Time for me to ask opinions please. I don't ask for many so hoping to get many :)

[finless]

Hi all....

So I am in a bit of a quandary on my decision here. So I am asking for opinions please. Thanks...
This is going to be a little long winded but I will try to keep it as short as I can.

I have a 2011 RTS that I bought used with 450 miles on it on June 30th 2013.
It has an extended warranty until January 2016. This is an important fact to understand my thinking later in this request for an opinion.

So after getting my Spyder I got the warranty transferred in my name. That all went great with BRP.

Then, it was time for my 600 mile service. I DID take it to a dealer here in Socal (Bert's mega mall) and had that done. I know this was important to keep my warranty not in question. They did a great job, updated me to all tech bulletins and recalls, and updated my software which required BUDS to do. All that they did was documented in my work sheet from them. I was very happy with this service and the price was good.

However, I am a tech nut and also very capable mechanic. So at my 5,200 and my 9,800 mile service interval, I did it myself. I bought a service manual (a real BRP manual) and all has been great! I actually love to service my own stuff. I did not feel it necessary to take it to a dealer for those service intervals.

___________________

Commentary!

I JUST DO NOT TRUST the dealers in my area! Even Bert's where I took it on my 600 service. Why? Because the BRP trained mech is no longer there! This seems to be a theme lately with dealers around my area. All the ones trained properly have left!

This is why I have done my own service.... Too many horror stories even with locals in my area.
I mean you do not go in for a 5200 mile service (which is basically an oil change and checks) only to have your Spyder come out with problems after that you never had before! I am not saying Bert's has had this complaint only that locals to me have had this general complaint lately!

Anyway, I am not going to go into why dealers have no seriously good techs on the Spyder. This issue is ALL OVER HERE on Spyder Lovers and dealer talks. But I have the same issues as many! The only well known GOOD Spyder dealer that has a good mech and usrs that I know recommend, is over 100 miles from me!

Again, I trust myself right now and that includes learning to do things I have never done. I figure if I screw it up trying, I can take it to a dealer and cross my fingers which is what it seems like with dealers here.

OK enough of that but I wanted to set the stage for WHY I AM ASKING for you all's opinion.....

________________________

OK enough of that history.... On to my ask for an opinion!

________________________


NOW... I am approaching the big 14,000 mile service. This is the one that requires a valve check and you HAVE to HAVE this done to keep your extended warranty to cover a valve failure and no other reason! E.G. you have to do this BUT ONLY if you have a valve failure and expect to get warranty repair. e.g. there is a valve issue later after 14K miles. ALSO remember my extended is over in Jan 2016......

So I am debating having this valve check done! I have read MANY MANY people that reported they paid for this check and no valve adjustment was needed. Even at the 28K service none was needed. But I happen to know a few that a valve adjustment WAS needed.

Look I can do the valve check myself and in fact order the shims and do it myself. But I am thinking of skipping this and just doing everything else needed at 14K.

I figure since my extended warranty is DONE in about 8 months, what does it get me to have a dealer do it?
Why take it to a dealer that I have ZERO confidence in?

____________________________

So if you read all this, I am asking your opinions?

1) Should I just take it to a dealer and get it done? Remember I only have a short time on my warranty left! Is it worth it?
2) Should I just do it myself and skip the valve check?
3) Do it myself and DO the valve check?

Look, I am on the fence with this!
I can go either way right now!
My wife and I have been talking about this over the weekend. It's not the expense of taking it to a dealer and getting it done.... It's just that my Spyder has not been touched by a dealer sine 600 miles and has been great with no issues!
So it's the LOW confidence issue I have right now with dealers and trust! Heck I am even concerned that they charge me for the valve check and yet NOT even do it!
This low confidence "maybe" just in my head?
Should I just have it done?

I am thinking some of you folks that have "BEEN THERE DONE THAT" might push me in one direction or another.

Thanks for listening and looking forward to everyone's opinion.

Bob

 

[Highwayman2013]

I did the 14,000 service at 17,000 myself and the plugs looked good and I put the plugs and wires in from Bajaron, put in a new air filter (K&N) even though the original was fine and not that dirty. I also changed the coolant and brakes all around with the EBC's and flushed the fluid. I skipped the valve check and will ask the tech about it the next time I'm at the dealer. No worries so far Warranty good until August 2017.

 

[MercerLake]

My $.02 opinion to your opinion request

I certainly wouldn't take it to a dealer that you have no trust with if you have a trusted dealer within 100 miles.
Trailer it via U-Haul or do it yourself becomes the next question. If I felt comfortable doing it myself, I likely would do it myself when the warranty was up and know that it was done. However, if the warranty expiration is considerably past the 14000 mile service and I had the slightest doubt about the machine I'd trailer it to the trusted dealer and technician. Considering the expense of a catastrophic failure I'd go with the trained technician and the extended warranty. I'm faced with a similar dilemma as I purchased my 2008 GS with 23000 miles and uncertain service other than all appears to have been done properly along the way and it runs fine. So I'm doing service items in stages to assure myself that it has been done, but I don't have the warranty worries! Hope this helps!

 

[Cruzr Joe]

All things considered.

