Throttle balance & valve clearance

[oddshapedballs]

How often (time/miles) should the throttle bodies be balanced and valve clearances be checked, and if required adjusted?

Some say annually or every 6,000 miles whichever's sooner.

Every 6,000 miles seems a little extreme, I don't do huge mileage approx 15-20k a year.

 

[Flipfly]

How often (time/miles) should the throttle bodies be balanced and valve clearances be checked, and if required adjusted?

Some say annually or every 6,000 miles whichever's sooner.

Every 6,000 miles seems a little extreme, I don't do huge mileage approx 15-20k a year.

My understanding is that the 1200 self balances

Valve clearances should be every 6000

 

[seahorse]

6000 is the service interval. Neither job is difficult or takes very long. I have found that if adjusted spot on then valves and TBs will stay that way for some time. The first service I did myself after the warranty ran out, everything was out to some degree, which made me wonder how much care the dealer takes to do the job. I have done three services since then and never had to do any further adjustments.

 

[cookie]

My understanding is that the 1200 self balances

only at tickover.

 

[Pukmeister]

The job is so easy to DIY and it keeps the bike running sweetly, it makes sense to check them at every service.

Once set, the valves usually remain in spec but best to check them.

Throttle balance is best done with a Harmonizer and use of a GS911 to park the idle stepper motors, then reset them to base position (calibration) on completion.

 

[Boxerboy55]

I've had my bike for 6 years and never checked either of these 2 things. I'm not proud of it. Just never got round to it. Haven't done a lot of miles. Changed oil a few times.

I'm considering one of them balancer devices as I'm sure it might run sweeter. Having had a long test ride recently on a 2011 twin cam which spun up to 120 quite smoothly, I reckon the occasional valve adjust and throttle balance won't go amiss.

Many moons ago I played with mercury tubes on an old 750 but they're long gone.