HondaVTRSP.com

Hi Lads,

Well I had the SP2 stripped down giving it a good check over, so I decided it would be a good idea to check the valve clearances early. I always like to check these things when I get a new to me bike.

Good thing I did too..

The procedure is well documented in the online manual (look in the links section) so I won't repeat it here, But here is what you will find inside.


New SP shims in their packets, the big one is from a BMW 650, the little one is from a 20valve FZR 1000.
The markings on the shims indicate their thickness, i.e. 220 translates to 2.20mm. 175 = 1.75mm.
Something I didn't know is that a 188 shim is actually a 1.875 and a 183 would be 1.825 they round the numbers for .025 sizes.



Front cylinder access with right hand radiator and camshafts removed.


Front cylinder again with camshafts removed.


Camshafts hiding in a safe place.


Front camshafts back in and timed up.


And then you have to do it all again for the rear cylinder, much better access. You can see the drive gear clearly in this pic.


So that's it.
It really is a job best done by someone else A pain in the arse. With the V twin It is like doing two engines at the same time.

6 of my clearances were slightly out of spec, on the tight side. I was able to swap two shims to different valves but had to get 4 new ones.
They are all now spot on. so it was worth it.

My advice to anyone thinking of doing it yourself, would be to make sure you are fairly experienced doing valve clearances. It's not that it's much different to other bikes but it is a fairly long job and very easy to muck something up.
It all went smothly apart from the Honda dealer taking two weeks to get the shims (not Dave Silver, I should have ordered from him). It can test your good will to all men attitude

It is back running now but the bodywork can wait until tomorrow, I need a stiff drink

Good post Dmac .. nice to see what the guts of an SP looks like!!

sweet! That's you sorted for a fair few miles...is it 16 or 18k on the SP?, can't remember off the top of my head
I do remember getting lazy last spring and paying someone to do it for me though
Not the satisfaction of doing something yourself and knowing it's done right but I know a good bloke and trust him totally so it was the next best thing in my book.

Pete

I think they're supposed to be done on the 16k service. However, mine were done at 18k. I say they were done, the garage said they were done, but they also said they had put the bike back together which I found out to be false when I broke down at south mimms services with an oil leak...

Rescue guy that came out had the bike in bits by the side of the road, and sorted it for me. I went back to the garage involved, and their response was "Well it's fixed now isn't it, what do you want us to do about it?". This was also the garage that put my bike on the dyno without my permission... Ok, I've got the printout, but would have preferred to have been asked first!

Anyway, because of this, I'll be getting it serviced by Honda this year, and I'm going to ask them to do the valve clearances too, regardless of whether they need doing or not.

Jon.

I checked mine last month when a pulled my cam gear silencers. All in spec at 15k miles. Front cyl is definatly a pain in the ass

Aha Pete, If I had the spare cash and someone I'd trust to do it, I would gladly give them the headache.

John, you are right it is every 16K. Pitty about your garages crappy atitude If it is any comfort, the leak was probably caused when the cylinder head covers were removed, so at least they looked in there

Hey Chip, Did you notice much difference with the gear silencers removed?

It definatly revs faster in neutral and I like it, but I'm not sure if I would remove them on a street ridden bike because of the noise. I got on a weight loss kick and the cam and primary gear silencers were on the list. It really is surprising how heavy they are.

Hy Dmac,

This is a good write up and pics, I think I will take it in somewhere to be done, I still have another 4K to go before I need to decide. I guess the worry is when you take it to Honda do they really check the valve clearances? or do they give the old chesnut that they are all within tolerance and dont need doing.

If it took the honda dealer 2 weeks to get the shims... makes you wonder huh

Maybe I will have a crack at it myself at somepoint just take my time over it.

Cheers

Al

At least you have plenty of time to decide Al,

I did mine 3K early. Some clearances were just on the limits so I changed the shims so that they are spot on. Every new to me bike gets a mini (major) overhaul.

Herself can never understand "you just got the bike, why are you taking it apart?" Sometimes I wonder myself

Ahh, good write up. Mines due for 32k clearance check. I've not got the space or the patience for this job so its off to George Petch Wheels in Grimsby. Not looking forward to the bill!!!