Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: VirginiaJim on July 08, 2013, 05:13:24 AM
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Took it in Saturday for a valve check, throttle body sync, plug change, and brake recall. Seems to be a really decent tech working there (Village Motorsports near Orange VA). They're going to start working on it today. The tech asked about a coolant change and what was in it currently. The choices were green and blue, where blue was the long life version (5 years he said). I said it had blue in it. Thinking about that answer over the weekend I realized that the blue color was the container (Honda) not the coolant color :doh: . I just went outside and checked. I think I'll get them to do that as well since it is due for it. I'll keep ya'll informed of the progress. They do seem to be on the ball as they actually remembered what I told them the previous week and actually ordered the brake recall parts beforehand without having to leave the bike there.
http://www.villagemotorsportsva.com/ (http://www.villagemotorsportsva.com/)
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Did they give you an estimate for all that work?
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Nope. It needs doing so I'm prepared for it.....I think. They'll probably give me a call this morning with the estimate, though. That's what they've done in the past. I'm not going to go into the top end of the bike so someone has to do it. I'm still recovering from pulling something in my back last Thursday so I'm not even thinking about doing it myself.
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Is the shop going to give you numbers on the valve specs or just tell you they're ok?
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I believe that they gave me the specs the last time I had it checked there which was around 18k or so. The way I look at it, they do or say they did the work and the engine grenades, then I have something to go back to. I also have the extended extended warranty. I'm not worried about it. I'm not interested in creating a maintenance saga of trying to do this myself. I just don't have the time or the wherewithal to do this kind of work. I could do the coolant but they're already going to have the bike apart so they may as well do it. I like this dealer and I want to keep them in business using good techs.
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Great family business at Village Motorsports! I haven't had any work done yet, but everyone there is very nice and helpful. I was very impressed when my wife was looking for riding gear. The lady there took her time explaining all the features and making sure everything fit properly. Nice folks!
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great to have a good dealer around. Brought mine to the dealer for the first time since I own the bike for a valve check, plugs replacement and TB sync.
I was surprised that at 25K, all valves were within specs. Also surprised that each plug cost me 18$ :(
Not to bad after all that I had to pay 350$ for service at a dealer in 4 years.
Good to go for a while
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Hope they do you right Jim, sounds very likely that they will. 8)
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They're buttoning it up now. Just got the call. Said the valves were ok and will be including the clearances in with the bill. Throttle bodies were just a little out (said it was a PITA). Plugs had some black carbon build up (said I wasn't riding it hard enough :'( ). I'll remedy that in short order. Haven't been able to ride it as much as I'm used to doing as my workload has increased. Got something to do every weekend. They installed 5 year long life coolant as well. I'll have a look at the plugs when I pick it up on Monday. Can't get to it until then. They were amazed that the valves didn't need doing. So it's gone about 55k without needing shims. I really like this tech as he takes time to explain everything and calls you directly.
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They're buttoning it up now. Just got the call. Said the valves were ok and will be including the clearances in with the bill. Throttle bodies were just a little out (said it was a PITA). Plugs had some black carbon build up (said I wasn't riding it hard enough :'( ). I'll remedy that in short order. Haven't been able to ride it as much as I'm used to doing as my workload has increased. Got something to do every weekend. They installed 5 year long life coolant as well. I'll have a look at the plugs when I pick it up on Monday. Can't get to it until then. They were amazed that the valves didn't need doing. So it's gone about 55k without needing shims. I really like this tech as he takes time to explain everything and calls you directly.
:thumbs:
When I was getting my new rear tire put on last week I was chatting with the lead tech while he worked on my tire (usually they kick me out of the work area). I asked him about the valves on mine and he said not to bother brining it in till I have at least 55k on the odo. He said that he's not going to take my money for something I don't need. :o
I really like that guy. He's been riding a new C14 for the last 4 years but now he's on a brand new ZX10r. He said that it's part of the deal he has with the dealership, he gets a brand new bike every year. :)
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FWIW, I have two friends that have purchased bikes at Village, and the sales aspect has gone extemely smooth.
One of my buddies has been taking bikes to Village for some time, and he's never had an issue with the service department, and he is very particular in how he is treated as a customer. Tell me what it will cost, when things will happen, etc. So they have been very communicative with him and done very good work for him on at least two bikes.
Barry
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My bill came to 600 something but I had more work done than just looking at the valve clearances. I was expecting a grand or so. I'm picking it up Monday afternoon, hopefully.
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Good deal Jim!!!! :thumbs:
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My bill came to 600 something but I had more work done than just looking at the valve clearances. I was expecting a grand or so. I'm picking it up Monday afternoon, hopefully.
And it STILL won't have the Canyons mounted...
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WoW! A bike shop open on a Monday!
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Open on Saturday as well.
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Open on Saturday as well.
Ignoring me doesn't protect your bike any better :)
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:rotflmao: :chugbeer: Sure it does... Well that gave me a good laugh.
