an expensive lesson, learn from my experiance!

[don_vanecek]

Well guys, since my valves were last adjusted in, oh I think 1985 or 1986, and over 25000 miles ago and since the special tool (although a few members have it) is almost impossible to obtain-I took my bike to a shop to have this done.

I had found a non-dealer shop in Lincoln, NE that will work on all classic bikes. His shop rate is $65.00 an hour and since I have no way to transport the bike I took it to him complete (so I figured it would cost me a half hour labor to take  the tank and air box on and off).

Well this ended up being a FOUR and ONE HALF hour job!!!! And then the valve cover gaskets are over twenty bucks a piece plus four shims. Total bill was over $416.00!!!!!!!

Well, I don't want to fault the shop, it is a bitch to adjust the valves on the Vision and thank goodness they don't need it very often. The shop did appear to do a nice job and some of the replaced valves were on the tight side. But boy that was expensive-it sure wiped out my savings for awhile (sorry honey, the money for your mother's day present went to maintain the Vision-but I'll start saving for next year!)

So, some of the reasons this site exists, so we can do these-often just labor intensive-repairs ourselves. It's pretty hard to justify paying out this kind of money on a bike only worth a thousand or so. Many of us just plain could not even afford to keep these bikes running if we had to hire out most of the repair and maintenance items on them. And of course, these are the reasons we find many Visions that have sat for years and years, they started to not run right and the owners were not going put hundreds of dollars (of repairs at a shop) into a bike that wasn't worth very much to begin with. Perhaps someone will do an article on the Vision valve adjustment someday-I'm not going to worry about doing this again now for many years.

Anyway the bike did run nice-but can't say it didn't run nice before. I went a few miles from the shop and it proceeded to overheat (They had removed the radiator to get to the front valves and didn't have the system bleed correctly).  I got off the road and called the place, the owner came right on over to where I was and picked me and the bike up-went back to the shop, got the cooling system bleed and then I drove home with no further problems. He will crow out his mechanic on Tuesday (closed Monday). Like I say, I hate to fault the shop, he willingly tackled a job that he had never done before and he stood behind his work-but boy that was still expensive!

One last thing, when I had talked to the shop owner in February about doing this job he called whatever company makes Yamaha's tools and apparently he knew what to ask or WHO to ask as they did have a few of the special valve tools left-perhaps they will only sale the few remaining ones to shops-or we don't know the correct insider to talk to.

   

[Walt_M.]

That is an excellent lesson, too bad it was so costly. I hope all newbies read it and learn. You were lucky a shop would do it at all. Did they synch the carbs afterward? Recommended after a valve adjustment and not done by me when I did mine umpteen years but, fortunately not so many miles ago. Caused my first case of 'Vision Stumble'.

[kwells]

sorry to say Don but 416.00 to have any bike's valve shim checked and changed is actually reasonable.  I know I'd be wanting at least that much to do it. To say that it isn't worth it because the bike isn't worth it is to negate the inherent value of the Vision.  Just think of all the money you have saved in the past by doing the other things yourself. 

[VisionMeister]

I do mine myself and wish I could do it in 4-1/2 hours.
I don't have the tool and just pull the cams when I shim it. Usually takes a weekend doing about four hours a day because I burnout on it in that time.

[Brian Moffet]

Yeah, I think I did mine in about 3 hours.  (combined over a couple of days.)

But I had almost nothing else on the bike, it looked like this when I did the valves, you can see there wasn't a whole lot in my way...:

[don_vanecek]

I don't know if they synced the carbs or not-but I will check that out myself shortly. The bike ran just as good as before. Maybe this wasn't so bad, one of the local cops had his late model Harley in to the Harley shop, $200.00 bucks for a new rear tire and $300.00 for one of the Harley maintenance schedules.

Lets see I have cleaned the carbs, changed the fork seals, brakes, brake line, stator, clutch bolts, taken the wheels off (for new tires), changed the stem bearings, do my own carb sync and oil changes, what is all that worth?

[Night Vision]

4.5 hours includes the 1/2 hour it takes to figure out how to get the rear valve cover off and the 1/2 hour it takes to figure out how to put it back on.....  ;)

last weekend I rode down to my brother's and stayed overnight..

