 Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 318
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 318 |
Well, against my better judgment I am taking my prized TBA to the new Dealer here in town to get the valves adjusted. This a new Triumph Dealer that bought out the one here. I have been waiting for them to come up to speed. They are a Suzuki/Ducati/Triumph dealer. I went there yesterday to have a discussion with their service manager and tell him of my past experiences. Last time I had the vales done they other dealer had my timing chain off 1 tooth and I had to fix. They mounted the rear tire with the rotation going the wrong way which I did not catch for 2k miles etc... He assured me they were top notch and their lead tech had been to Triumph school. Is the valve adjustment on the Suzuki's similar to ours? Should I just take it ti Schwinn Bicycle shop? Signed - Freaking Out!!! 
Ride like a Combat Fighter Pilot
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 Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56 |
Valve adjustment on these is pretty straight forward and I really don't see how it could be messed up except by someone rushing not paying attention or someone who should sell their tools. That isn't saying it's easy, I found it to be a PITA since I didn't have a box a various size shims sitting here to choose from when I took it apart.My dealer is over an hour drive and the Yamaha places here didn't have the sizes I needed. Get Pats shim calculator if you do it yourself, I used it and it made the job much easier and less writing and figuring.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,465 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,465 Likes: 2 |
I had been there back when they carried URAL and stopped by again a few weeks ago (no work done). They told me they'd picked up a tech from Cycle Accessories. A later visit to Honda of Jax and was told that HOJ owns that Suki dealer too. Told me that they wanted to move the Triumph brand to Atlantic Blvd, but Honda said no! May be a bunch of Hooey, but that's what they said. Let us know how they treat you over there. I've been meaning to get my brake switch fixed for the past 2 years. 
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 318
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 318 |
Yep, when I stopped in to grill the service manager I noticed their labor rates are $130 hour. Seems high to me. Just about ready to rent a trailer and take her to Palm Beach Triumph, spend the night and come back the next day... They used to have a really good tech. Dahlonga is a bit further than I can go. Also, I think the tech they brought over may be the one who put my rear tire on spinning the reverse direction... 
Ride like a Combat Fighter Pilot
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
Quote:
Last time I had the vales done they other dealer had my timing chain off 1 tooth and I had to fix.
You rotated one of the cams yourself? If you can do that, you are more than capable of at least checking the clearances yourself, if not changing shims. Quite often clearances will be within spec the second (24,000 mi) time around. All you need is a feeler gauge. Jack up the rear wheel so you can turn the motor and remove cam cover.
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 318
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 318 |
Yes I did... I am doing the feeler gauge check tomorrow. My belief is the valves were never set correctly if the timing chain was put back 1 tooth off. It was very noticeable when I rolled the thing to TDC and looked at it.
I may even dig in and do the whole job myself once I am in there. Then I will have no one to blame but myself.
Ride like a Combat Fighter Pilot
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
I've got some shims and others on this site do too. When and if you find out what you need post same and we'll try to get what we got out to you ASAP. I do have the brass oil crossover tube washers and o-ring. Let me know.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 318
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
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Thanks Moe, and everyone else of course...
What a great Brotherhood we enjoy!!!
Ride like a Combat Fighter Pilot
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440 |
Quote:
I found it to be a PITA since I didn't have a box a various size shims sitting here to choose from when I took it apart. My dealer is over an hour drive ...
I almost didn't buy a Triumph due to this aspect of the engine design. It's a significant issue when the machine is purchased to commute. What would I do if this was my only transportation? Tear it down, measure for shims, put it back together, pick up the shims, tear it down again, and hope like He11 they're all correct so I don't have to repeat the process? I can already tell the 12K maintenance is gonna pi22 me off.
Jack
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 467
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 467 |
IF you can come up with a the shims it is not that bad to do.Just take your time and check and recheck.DO NOT DROP bolts into the engine.Put some rags in the head to catch anything dropped.Take your time when doing it.Save yourself a bunch of money and if it is wrong you can blame yourself. 
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Quote:
I found it to be a PITA since I didn't have a box a various size shims sitting here to choose from when I took it apart. My dealer is over an hour drive ...
I almost didn't buy a Triumph due to this aspect of the engine design. It's a significant issue when the machine is purchased to commute. What would I do if this was my only transportation? Tear it down, measure for shims, put it back together, pick up the shims, tear it down again, and hope like He11 they're all correct so I don't have to repeat the process? I can already tell the 12K maintenance is gonna pi22 me off.
Jack
exactly
Half empty.
Consider: no stealership has a full compliment of shims. "my stealer does" "Right". What they have was the full set, now they have the trays with empty bins. And even when they have the size you need it still needs to be measured. Scary part: Do you think the average tech goes to all that trouble? What does he/she do when 1. you want your ride yesterday 2. they don't have the shim in stock? exactly. 
half full. doing the shims yourself sets you up for the next 20000 miles.
P.S.: After you pull the cams once, it only gets easier & fasterer
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56 |
Quote:
Quote:
Last time I had the vales done they other dealer had my timing chain off 1 tooth and I had to fix.
You rotated one of the cams yourself? If you can do that, you are more than capable of at least checking the clearances yourself, if not changing shims. Quite often clearances will be within spec the second (24,000 mi) time around. All you need is a feeler gauge. Jack up the rear wheel so you can turn the motor and remove cam cover.
For the whole job all you need is a feeler gauge set, the pins for the cam gears, micrometer, and torque wrench graduated in Nm and adjustable down to about 8 Nm. The job really isn't technically hard to do. Shoot for the mid range of the clearances. Sounds to me like the gas and trailer rental you are going to spend to take the bike to a dealer will pay for the tools. On top of that you will save the service fees.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
Ian and Jim are spot on. My local dealer not only charged too much but I know I would have always felt like he was doing me a favour or something for charging me squillions. So without ever having done the shims previously myself, I bought the tools needed and with the help of this site and blokes like Ian and Jim, did them myself. My bike has never run so well as now and what's more, it made me feel great. I now do all my own servicing cos that way at least I know it's done, but not only that, you get to understand your own bike over time which comes in handy if/when you break down somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Go on, do it yourself and just remember, you have all these mechanics and others around the world as personal advisers just in case you're not sure with something. 
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: Taking Roberta to a Dealer (Yikes)
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,061 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,061 Likes: 8 |
Make sure you purchase a good Torx T 30 socket to remove your cam bolts. I broke my Proto when I initially tried to remove them. Took a hammer and large punch and shocked the bolt heads to help free them up. They loosened off easily after that. I adjusted mine at the 14,700 km mark and had to replace all the exhaust and 1 intake shims. They were all loose. Had to go through the process of measuring the clearances, pulling the cams, measure the shims, reassemble them, order shims and then repeat the process. It went off without a hitch.
Save yourself a few bucks and try it yourself. The hardest part is starting the project.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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