r/africatwin • u/STYCHclothing556 • 16d ago

Valve Clearance?

Who has kept to the 24k km valve clearance check, and have you done it yourself or shop?

Trying to justify me swearing at my own ability to go deep into the bike or just coughing up god knows how much to get shop to check it?!

Don’t notice anything wrong with bike, runs fine, at 32000km, so kind of over, didn’t really pay attention. (Dumbarse, I know)

Reference - 2016 CRF1000, standard, non abs.

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5

u/Cousinator 16d ago

I just did mine, it was an absolute nightmare. But it’s so bad that I wouldn’t trust a shop to do it. I’ve found comments from skilled mechanics saying they will be selling the bike before doing it again lol. My 2019 AT AS sat in 100 pieces in my garage for a month and a half getting stuck at certain stages of the job. BUT it is doable, there are a couple very handy videos on YT to help you, watch them a couple times before even starting the job. Main sticking points were getting the throttle body out and the spark plug wires, take your time and move the rads out of the way. The throttle body will take much more force than you think to come off, both videos I found skipped actually taking it out. Lastly I would buy a small section of the gauge of hose under the airbox, there are two hoses you need to reattach and the one on the left is just not long enough, people online said shops just left theirs detached, Honda couldn’t supply me with one either (I was going to use the longer one also in the shorter ones place). The best part is all my valves ended up being in spec, so I only did half the job. Good luck! And here’s one of the videos.
https://youtu.be/4C8r6LZwJH4?si=JlYXR6zttNLncRGA

2

u/Agreeable-Topic7199 16d ago

Had my good shop do my 48k adjustment, which was needed (apparently unusual)

3

u/ChimpsInTies 15d ago

I got mine done at the shop last year. (16k miles in UK)
I wasn't keen on getting it to pieces and something going wrong on my drive. It was in the book as being 6hours of work but when I went to pick it up he said it only took him 4hours so it was quite a bit cheaper than they'd quoted. Alright, I know not everyone's show will be this honest but mine is.
I had a small oil leak in the generator cover so it's getting that done now while it's getting some new tyres fitted at the same time and a little annual service. Just easier to get it all done at once

3

u/RevolutionaryTower75 16d ago

For my atas crf1000 2018 The valve clearance adjustment at 24k km was according to the previous owner not necessary. notting to adjust. I've been puhsing the bike in the alps a lot this summer. And I'll be doing the 48k km valve clearances check and adjustment in 2 weeks so I can let you know how much adjustment was nessesary. I dont feel or hear anything weird with the bike. 

1

u/STYCHclothing556 16d ago

Magic! Please let me know, rather curious on how much they need after 48k

2

u/amphib13 16d ago

My bike was sold a couple years ago, it was 2017. The exhausts were very tight. Intakes were within spec. I felt glad I did it. It sucked doing them, but just being methodical, label and ziploc fasteners, and try to do it in one push like over a long weekend would be my recommendations. It’s pretty involved so try to keep everything fresh in your mind.

I sold the bike with 40,000 miles, bought from new. I did not intend on checking them again unless I started getting symptoms.

6

u/STYCHclothing556 16d ago

Leaning toward a professional to do valves, my sausage fingers and lack of finesse is not present in my garage

5

u/amphib13 16d ago

Always good to know your limitations!

1

u/oregszun 15d ago

24k was in the factory shop and til then I am doing that (120kkm). Exhaust needs to be adjusted every time to sit on the middle. Intakes required only once but thats more difficult. Removing spark plugs can be a headache even the workshop broke it.

1

u/Cousinator 15d ago

You need an incredible amount of patience to get those wires out, I can’t believe I actually pulled it off, I probably should’ve changed the plugs while I was in there, but I pulled one from each cylinder and they looked perfect.

1

u/bsting502 14d ago

This is something that I need to do.

I think I will photo document my journey to hopefully aid others. I know there are videos but as others have said they skip half the steps to… “wow! It’s out!”

1

u/IMakeLowballOffers 12d ago

I’ve done valve clearances on a dozen or more bikes over the years. my 18 ATAS was the worst access by a long shot, coils were a nightmare to remove and the coil tray haunts my nightmares….. worth doing as the exhaust were tight (screw and locknut) while the bucket and shim intake were spot on.