Is Valve clearance decrease too much to travel??

[suecanada]

I hope to ride LRB to the RA rally starting out in 11 days. The left side exhaust valve does close up on me so I have checked it out. After 300 miles only since last Fall it would seem that it has closed down .001 to .007 from .008. So I have set it at .009 and may put it at .010 before I leave.

All 3 other settings are perfect and haven't budged off spec.

Think I should travel to RA on LRB checking and readjusting the valve??
Is there a problem with one side's exhaust valve being .008 and the other set at .010?

BTW the side of the receding valve is very thick still and according to Bruno guru...up to spec.

[Bob_Roller]

How far of a ride is it to  the RA? I would say you shouldn't have any problems, if the valve head is still thick. For your own comfort, check it just before you leave to go home, just to be sure. A slight difference in valve clearance won't be noticeable, it may be slightly noisier. But loud valves are happy valves.

[suecanada]

Me again...having returned after scouring "Boxerworks" forum for guidance. My take is this is much too fast of a clearance decrease and considering i will be riding hotter and faster and longer on the way to the RA, it is NOT wise to ride LRB.  The joys of having 2 machines is manifesting itself. I will send one or 2 cylinders to Bruno here in Canada for head work.....any comments..send both I assume. Valve work, meaning replacement I gather,  was done on this bike in 1995 which is 50,000 miles ago.

Anyone used Bruno?? I hear he is good..but requires cross border shuffling for you fellows down below the 49th.

[suecanada]

Well Bob, I'd say it is going to be a 900 mile run one way with david on his 1100RT so we won't be poking along. If I was just going to poke along all secondary roads and not a long day's run, I'd ride LRB but the bike will be loaded, it'll be hot and it's a long, fast run...all criteria that make me nervous if something is needing attention...which will likely take my attention away from important aspects of riding let alone the enjoyment factor lost over worrying something might give.

[Ed Miller]

Wow.  If you're sure you measured right and want to send the heads off, I would have both done:  valves, probably guides, and seats.  Much cheaper than having the valve shatter and take out it's friends.  How many miles on LRB?  Did you check your head torque?  I don't torque my heads every time I do the valves, but if the clearances change I do recheck and reset the torque before I reset the valves.  

I'm afraid that the heads will be next after I fix what I suspect is a clutch problem.  How much is the silly bike worth anyway?  

[Bob_Roller]

Ed, I figured my bike is worth in the $1500-2000 range. During this latest maintenance cycle, so far I have put a little over $1600 into the bike. Doesn't hardly make no sense, to put that much money into a 26 year old bike now does it !

[Ed Miller]

You just have to keep riding it, to get your money's worth back.  That doesn't suck.

[scottyintex]

I have a lot of money tied up in my machine, just put in an Omega charging system, LED taillights for both sidecar and cycle. Had the cycle repainted when I added the sidecar. Crazy for doing all this to a 27 year old machine.................. probably.  Could I get my money out of it if I sold it today..........probably not. But while the machine has limited monetary value.....it is invaluable to me. I have a totally cool machine that I love to run errands on. Like getting the thumbs up sign and smiles of other riders. Like people coming up and asking about my”old machine.”  Like people saying “ you don’t see many of those any more”; then telling me about the one they had.
      I love the way my grand daughters squeal with delight when I come riding up and yell”I want a ride grandpa.” I love the way it purrs down back country roads and the smell of wild flowers swirling around in my helmet. I love it that one daughter told the other daughter the cycle was hers when I died. So, yes my machine is old... a beautiful old classic that I love. A beautiful old classic that I will maintain in good condition. Am I foolish for putting money into this old cycle.......nope....how does one put value on the smile................ it puts on my face. Foolish no....crazy.....maybe...............but sometimes being a little crazy sure feels good. Feeling good....isn’t that why we ride in the first place. If it makes you smile.......do it.

[msbuck]

Sue,

You should definitely do what ever makes you most comfortable.  However, getting only that small difference could result from having the TDC not exactly the same both checks.  It is such a small difference...  especially when you can still see thickness on the valve.  

It's nice having a back-up bike so you have a choice!  I keep putting mine off because I just don't want to face it!  Don't know anything about Bruno...

I agree about putting money in the bike...it may be more than it's monetary 'value', but the joy of the ride and ownership is priceless!
[Ignition coil - $100, Stainless steel brake lines - $90, Valve job - $400+, Riding down the BRP with a smile on my face - priceless!]

[MrRiden]

msbuck,
You hit it. Owning a classic is a loosing proposition money wise. I've got perhaps 4K or more (including purchase) into mine not counting ancillary costs like safety gear and insurance and I still plan to spend more! Ah but the joy of riding and peoples curiosity at a 25 year old bike that can still do 80+ all day long, i'm lovin' it.
rich

[Ed Miller]

I know these things seem expensive to operate sometimes.  But is it really less expensive to buy new bikes every 10 years, or however long it takes for a modern machine to start nibbling away at your checking account?  

I'll never know, because I doubt I'll ever buy anything like that new in my life.  

[billygoat]

 I have had my 1980 r65 listed on cl in California for two months at $1900 and have no interest. My bike has everything, San Jose frame and fork braces, brown side stand, para- windsheild, luggage bags refurbished everything and runs great. I paid $850 and put in close to $2,000. I think the best way to get your money out of it is to part it out on ebay.

[suecanada]

Billygoat...you're alive!!!!!  Good to hear from you...are you getting out of the riding business??