In three hours we:
dismounted and mounted a set of tires
replaced the rear brakes
and tore down for the next's days work

In six hours we:
rebuilt a nasty front caliper
rebuilt the master cylinder
replaced the fork seals
adjusted the valves
put everthing back together and went for a 100 mile ride.

now, those nine hours need to be adjusted for beer breaks and the fact that my brother is a wrench monkey (take that off..., put that on....) plus I didn't have my tools handy... I mean this guy only has 4 screwdrivers... pfftt... I counted 32 in my drawer  :o

besides the parts he already paid for... it only cost him all the beer I could drink and gas money for the Vision... prolly around $40

[Rick G]

I've done mine a few times , having lunched the bottom end twice.  I did them while the engine was on the bench.  When I do them  with the engine in the bike  I pull the radiator ,  carb,exhaust system ,all but the rear lower motor mount bolt  and  drop the engine down with a jack.  There no way I can do a decent  job , while fighting the frame , especially the rear cylinder. Its a lot of work but us old guys are fighting arthritis  and diminished vision
Its extra work but it gives me a chance to check all those other systems.

[kwells]

Diminished Vision....
now that sounds like a new member

[Rick G]

Yes it does !  Does anyone know him? ;D

[h2olawyer]

I'm resembling him.  At least my arms are still long enough (barely) so I can leave my glasses on - provided there's good light.  If it's dim, like in a restaurant, I need to take my glasses off & put whatever I'm reading about 8 - 12 inches from my nose.

Don - with all the previous posts regarding what a PITA the valves can be, I'm not surprised at the cost.  I'll probably just do it like VisionMeister & loosen the cams to change shims.  Still, I bet it was a shocker.  At least they stand behind their work!

H₂O

[Tiger]

 :) As much as it hurts the "bank account", it is nice to know that, at the very least, you have someone who is somewhat competent to work on your Vision, when the need arises...
When I first got "The Mistress", she had been off the road for a wee bit over six years, I threw her into a shop to get her carbs and gas tank cleaned out/serviced/tuned/safetied, etc...One week and $750.00 later she was all ready to go...and go she did ;D :D :D :D :D :D 8) Since then, (with help from friends here on the ROV!!), I have managed to do all that has been needed to keep her and others on the road.

Remember boys 'n girls, there is know such thing as a "FREE", (or cheap), Vision, eh Don :o ::) ;D :D :D :D :D :D

                 8).......TIGER....... 8)

[don_vanecek]

Well, after seeing some of the replys maybe this wasn't so bad after all. BUT, isn't it a shame both Bike and automobile/truck makers don't try to do a better job of not making if so hard to fix/maintain things that will need adjustment/replacement several times over the life of the machine! A water pump is one of my biggest beefs, the manufacturers have got to know they haven't invented life time water pumps yet, but take your FWD car in when the pump starts to leak and man will you ever have a bill to pay. Or if you have a model that needs the cam belt changed two or three times over the life time of the engine-not cheap!

Will I need to change the oil/filter and tell mother nature to warm it up a bit here in NE, my V is ready to go (will most likely need new tires in mid summer however).

[Night Vision]

I pm'd Don about his efforts.... I recognized the shop he went to, they specialize in RD's, so I'm sure they know their way around old Yamahas. He is fortunate to have a shop like that near him.

[Rick G]

There's nobody around here like that , except me and I take on  far too much old crap , usually Honda's.

The power steering  pump om my old S10 blazer , requires a special tool, to remove the pump pulley , so the pump can be removed from the stupid bracket, that it mounts to!
My pet peeve  is the total lack of access,to the in tank fuel pump  on all modern cars . It seems nutz to have to drop the tank to change the pump.  A 12 inch square opening above  the pump,  would make the  job a 15 min.  one.

[inanecathode]

There's nobody around here like that , except me and I take on  far too much old crap , usually Honda's.

The power steering  pump om my old S10 blazer , requires a special tool, to remove the pump pulley , so the pump can be removed from the stupid bracket, that it mounts to!
My pet peeve  is the total lack of access,to the in tank fuel pump  on all modern cars . It seems nutz to have to drop the tank to change the pump.  A 12 inch square opening above  the pump,  would make the  job a 15 min.  one.

Make a 12 inch hole. Techs do that all the time, if its non structural it can be replaced by welding, screws, or glue.

[Rick G]

I have made a hole on several mini vans, but the blazer  has a welded brace, right over the pump location and your stuck with dropping the tank. I don't know if its only the 4x4's or if the  2WD has the same brace.

[ps2/bikevision]

I have made a hole on several mini vans, but the blazer  has a welded brace, right over the pump location and your stuck with dropping the tank. I don't know if its only the 4x4's or if the  2WD has the same brace.

yea i know what your talking about there a PITA. had to change one in my old 89 jimmy. 4.3L 4x4. that thing was fun till i rolled it. what i loved the most is how they didnt use regular tank straps that most tanks are held in with. they used the stupid skid plate and short bolts so you have to use a jack and almost lift the truck off the ground by the tank. that is if you replace the rubber pads that are supposed to help keep the tank from wearing a hole through from vibration. i think i like s10's now about as much as a miata