BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

During my recent 24,000 mile maintenance project on my 2016 R1200 RT, I inspected the clearances on all my valves.  Every valve was well within the specified gap other than the right side exhaust valves.  The minimum specified clearance on the exhaust valves is .34 mm.  My valves measured .35 mm.


So my exhaust valves measured within the specification, but on the tight end. My questions are these:


1.  Should I be concerned enough to go back in and change out the valve shim and adjust to the loose end (.41 mm) of the specifications?


2.  If I shouldn’t worry about making the adjustment right now, should I check the gap sooner?  Say maybe in 6,000 miles rather than the specified 12,000 mile interval?


3.  Should I forget about it until the 36,000 mile inspection?


When the 12,000 maintenance was performed by the dealer, no adjustment to the valves was needed.


Thanks in advance for the advice.

Although I don't own a Wethead, I've got a Camhead and have a similar situation.

If the dealer had performed the 24,000 miles valve check on your bike, you can bet that at 0.35 mm, they would say it's within the spec. of 0.34 - 0.41 mm. .

1. If you've boxed the valve cover back up etc., I'd be tempted to leave it for now.

2. If the next oil & filter change it due after 6,000 miles, then, for what it takes, why not whip off the RHS valve cover and check it again.

3. The dealers would forget about it until the 36,000 miles service.

The min. to max. clearance is 0.07 mm and the replacement shims are available in increments of 0.02 mm. Using a one size down shim would bring the 0.35 mm to 0.37 mm, as near as dam it in the middle of 0.34 - 0.41 mm.

On my Camhead, the inlet valves are 0.13 - 0.23 mm. At 15,500 miles, the dealers recorded one at 0.22 mm and didn't comment upon it. At 28,000 miles, I checked it at between 0.20 - 0.25 mm. I decided to let it go and just keep an eye on it. The valve clearances are checked every 6,000 miles. If I do less than that in a year when an oil & filter change is required, I'll check the valve clearances then.

Don't know whether this answers your questions but gives you the benefit of my experience.

If it's any more comfort, have a look at this video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJEjGm8ne1g

The guy records some inlet valve clearances of 0.16 mm, within 0.01 mm of the spec. 0.10 - 0.17 mm.

The exhaust valves were recorded as 0.36 mm, within the spec. of 0.34 - 0.41 mm.

What's 0.01 mm between friends or valves!

Deleted

After viewing this video of adjusting the valve clearances, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bZJC0Dfb80 you might want to leave well alone.

It's a damn sight easier on a Camhead!

David and Boxflyer
Thanks for your kind responses and advice. I feel much better about the work I performed after gaining your insight. This was my first try at a valve inspection on the RT. Boxflyer, please know that I did, in fact, use your videos to guide me through the entire maintenance procedure. Please accept my most sincere thanks and appreciation for your excellent instructional videos. I would not have attempted the task without them. Being the overly attentive person that I am, I will leave the exhaust valves as they are and double check them again in 6,000 miles. Thx again.