
1st valve adjustment
- silverbullet07
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:23 pm
- Location: Santa Clarita, Ca.
- Motorcycle: 2007 GL1800
1st valve adjustment
I'm up to 30k and it's time for my first valve adjustment. Looking at the manual it doesn't look all that difficult. Can I get any pointers before I start ? 2007 GL 1800 

- MikeB
- Posts: 3328
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:54 pm
- Location: Tacoma, WA
- Motorcycle: 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade
184K Miles
2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort
14K Miles - Contact:
Re: 1st valve adjustment
Make sure you have some shims on hand before you start the process.
The Hot Cams Valve Shim Kit - 7.48mm OD HCSHIM01 is what I used.
They are available on Amazon for about $60.
I also bought these two tools through Partzilla.
Tensioner holder A, 07ZMG-MCAA300 with rod and cord Tensioner holder B, 07ZMG-MCAA400 without rod and cord. They are needed to loosen the cam chain tension. In the service manual it says:
Failure to loosen the cam chain tensioners will result in inaccurate valve clearance measurement, due to the force of the cam chain on the camshaft
The Hot Cams Valve Shim Kit - 7.48mm OD HCSHIM01 is what I used.
They are available on Amazon for about $60.
I also bought these two tools through Partzilla.
Tensioner holder A, 07ZMG-MCAA300 with rod and cord Tensioner holder B, 07ZMG-MCAA400 without rod and cord. They are needed to loosen the cam chain tension. In the service manual it says:
Failure to loosen the cam chain tensioners will result in inaccurate valve clearance measurement, due to the force of the cam chain on the camshaft
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
-
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:04 pm
- Location: Eagleby, Queensland, Australia
- Motorcycle: 2007 Audio/Comfort
Re: 1st valve adjustment
At 30k, I'd be verrrrrrry surprised if any adjustment is required. My 07 has 250,000 km and no adjustment has been necessary yet. They have been checked and have come in on specs. Good luck with it.
Ride safe
Darksider #562
Phil
Riding 12 months a year, gotta love it.
Darksider #562
Phil
Riding 12 months a year, gotta love it.
- golden highway
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:23 am
- Location: Louisville, Kentucky
- Motorcycle: 1987 Interstate
1998 Aspencade
Re: 1st valve adjustment
I would check them before buying a shim kit. I have seen these with some high miles on them and still be in spec.
- MikeB
- Posts: 3328
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:54 pm
- Location: Tacoma, WA
- Motorcycle: 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade
184K Miles
2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort
14K Miles - Contact:
Re: 1st valve adjustment
If you already have it apart and find that shims are needed, would you really want to reassemble everything and then order shims and wait for them to arrive?golden highway wrote:I would check them before buying a shim kit. I have seen these with some high miles on them and still be in spec.
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
-
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 1:13 pm
- Location: Prestonsburg, KY; Edgewater FL
- Motorcycle: '08, '13 GL1800
Rear-Yoko Avid Assend 195x60x16
Front-Battleaxe BT-45
Re: 1st valve adjustment
A Honda tech told me one time that if you don't hear any valve noise don't worry about it. But, these valves get quiet as they get tight. A noisy valve is a happy valve.
- silverbullet07
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:23 pm
- Location: Santa Clarita, Ca.
- Motorcycle: 2007 GL1800
Re: 1st valve adjustment
Thanks Everybody, I really want my bike to last 155,000 miles too, so I'm doing my best to keep up on the maintenance. All I have to go on is the schedule in the manual which says to adjust at 32k. I still have it all together and runs great with no noise that I can detect. I think I will just collect all the necessary parts and tools you all have suggested and relax for another 5-10k before I check them. Thanks for saving me some time. 

- MikeB
- Posts: 3328
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:54 pm
- Location: Tacoma, WA
- Motorcycle: 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade
184K Miles
2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort
14K Miles - Contact:
Re: 1st valve adjustment
I didn't do my 2003 until it was at 58,000 miles and it needed no changes. Another 2003 I did was at 67,000 miles and I had to replace 6 intake shims and 2 exhaust shims.
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
-
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 1:13 pm
- Location: Prestonsburg, KY; Edgewater FL
- Motorcycle: '08, '13 GL1800
Rear-Yoko Avid Assend 195x60x16
Front-Battleaxe BT-45
Re: 1st valve adjustment
A lot of riders claim that the only way they are out of adjustment is if they leave the factory that way. But, I think I have read of riders who check the first time with no adjustment needed but adjustment is needed on the 2nd check.
- Wingsconsin
- Posts: 1059
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:47 pm
- Location: Sussex, Wisconsin (West of Milwaukee)
- Motorcycle: Current Rides -
2002 GL1800 - Pearl Orange
1983 Suzuki GS850GL - Blue & Black
Past rides -
2003 GL1800 - Illusion Blue
1996 GL1500 Aspencade - Pearl Blue
1992 GL1500 Aspencade -Candy Red
1980 GL1100 - Custom Cobalt Blue
1985 GL1200 Aspencade Brown
1983 CX500 Custom Red
1982 CX500 Custom Blue
1978 CX500 Standard Black
1982 Suzuki GS650 Red - Contact:
Re: 1st valve adjustment
I had mine done at 37,000 miles about 2 weeks ago.
I had (2) valves that need adjustment as they were both tight.
DO it and KNOW they are correct is my advice..I also read the MANY stories of those who never needed adjustment and considered not doing it either ..but I am glad I did. I want this bike to last me another 10 years ...
I had the dealer do it for me as I got lazy and it was in for the brake recall anyway.
Now I am set for the next 32,000 miles -- a few years anyway
I had (2) valves that need adjustment as they were both tight.
DO it and KNOW they are correct is my advice..I also read the MANY stories of those who never needed adjustment and considered not doing it either ..but I am glad I did. I want this bike to last me another 10 years ...
I had the dealer do it for me as I got lazy and it was in for the brake recall anyway.
Now I am set for the next 32,000 miles -- a few years anyway
Postings are my opinions based on experience and acquired knowledge.
Your results may vary. Universal disclaimers apply.
Munk's Maxim -- There is no such thing as a cheap motorcycle
Your results may vary. Universal disclaimers apply.
Munk's Maxim -- There is no such thing as a cheap motorcycle
- golden highway
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:23 am
- Location: Louisville, Kentucky
- Motorcycle: 1987 Interstate
1998 Aspencade
Re: 1st valve adjustment
I would definitely check them but if it were me I wouldn't order shims until I found I needed them. You might need them right now or might never need them.