Valve inspection

[redbraid]

Well after putting off fixing my valve gasket leak on my 08 for as long as I could it is time. Got the gasket and spark plug hole gaskets and am diving right in. It is times like these that I miss my old bikes without body work, or cooling systems, and then I ride her and those feelings are gone. Thanks for all the tips, pointers, and advice. Was going to put off the valve check till 25k but am now at 23k so as long as I'm there. Wish me well.

[Pokey]

I wish you the very best of luck!

[C1xRider]

I envy you guys with the 08's and 09's right now.  Getting to the valve cover on my 10' was a major PITA!  Took longer to get to it then to remove the cover and check all the valves.

While your in there, take your time, make very accurate (triple even) measurements before pulling the cams.  Plan on pulling the cams and creating a map of what shims you have regardless.  It is good info to have.

Also, one word of caution, when pulling the cam covers, be extremely careful with the dowel pins under the caps.  One of mine jumped out of site and I didn't even know it was missing until I was taking inventory.  I found it down in the spark plug hole.  Luckily I had just put the spark plugs back in before pulling the caps, just in case.

Good luck!

[lather]

I envy you guys with the 08's and 09's right now.  Getting to the valve cover on my 10' was a major PITA!  Took longer to get to it then to remove the cover and check all the valves.

Why is it more trouble on the '10?

[C1xRider]

Why is it more trouble on the '10?

I'm sure it must be with all the heat barrier / partitions, and the giant engine condom that wraps around the top of everything (including the valve cover).  I could see a shop tech succumbing to temptation, and cutting that thing out of the way.  So far, it's been mostly cooperative, and I've only cursed at it a couple of times.