGK's 30,000 mile service limit at which time I may while I'm there, or may not, check the valve clearances. The bottom line is you pays your money and takes your choice, for my two penn'orth 16,000 miles (24,00 km) is a far too cautious service interval for a valve clearance inspection. I'm not misleading anyone here, I'm just stating what I've done, what my intentions are and what works for me.

It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has had a valve clearance inspection and adjustment and a later valve clearance inspection who has noted the valve clearances, adjustments and mileages between checks for comparison. I doubt if that information will be out there because few keep a motorcycle that long and then even fewer make such detailed notes of the service history. Watch this space I'm 20,000 miles off spark plug replacement and may just get down and dirty with the valve clearances just to satisfy that itch.

[Sandman North]

OK Thanks Everyone to clarify it is a 2012 CBFA

Because I have had the valves checked and proper adjustment done @ 25000 kilometers & a spark plug change, It should be good for some time.
I am 64 and ride like a 64 year old. Yes I like the odd acceleration test, but never had the front tire off the ground. Not like my 1983 Husqvarna WR awesome bike! Well so it this one!!

Thanks for all the input
love this forum.

Ciao