Valve clearances - 2012 twin cam

[King Key]

My bike has done about 7,000 miles and looking at the service schedule I see the valve clearance check/adjust are every 6,000. The bike had a full service at one of the main dealers in Nov 2013 just prior to me buying the bike. At the time it had 4,000 miles on the clock, whether they actually checked them I don't know.

Now to my question is, do the valve clearances on these engines go out to any degree at relatively low miles (say under 30,000)? I ask this question because the last bike I serviced myself (a Triumph Sprint) during the 27,000 miles I owned it not one of the valves went out of range. I see that with the twin cam engine if any clearances need adjusting one needs to buy the special shaped shims in the required size from the dealer rather than tweaking an adjuster and lock nut of the earlier models.

So as valve clearance checks/adjustments are every 6,000 miles how have people generally found they increase/decrease?

 

[Victor c]

Checked mine recently at the 12000 mile mark. In 0.16mm and exh 0.33mm, all well within spec. Can't say what they were at the previous check though, as main dealer checked. For the hour it took me, it is worth the peace of mind.

 

[B4ndit]

Checked mine recently for an early 12000 mile service. In 0.16mm and exh 0.33mm, all well within spec. Can't say what they were at the previous check though, as main dealer checked. For the hour it took me, it is worth the peace of mind.

Did mine last week. 2011, 1000 miles.

All exhaust were .37 mm. the inlets varied between .13 and .18 if I recall correctly (Don't have figures to hand at the moment) but within spec. At least I now have a base line for future checks.

Removing the coils were the only drama for me.

 

[big pete]

did mine over winter at 16000 miles (2010 adv).two exhaust clearances right at the top end of being slack but still within tolerance but one inlet too tight.Took all my measurements to allan jeffries at shipley and they got me the correct shims.Runs a lot smoother and quieter now.Not hard to do but you do have to have your brain in gear.