There is a local guy here with a 1995 Connie that has over 130,000 miles on it and he has never even checked the valves. He bought it new and said that he didn't even pull the tank off for the first time until it had over 100,000 miles and he decided to change the spark plugs for the first time. These bikes obviously can be abused and still continue to roll. I on the other hand check/adjust mine about every 10,000 or so.
.....and there is a step-by-step tutorial.
Don't think so, or at least I've been completely unable to find it while searching for the very specific thing. I'd still like to know how most people get the cover out ~ I ended up draining the coolant and removing the T-stat housing to get enough room.I bring er out the left side. If you haven't removed the front/top/main fairing, you at least have to remove the lower bolts from either side, both the ones that hold the plastic to the fairing frame as well as the ones that hold the lower edge of the fairing frame to the actual motorcycle frame. You then lift from the front with your one hand while stretching the fairing edge away with your other hand, then simply slide the the valve cover out to the left with your other two hands...
I found a bike mechanic within 10 miles of my house who said he would work on my bike in his off time and would keep it cheap for me if I would have the Connie stripped down of all the body work so he could easily get to the engine. He is a race mechanic for Buell bikes as well as working on regular street bikes. He found the valves a bit tight and got them back to specs, changed my oil and filter, mounted and balanced a new rear tire, flushed all the hydraulics and put on new rear brake pads and charged me $350 in labor and it was another $88 for parts. The bike runs great when I brought it home and we even had to turn the idle down. I think I found a keeper with this shop as the stealer quoted me about $400 just for the valve adjustment.
Sounds like a keeper!! Found out a long ago,"take care of the people that take care of you" You know, like coffee and donuts, 6 pk, etc.
WHAT You came to my house and drank my beer whilst I worked on your bike...........