If you had the choice ST1300 Valve Clearance

[winston66]

 

Winston66 wonders,
 My 2003 St. has now clocked 112000Klms, and yesterday the PO. admitted thet the valve clearences had never been serviced.
The local bike mechanic has intimated that he would probably want about $1000.00 to do this job.
  I waned to do this job myself, but now ,I do not feel confident to tackel this myself ,and I would probably find it a little difficult to find the readys for the mechanic in one lump sum.
So the question is this, Do I go for a nice long ride ,probably to somewhere  like the eastern states and find someone in our club that would be willing to give me a hand ,or guide me through the process, then I can make them a donation and also then spend the balance of the $1000.00 on peterol, and etc. whilst enjoying myself.
 Does this sound like a reasonable plan?
PS. I was thinking about tackling the valve clearance job myself last year and to this end I have already purchased a full set of valve shim s in the kit form from Hot Cams in the USA.
 Wondering what you guys think?
Cheers,
Winston66, Northampton WA.
 

[saaz]

Even better, organise a maintenance day at your place.  Anyone who has done an ST11 should be able to do the ST13.  $1000 is way too much for the time involved.

[winston66]

winston66,
  Thats a great idea SAAS, but unfortunatly I am just on 500 klms. north of Perth which I feel would be asking a bit much to expect the crew to travell this far up to here, even though I would love to be the gracious host for however long  it might take ,two or three days or even longer perhaps if anyone should like to make a holiday out of it. There is plenty of room here anyway.
I guess that it is food for thought anyway.
Cheers winston66 Northampton 

[saaz]

I should have looked up Northampton before making that suggestion    I am sure some WA members will have some other ideas that would actually work,...

[alans1100]

winston66,
  Thats a great idea SAAS, but unfortunatly I am just on 500 klms. north of Perth which I feel would be asking a bit much to expect the crew to travell this far up to here, even though I would love to be the gracious host for however long  it might take ,two or three days or even longer perhaps if anyone should like to make a holiday out of it. There is plenty of room here anyway.
I guess that it is food for thought anyway.
Cheers winston66 Northampton 

Hi,

I had my 1100 clearances checked at 120,000 kms and they were still within spec.

Have you checked http://www.geraldton-motorcycles.websyte.com.au/ as they are only just down the road from you to see what they charge.

You also have a dealer a few kays up the road at Carnarvon.

http://dl.hondampe.com.au/GetDirections.aspx?SearchType=Location&Search=Carnarvon&Assortment=&d=M/C&DealerID=63201

[Down Under]

You can save a lot of money by removing the tupperware yourself and then take the bike to the mechanic for the valve clearance check.  Most of the labour cost is in the removal and replacement of the fairings.  The valve clearance check is a quick job and unless your bike is showing signs of the valves being out of spec they're probably ok anyway. 

PS.  Find another mechanic.....your current one is a robber!