Valve adjustment at 600 mile service? By frankinnc (Read 1,636 times)

[frankinnc]

Hi, time's coming for the first 600 mile service on my 2012 Zuma 50F. The manual reccomends a valve inspection/adjustment at the first service--and the salesman who sold it to me reccomended the valve adjustment at 600 miles---but the yamaha mechanic at the shop says that it's totally un-neccesary unless I'm having problems and that he has'nt been doing these inspections for any of the first services. So, anyways, I've consulted folks in other forums and am still confused. And also alot of folks have said that the mechanics will often just listen to the engine (because they know that actually tearing it apart for this at 600 miles is un-neccesary) and , if it sounds okay, they'll claim that they made the valve inspection and charge you for it without actually doing it. I don't know what to do. I mean, the damn mechanic at the Yamaha shop where I bought my scooter is telling me not to worry about it--"I'll just change the fluids, look the bike over, it'll be fine" he says. I'm inclined to believe the guy as avoiding the valve inspection will save me cash, which leads me to believe he's honest --but then there's the possibility that he's dumbass. So, anyways, do any of you know more about this? Think the mechanics probaly right? Thanks.

[JR]

First of all welcome to the forum! The Yamaha Zuma sweet scooter. This is a very good question and for sure one can get a lot of opinions and it's confusing.

Myself with a name brand scooter with dealer support like the Yamaha if like you say you feel like the guy is honest then I would rely on the mechanics advice and I'll tell you why?

Even though the manual has a check list of what to do as general break in specs and PM some of them are based upon engineers technical data and generally speaking they look at things to check on what I would say is a more cautiuos maintenance schedule. It's like this what harm is going to happen if you check the valves and find nothing? Only thing it will be is money out of your pocket which is something I don't understand in this case?

Is the scooter at 600 miles not still under warranty? If so I wouldn't think a 600 miles check up would cost anything except maybe for any fluids which is generally not under warranty?

Second of all the mechanic if he's on the up and up and experienced knows these engines well and the valves is one thing that kind of tells off on themselves if they indeed need adjusting, the engine acts stupid.

So if she's running good, you feel good about your mechanic then I would go with my gut feeling, if it's listen to the mechanic and it later acts up due to the valves he's the one you can hold responsible for the problems and let the dealer know you'll expect to be treated right!

If you want to be sure and safe tell the mechanic open up the cover and look even if you pay, at the most it's a hour job, not a lot of money I would think?

Just my 02 worth.

JR

[scootertrash]

[replyingto=frankinnc]frankinnc[/replyingto]yeah i just found this website 7/20/2013 took my vino 50 in for the 600 mi service check at a yamaha dealer in norfolk va told them ichanged the engine and tranny oil and air filter myself and was told "as long as its running ok, theres nothing we need to do" i reminded them of the valve adjustment and they said "oh yeah" 85 $ later ipicked it up and looking it over i dont know if they got into the engine at all it ran good it still does 5156 miles now im wondering if the rubber drive belt is something that can be tackled myself or if i need to take into a shop preffererably a more honest one rsvp also considering hi perf muffler and heard about restrictor plates not only in the exhaust man, but in the tranny r si voix plais if u have any info thank you

[alleyoop]

Tight valves will start to cause Hard starting and some loss of power especially on your top end. Also when coming to stops IF they are really tight it will want to die and may die the motor will not HOLD idle. So there are symptoms that will alert you when the valves need to be adjusted. Also usually the EXHAUST VALVE is the one that gets tight and stays a little open and will not close and that causes loss of compression.

But if you do not trust the shop mark the nuts with a little line of paint or something that way you know whether they even loosened the nuts to whatever.
Alleyoop
Alleyoop