What's the story with my valves?

[Razzo Bolognese]

I suppose all them fancy tools is what I paid for.  I went to European Cycle Services and did everything they told me to.  My baby had a lot of little things wrong with her.  I pulled the trigger on the whole 6K service.  My belts were CHEWED UP and a few bearings were seized.  She was DESPERATE to be put on a computer and thanks to whoever improperly installed it my blingy clutch plate cover was effed up (they sold me a garbage used one for 30 clams!)  My valves did need work, my brake fluid was yucky and a host of minor problems needed addressing.  She's running much better.  Not four figures better, but better nonetheless  Damn!  Peace of mind is PRICEY!

-Dan

[scott_araujo]

Some fancy tools are great, some aren't really necessary.  I have TechnoResearch's VDSTS to tune my 800.  Something like that is essential if you want to do the work yourself.  But that much coin for a tool that I only ever use to set belt tension on a 2V?  I just use a 5mm allen. 

I did consider using some of the free or low cost audio software but it was more trouble to get it rolling than I cared for and I was more curious to see how it worked than serious about using it long term.

Scott

[Langanobob]

My belts were CHEWED UP and a few bearings were seized.

At 6,000 miles?  Wow.  Don't know the whole story but from my armchair quarterback position it sounds like someone screwed up by getting the belts too tight, either at the factory or the 600 mile service.  Seems like the cost of the belts and bearings should have been covered under warranty.  But again, I don't have the whole story.

Edit:  I went back and re-read page one and saw that it's an '05 so the warranty question is kind of out of the picture.  But it still seems not right, and they may have screwed up the belt tension when they did the earlier warranty work on the crank.  And, I know this is all water under the bridge and nothing positive to do about it now, but still...

[Bones]

I thought there was some type of guitar tuner you can use in place of that harmonic tool?
no?

[Razzo Bolognese]

At 6,000 miles?  Wow.  Don't know the whole story but from my armchair quarterback position it sounds like someone screwed up by getting the belts too tight, either at the factory or the 600 mile service...

Exactly what Jay the mechanic said.  They, like many things on my bike, were torqued WAAAY incorrectly.

-Dan

[red baron]

Exactly what Jay the mechanic said.  They, like many things on my bike, were torqued WAAAY incorrectly.

-Dan

Hmmm, wonder who did that.

[Armor]

The 5mm thing doesn't work with DS motors.   It's not even close.  You shouldn't guess at the belt tension.

[scott_araujo]

I knew the 4v motors were picky, didn't realize the dual sparks were as well.  Thanks for the clarification.

Scott