Removing Valves to Clean Them

[JoeC]

How easy is it to remove the valves and clean them?
I recently had BMW do my left ones as a valve had broken (long story - long price ) but they advised to get the other side done as the ones they did were fairly carboned.
Just wondering if easy for a home mechanic who can do the basic stuff.
I was told by a mechanic that the valves clearances would not need to be reset afterwards.

Thoughts please.

Thanks
Joe

 

[mikeyboy]

How easy is it to remove the valves and clean them?
I recently had BMW do my left ones as a valve had broken (long story - long price ) but they advised to get the other side done as the ones they did were fairly carboned.
Just wondering if easy for a home mechanic who can do the basic stuff.
I was told by a mechanic that the valves clearances would not need to be reset afterwards.

Thoughts please.

Thanks
Joe

me thinks there may be a slight breakdown in comms between the pair of you

 

[JJH]

You will be taking the head off. Take out the valves to clean them? What mileage? It's not something I would do unless I was in there anyway. Unless there was such a build up of carbon that you have to go in there with a shovel. Of course you would be in there anyway fixing the preexisiting problem. Valve guide whatever. And you would be doing the clearance after that. JJH

 

[Schtum]

Unless there was such a build up of carbon that you have to go in there with a shovel.

Ahh yes, Formula Shell - I remember it well. I removed several mm's of burnt on carbon from the back of the valves and the stems on my Fiat Uno.

 

[Smug]

If you need to ask then it is not a job for you.

 

[JoeC]

If you need to ask then it is not a job for you.

But if you never ask you will never learn.
I like to understand what is involved and make my judgement call to suit.

 

[JoeC]

me thinks there may be a slight breakdown in comms between the pair of you

Bike went into BMW stealer as previous indi mechanic could not diagnose fault. After a while BMW said it was a broken exhaust valve in left cyclinder. As well as replacing this they cleaned up the valves and other bits on that side and got get the bike running. Cost ... just under £1K. They suggested cleaning the valves on the other side as the ones they did had a build of thickish carbon on them - they showed me them to prove this. Cost to do the other side ... they said not far off £1K.

Now you might understand why I am enquiring about doing it myself.

 

[Popell]

How about a few hundred miles with some additives in the fuel? I have no idea if they work well enough to allay a strip down.

Getting the head off and pulling valves is not rocket science but nor a job to be taken as an unguided novice without appropriate tools, sping compressor/torque wrench/feelers etc.

 

[cookie]

...and why do they need cleaning?

 

[monkeyboy]

But if you never ask you will never learn.
I like to understand what is involved and make my judgement call to suit.

Exactly..

Cleaning the valves is a piece of cake and not beyond the wit of you I'm sure. You just need a few specialist things, that's all. You'll need a cheap valve spring compressor and you will need to regrind the valves when you're there so you'd need some paste and a tool to do that. You'll need a torque wrench as well - probably 2. A low and a high one.

People will tell you that you need new head gasgets etc etc but I'm sure it would be fine as long as you're careful. Taking the head off and getting the valves out takes about 15/20 minutes if you know what you're doing. Clean the valves and head with a wire brush drill attachment. Grinding the valves another 20 minutes. Reassembly and refit another 30 mins or so. It's really quite straightforward honestly and nothing to be scared of. If you decide you want to do it, we (I if you want) could give you a list of what you do.

 

[cookie]

Exactly..

Taking the head off and getting the valves out takes about 15/20 minutes if you know what you're doing.

will it bollocks.

 

[karlp]

Exactly..

Cleaning the valves is a piece of cake and not beyond the wit of you I'm sure. You just need a few specialist things, that's all. You'll need a cheap valve spring compressor and you will need to regrind the valves when you're there so you'd need some paste and a tool to do that. You'll need a torque wrench as well - probably 2. A low and a high one.

People will tell you that you need new head gasgets etc etc but I'm sure it would be fine as long as you're careful. Taking the head off and getting the valves out takes about 15/20 minutes if you know what you're doing. Clean the valves and head with a wire brush drill attachment. Grinding the valves another 20 minutes. Reassembly and refit another 30 mins or so. It's really quite straightforward honestly and nothing to be scared of. If you decide you want to do it, we (I if you want) could give you a list of what you do.

So according to you 70 mins

Let's just say 90 mins

At a £1000 cost that is quite an hourly rate.
I think your timings are well out

 

[monkeyboy]

So according to you 70 mins

Let's just say 90 mins

At a £1000 cost that is quite an hourly rate.
I think your timings are well out

That's for one side remember. Well I've done it a few times now... so unless I live in a parallel universe... I'd do it for £100 a side. You only live up the road from me too It's a piece of cake.

 

[ianboydsnr]

fit a new head gasket, they are not expensive, not compared to the fact that you will have to re do it, if the old one fails!

it may need new guides fitted and reamed, false economy if you don't do it when it needs done!

 

[ianboydsnr]

will it bollocks.

I think you might be right, you can spend more than that on getting the exhaust pipe off, in fact much longer depending on when it was last off!

 

[Blackal]

How easy is it to remove the valves and clean them?
I recently had BMW do my left ones as a valve had broken (long story - long price ) but they advised to get the other side done as the ones they did were fairly carboned.
Just wondering if easy for a home mechanic who can do the basic stuff.
I was told by a mechanic that the valves clearances would not need to be reset afterwards.

Thoughts please.

Thanks
Joe

That's for one side remember. Well I've done it a few times now... so unless I live in a parallel universe... I'd do it for £100 a side. You only live up the road from me too It's a piece of cake.

Suggestion: The pair of you get in touch privately, and maybe work towards a day spent together - doing the job. It sounds like you would benefit greatly for that effort, and if you gave Monkeyboy circa £100 for the help - probably money well-spent.

If the other cylinder hasn't had new guides/seals fitted, then doing that on this side is perhaps not warranted for the moment. You could do that later with your new-found skill and confidence?

Al

 

[monkeyboy]

I think you might be right, you can spend more than that on getting the exhaust pipe off, in fact much longer depending on when it was last off!

OK - I'm talking about when things go ok obviously. Even if the studs snap - it still only take 15 mins to get the head off max. Removing the studs is a PITA for sure but can be quite simple if you're lucky and have a few tools. Jesus it's only a few bolts and it's the most easily accessible thing in the world. Before my last trip I was taking the heads off and swapping valves and valve gear ever other weekend looking for a noise. It really is such a simple thing. My bike has done 120k too.

To get the studs off older bikes I cut a tiny groove in the nut with a dremmel so I can see the stud threads then pour in some penetrating oil and leave it overnight.

 

[karlp]

OK - I'm talking about when things go ok obviously. Even if the studs snap - it still only take 15 mins to get the head off max. Removing the studs is a PITA for sure but can be quite simple if you're lucky and have a few tools. Jesus it's only a few bolts and it's the most easily accessible thing in the world. Before my last trip I was taking the heads off and swapping valves and valve gear ever other weekend looking for a noise. It really is such a simple thing. My bike has done 120k too.

To get the studs off older bikes I cut a tiny groove in the nut with a dremmel so I can see the stud threads then pour in some penetrating oil and leave it overnight.

Even if it took all day. - and I am on your side here. So as to reset the valve clearances etc, etc then that is good going.

A dealer cost of £1000 is still a lot of money for a day's work.

 

[cookie]

it would take me longer than 15 minutes to get the head off with a big assed disc cutter

 

[JoeC]

I do like discussions