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Ignoring me doesn't protect your bike any better :)
It's always worked for me. ;) ;D
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Ignoring me doesn't protect your bike any better :)
:rotflmao: :chugbeer: Sure it does... Well that gave me a good laugh.
:rotflmao:
Me too!
I thought that you were gonna get them cages installed when this work was done Jim? You are REALLY tempting fate now!
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I've been tempting fate since Aug of 07. I really wanted to get this valve check out of the way before I tackled that project. It's done and now I can do it.
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It's done and now I can do it.
OK, we are going to quote you on that.....
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I've been tempting fate since Aug of 07. I really wanted to get this valve check out of the way before I tackled that project. It's done and now I can do it.
OK, we are going to quote you on that.....
He just said that now he can do it, not that he will or when.
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Fine point, but absolutely correct.
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He just said that now he can do it, not that he will or when.
Fine point, but absolutely correct.
Yeesh. ::)
Yes, I thought of that before I replied, but I had hoped nobody would notice.
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I didn't either, but thank goodness for Conrad. I owe him a beer for that one.
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:)
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Valve clearances at 55k
Cylinder 1 Intake 005 005 Exhaust 007 008
Cylinder 2 Intake 004 005 Exhaust 007 008
Cylinder 3 Intake 005 005 Exhaust 008 008
Cylinder 4 Intake 005 004 Exhaust 007 007
Valve clearances at 18k or so...
Still trying to find them..
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Spark plug gap spot on at .35. Plugs a tad sooty but otherwise look normal. The tech chastised me for being too kind to the bike. I'll try to rectify that this Sunday.
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Spark plug gap spot on at .35. Plugs a tad sooty but otherwise look normal. The tech chastised me for being too kind to the bike. I'll try to rectify that this Sunday.
going to church? I don't think that's what the mechanic meant...
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Yeah, that's right, Martin. I'm going to pray that my plugs look better at 110K miles... :rotflmao: I rather think I'll be on the road this Sunday for a 300 mile jaunt across Virginia.
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Spark plug gap spot on at .35. Plugs a tad sooty but otherwise look normal. The tech chastised me for being too kind to the bike. I'll try to rectify that this Sunday.
Amazes me that Kawi sez to replace plugs every 7500 miles and they are iridium. Does anyone do that?
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I'm sure that there might be some who follow that recommendation. It would be pretty pricey, though, unless they did it themselves.
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Valve clearances at 55k
Cylinder 1 Intake 005 005 Exhaust 007 008
Cylinder 2 Intake 004 005 Exhaust 007 008
Cylinder 3 Intake 005 005 Exhaust 008 008
Cylinder 4 Intake 005 004 Exhaust 007 007
Valve clearances at 18k or so...
Still trying to find them..
I assume that was his before measurements.... ;)
What did he set them to? (after measurement) and did he give you a map with the shims and thier locations?
Just asking....
Jim, those look to be at the bottom or below the acceptable values, but without the .000X (4th decimal place) we'll (you also) never know ;D ;D ;D
I used combined feelers to give me .0005" accuracy for my go/no go
Hopefully he set them at the upper limits ;) this time
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Amazes me that Kawi sez to replace plugs every 7500 miles and they are iridium. Does anyone do that?
It is no more ridiculous than their valve checking intervals. Well, maybe it is more ridiculous. They are both ridiculous.
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I assume that was his before measurements.... ;)
What did he set them to? (after measurement) and did he give you a map with the shims and thier locations?
Just asking....
Jim, those look to be at the bottom or below the acceptable values, but without the .000X (4th decimal place) we'll (you also) never know ;D ;D ;D
I used combined feelers to give me .0005" accuracy for my go/no go
Hopefully he set them at the upper limits ;) this time
Nope, he measured them and buttoned it up. No shims were harmed in the procedure. If I were going to do it, and I'm not, I'd put everything into the center of the adjustments. I had this done by a Kwak tech on purpose because if anything goes south it's on them, not me. So I'm happy with it. The bike runs fine. ;)
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Nope, he measured them and buttoned it up. No shims were harmed in the procedure. If I were going to do it, and I'm not, I'd put everything into the center of the adjustments. I had this done by a Kwak tech on purpose because if anything goes south it's on them, not me. So I'm happy with it. The bike runs fine. ;)
The flip side of this is that you have to keep taking it back to the dealer at 15K intervals to "keep it on them" and that is probably a good idea with 6 valves that may already be past the limit. I had the same situation with my bike, at 35K there were 14 valves either on the edge or just past it, just like they had been on the 17K valve check, but it took a lot less time to pull the cams and change all 16 shims than it would take to do another valve check at 50K. I put all 16 valves as close to the "loose" limit that I could and think this is a lifetime valve adjustment, I probably will never know for sure because I plan to replace the bike at 100K and at this point I don't see any need to ever check the valves again.
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The way I'm riding now, 15k miles would be about 3 years... I can live with that. ;)