Valve adjustment, what else?

[Cincykz]

I'm about to pull apart the nt for a valve adjustment, 51k miles ish. It's had three prior. I'm going to do plugs and air filter when I'm in there, is there anything else I should be doing?

Bike runs well and returns pretty good mpg, although the revs flutter (drop rhythmically) as I let the clutch out from a stop. I have cruise control too, and always wondered if it was related to a vacuum pull from that.

 

[Cincykz]

 

[mikesim]

Have you personally done the previous valve adjustments? When was the last time/mileage when they were checked? The reason I ask is that my experience and many others on the forum is that the valve clearances rarely change from check to check. I've now extended my inspection interval to 45K miles. Same with the plugs. Honda recommended 9K replacement, I checked and my original platinum plugs were pristine at 9K so I extended my interval to 30K with no issues. I then switched to the Iridium plugs and changed my interval to 60K.

The valve check on the NT can only be described as a PITA so I was not unhappy to extend the maintenance intervals. At 140K miles Traveller still hums right along.

Mike

 

[Cincykz]

The first owner, a friend who I trust, did them. I don't have the Excel at home, but I believe slightly out of spec on the first, and both in spec but put back in the middle after that. I can't remember the mileages, I think 10, 20, 35ish? I am confident that they have been done. Bike runs like a top, except for the weird flutter on releasing the clutch.

 

[Woodaddict]

Search valve adjustment. Me and others have kept creeping up the mileage i think around 45k, and the clearance has been in the range, and just brought back to middle. Valves and seats are a very good long lasting material

 

[Coyote Chris]

Search valve adjustment. Me and others have kept creeping up the mileage i think around 45k, and the clearance has been in the range, and just brought back to middle. Valves and seats are a very good long lasting material

Me too. I kept extending the milage then stopped and then sold the bike.

 

[ST1100Y]

- engine oil + filter
- air filter
- fork bushings, seals, oil
- inspect/service calipers, thoroughly flush/replace brake fluid (lots of old crud in the ABS unit...)
- wheel and head bearings
- final drive oil
- splines (Moly), hub dampers, aluminum inserts
- rear shock mounts and preload adjuster oil charge
- replace coolant
- inspect all coolant hoses and the interconnect between the jugs (2 O-rings in there)
- check the wear indicators of the t/chain guides/spanners
- I check the valve clearance twice: adjust, rotate the engine by hand, measure again... just to be sure...
- use new valve cover gaskets and grommets, apply a fingertip engine sealant where the half crescent meet the straight parts
(you don't want having to go in there again soon over a bloody oil seepage... I even use a fine line of Pattex glue to stick the gaskets on the covers)
- have a serious look at the pannier's locking rails, clean, lube only sparsely with silicone oil, check for cracked mounting points
- inspect all electrical connectors and junctions for signs of corrosion, use suitable/plastic friendly inhibitor/protectant (like ACF-50)

YMMV...