Triumphrat

UJMrider

Alright, my Tbird, which I purchased 2 1/2 months ago with 1958 miles on it, has now exceeded 6,000 (I ride whenever I can, and that's pretty often! )

Anyway, I called the local Triumph Shop and got their price for a 6k service: $450! Considering that I just put my car through its 90k service for $299, I find this price a little excessive. I mean, I knew going in that Triumphs weren't cheap, but it seems to me that an oil/filter change, carb adjustment and valve check shouldn't be this pricey!

Which brings me to my next point: The bike is running fine (great, in fact.) Which leads me to believe that the carbs and the valves are just fine (as they should be with only 6k on the clock.) I'm thinking I'll just change the oil and filter myself and do the carbs/valves either at the end of the season, or (more likely) at the beginning of next season.

Does this seem like a bad idea? I know Triumph recommends all the "checks" be done at various intervals, but, in the experience of riders here, how often do these parts actually get out of adjustment? Are Triumphs really that sensitive that they need this kind of constant attention?

I notice the next valve check isn't until 16,000 miles, which seems a lot more reasonable to me.

Not that it's relevant to a Triumph, but my brother just had his 1984 Kawasaki tuned up, for what I'm pretty sure was its first tune-up and valve adjustment ever, and of its 16 valves, only one was slightly out of adjustment. This is a 21 year old bike with 16,000 miles on it! I guess that's one reason I'm skeptical of valve adjustment intervals.

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Martin

08 Scrambler "Unscrambled": AI removed, Dunlop D404 street tires fitted, Bonnie Saddle, Slipstreamer S60 windscreen, Renntec Rack, JC Whitney top box and handgrips, Triumph C-Stand and number board kit, 1" handlebar spacers.

MickMaguire

Do the valve check.

the bike will sound fine even if the valves need doing, that is until you start to burn them out. With Hinckley Triumphs the valve clearances close up as they wear (as opposed to opening up like they did in the Meriden bikes). So you wont get any audible signs that they need doing.

I had several tight valves at 6,000

[ This message was edited by: MickMaguire on 2005-06-14 15:44 ]

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Mick...

Just remember; an awful lot of the free advice you will get on forums is worth exactly what you paid for it. There will always be somebody trying to convince you to do something really stupid, just because they did it or want to do it.

bobshields55

I concur with Mick. My bike hadn't done many miles at 6 years old when I bought it, 3500. Rode it a year and then had a major service done. Valves needed some adjustment, not major, but necessary. Found bolt loose on cam chain tensioner. She ran and still runs with lots of power since that service.

Do the valve check. :-D

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Bob
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JWoodsie

Get the valves done for sure.

barry5824

$450 !!!!!!!!!!! What a rip-off.

I recently had a 12k service done (at 7k because the bike had sat unused for 1.5 years in the previous owners garage) and it cost £150.

Also agree about the valve clearances, and once done you can forgat about it for a good while.

Cheers

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nil illegitimo carborundum

MickMaguire

12k service does not include the valve check which would be a fair part of that labor charge.

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Mick...

Just remember; an awful lot of the free advice you will get on forums is worth exactly what you paid for it. There will always be somebody trying to convince you to do something really stupid, just because they did it or want to do it.

cafetbird

Which is about $300 at current exchange rates.

Valve services are based on standard hours, so find the dealer in your area that has the lowest per hour charge. It seems typical here in the states to have these range from $200 to $600 bucks. I have seen dealer hourly rates range from $45 to $80 bucks.... and it usually depends on the market, and other marques on the floor.

That being said, it is pretty darn easy to do the valve service, or at least check your own. The toughest part is taking the carbs off; so if you have done that, you are halfway there...

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MickMaguire

Taking the carbs off to do the valves? Why? I certainly didnt remove mine. I just took off the tank and removed the back coils. I may have diconnected the throttle and choke cables at the bars to give some room but I dont recall doing so.

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Mick...

Just remember; an awful lot of the free advice you will get on forums is worth exactly what you paid for it. There will always be somebody trying to convince you to do something really stupid, just because they did it or want to do it.

Slinky

IIRC Triumph changed the service intervals so that the valves are not checked till 12,000 miles. I checked mine at 15k, had to make a few minor adjustments.

It is easy enough to do it yourself if you are patient and methodical. There is no need for any special tools as it is just as quick to remove the cams if any shims need replacing.

Like Mick said, no need to take the carbs off. The real fiddly part is getting the valve cover back on.

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98 Thunderbird, 03 Speed Master

MickMaguire

Slinky,
You are right that the interval is now 12,000 but the first one is at 6,000 the second one at 18,000, third one at 30,000 etc.

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Mick...

Just remember; an awful lot of the free advice you will get on forums is worth exactly what you paid for it. There will always be somebody trying to convince you to do something really stupid, just because they did it or want to do it.