Valve clearances - hot or cold?

[Happygser]

My bike went to Bahnstormer for it's 12000 ml service this morning - left it there at 11am
I was told it was an overnight job due to valve clearances and the engine needing to be cold.
They have already serviced it (1pm) and sent a video saying they have checked the valve clearances and that they are fine.
I'm not very mechanical so am now confused - surely the engine is still warm.
Can someone educate me please?
Thanks

 

[Bigcats]

I am no expert but everywhere I am reading it should be done on a cold engine to ensure accurate measurements.

I am interested as mine will be having them done in march at Alton!

 

[The Other PaulG]

Important to do them cold on every bike I've known... but who knows, perhaps newer beemers are different? There's solid science behind doing them cold, though.

 

[Santa-2512]

When they did mine it was overnight, i think you can check them hot or cold, but adjustments should be done cold

 

[Hartley]

Never heard of valve clearance being done hot.
Thing is we’re talking such a small clearance the only way to do it and get consistent results is cold.

 

[verona]

When having my bikes serviced by BMW I’ve always waited for it usually 2/3 hours (GSA 1200 LC ). And 1150s hot engine to empty oil then let it cool down and do the valves no problems.
I don’t think it has to be stone cold.

 

[steve hughes]

Yep I have always been told cold . There is a fair bit of metal around the valve train, any heat will cause this to expand and close up gaps.

Turning to the garage comment, how did the square away their own comment “ its an over night job” bike was done and dusted in two hours !

 

[Jazbee]

Guzzi want your bike ideally afternoon before service as needs to be a cold engine for check & adjustment, never heard of it being done on a hot engine

 

[Stonesie]

These are German machines, there will be specifications...

Google = No higher than 35°c

So as long as the valve train got below that temperature it'll be fine.

That might be an industry standard as that 35°c figure is ringing a bell from way back when I was an apprentice car mechanic with HONDA and it makes sense as ambient temperatures can be up around there in summer.

 

[cookie]

When having my bikes serviced by BMW I’ve always waited for it usually 2/3 hours (GSA 1200 LC ). And 1150s hot engine to empty oil then let it cool down and do the valves no problems.
I don’t think it has to be stone cold.

Drain the oil when hot, then refill with fresh, cold oil. That's a lot of the cooling down right there.

The clearence difference when measured stone cold to slightly warm is likely not that much if anything at all. The shop mechanics probably know what that difference is anyway.

 

[Happygser]

Yep I have always been told cold . There is a fair bit of metal around the valve train, any heat will cause this to expand and close up gaps.

Turning to the garage comment, how did the square away their own comment “ its an over night job” bike was done and dusted in two hours !

That is something I do not understand either, plus they made me pay insurance and fuel for a loan bike because it was a 24 hour job…

 

[Happygser]

Drain the oil when hot, then refill with fresh, cold oil. That's a lot of the cooling down right there.

The clearence difference when measured stone cold to slightly warm is likely not that much if anything at all. The shop mechanics probably know what that difference is anyway.

I hope you’re right - the video they sent me showed the bike dripping oil out and the heads off with the voice over saying they had checked the valve clearances…

 

[Bigcats]

I mean lets be realistic
Its a cold area they work in as the door is always open (I have watched them service my bike on the TV in Nov)
He probably would have drained the oil and taken the heads off and carried on servicing other things whilst it cooled down, which would probably have been quite quickly

So I don't think there is anything to worry about

 

[Happygser]

I mean lets be realistic
Its a cold area they work in as the door is always open (I have watched them service my bike on the TV in Nov)
He probably would have drained the oil and taken the heads off and carried on servicing other things whilst it cooled down, which would probably have been quite quickly

So I don't think there is anything to worry about

Thanks - I suppose I’m keen to understand what’s going on, you do have to trust that they know what they are doing!

 

[Bigcats]

Thanks - I suppose I’m keen to understand what’s going on, you do have to trust that they know what they are doing!

Absolutely but I understand your concern as I would be thinking the exact same!

 

[Hartley]

At the end of the day, there nowt you can really do about it.
Mate of mine once said to me.
“ don’t you think it odd that you can book your bike in for valve clearances and have it back in a day but if you want to buy shims they have to order them in? “

 

[leadfarmer]

If it’s any consolation the LCs are apparently pretty much never out of spec, the shims are picked at the factory and they don’t move

 

[cookie]

At the end of the day, there nowt you can really do about it.
Mate of mine once said to me.
“ don’t you think it odd that you can book your bike in for valve clearances and have it back in a day but if you want to buy shims they have to order them in? “

I once went to buy a couple of Ducati valve shims from a franchised dealer. Spares dept. didn't have any and suggested I ask the workshop. They were very helpful and gave me their compartmented shim box and to take what I needed. First thing I noticed was the shims were all just chucked anywhere in the box and thoroughly mixed up so I had to individually mic up the whole lot. Second thing was that despite there being a lot of shims, they only had the sizes at either end of the range and not any that would be needed normally.
I did ask them about this and they said that they hardly ever needed to replace any

 

[johnnyboy]

My bike went to Bahnstormer for it's 12000 ml service this morning - left it there at 11am
I was told it was an overnight job due to valve clearances and the engine needing to be cold.
They have already serviced it (1pm) and sent a video saying they have checked the valve clearances and that they are fine.
I'm not very mechanical so am now confused - surely the engine is still warm.
Can someone educate me please?
Thanks

You have answered your own question in the 2nd paragraph. I'm assuming you were quoting what you were told by the dealership themselves. Maybe they meant the valve clearances don't get checked at the 12000 mile service.

 

[APHezzer]

Cold for clearances, otherwise there are too many variables .. I suspect the overnight thing is just to simplify their process .. it's a nice simple rule to apply that reduces risk .. I'd be happy with that.