I would either do the valve check myself or skip it, there have been many, many who paid to have it done and there was not a problem (or it was not really done).


Just My .02 worth


Cruzr joe

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

VALVES

Moss-Magnussen......I read almost everything on this site and don't recall hearing about any VALVE related failures......I agree 110% with your feelings about Dealers and or Stealers......Unless you are a mechanic and go to great lengths to set a trap for the TECH at the dealership how do you know they EVEN LOOKED AT THE VALVES ......just because they charged you $ 650.00 to $ 800.00 doesn't mean they did it. And because the Techs at the dealers KNOW 99.9999999999 % of the valves don't need adjustment I think they will roll the dice on it and just cash the check........And my first WORD applies here..........Good luck......Mike :thumbup:

 

[BajaRon]

Do it yourself. I could give you reasons but I think you already know that this is the answer. :thumbup:

 

[jaherbst]

Most knowledgeable people I have talked to say do not do it at all. This includes two BRP Spyder trained techs (we used to call them mechanics) They said little if any adjustment was ever needed. This is expensive. Is it necessary? I am not sure.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

Jack

 

[NautiBrit]

I agree with the others that you should do the valve job yourself. Also, since you are so adept at documentation, why not video the process to help others and to assure BRP that it was done correctly should any problems arise in the future. I would pay particular attention to showing that the correct size feeler gauge was used.

 

[Chupaca]

Tough one..!!

I don't get extended warranties so never worry about that. Have done more valve jobs than I care to remember. Regular adjuster shims over buckets shims under buckets and have found that a mechanics stethescope is the best tool. When you listen to the valves if there is no significant difference between them and no pronounced tappet noise things are good. This is more true for shims and more so for those under buckets. I check mine from time to time and am just shy 26,000 miles and they are fine. Not to say this will hold true for all but you can reassure yourself if you hold off. There is a very good mechanic close by I think, Pirate powersports, Lou is the guy to talk to there. Many of the sra ryders here go there.

So opinion...take a listen, you take good care of your machines I would assume your valves are fine...:thumbup:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Moss-Magnussen......I read almost everything on this site and don't recall hearing about any VALVE related failures......I agree 110% with your feelings about Dealers and or Stealers......Unless you are a mechanic and go to great lengths to set a trap for the TECH at the dealership how do you know they EVEN LOOKED AT THE VALVES ......just because they charged you $ 650.00 doesn't mean they did it. And because the Techs at the dealers KNOW 99.9999999999 % of the valves don't need adjustment I think they will roll the dice on it and just cash the check........And my first WORD applies here..........Good luck......Mike :thumbup:

That's a good point. I know that there were several services that I had done in Michigan and I think the only thing that was checked was the box on their forms. I paid dearly for the valve check on my 2010 and I don't believe that they checked it.

So, Bob, my vote is don't spend the money at the dealer. I think Vegas would give you odds that you don't need a valve adjustment.

 

[MouthPiece]

Does how long you plan on keeping your spyder figure into this equation? (sorry if you have already answered)

Chris

 

[jtoro1]

repairs

Let it ride mine has 41k no problems I was told here to listen for valve noises. I will do it myself when it come to it. When your warranty with BPR runs got you can get another extended with zurich direct I got 5 more years for $800 for the parts that cost a lot. I do my own servicing. I am the only mechanic i trust.

 

[finless]

Does how long you plan on keeping your spyder figure into this equation? (sorry if you have already answered)

Chris

I plan on keeping it till it is dead and not worth fixing. Don't know when that will be but I assume years.

Bob

 

[Bob Denman]

Bob,
You're asking GOOD questions! :thumbup:
Since you're planning on running it until there's nothing left; based upon your skill level :bowdown:, perform the valve servicing yourself.
But... I'm also sure that you've seen all of the posts that indicate that a valve-check at only 14,000 miles is unnecessary. If it was mine; (It ain't...), I'd be willing to roll the dice, and let it go until the end of THIS riding season. nojoke

 

[kep-up]

Most knowledgeable people I have talked to say do not do it at all. This includes two BRP Spyder trained techs (we used to call them mechanics) They said little if any adjustment was ever needed. This is expensive. Is it necessary? I am not sure.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

Jack

:agree:

The manufacturer is CYA for warranty work. After the warranty is up, they couldn't care less.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

You need a decision tree:

• Do you do a valve ck?
  • YES (what does it cost?)
    • Problem found -- fix it. (Add cost of valve ck + fix)
    • No problem found -- (Cost of valve ck spent)
  • NO
    • Valve problem exists & is found later -- What will it cost to fix then?
    • No valve problem exists -- No money spent

Given your skill, you lack of confidence in the dealers, and your plans for the Spyder, I assume you'll do the service yourself.

 

[bronzeflex42]

I would just trailer it to a dealer i trust and let them do it since it's still under warranty. Anything come up later dealing with the valves you can take it back to that dealer and the repair is on them. Now if it's out of warranty when the valves need adjustment, mechanically inclined as you are, i would do it myself then.

 

[Illinois Boy]

Your answer lies in whether you feel there could be anything you could not fix, or would cost a lot of money if it were to break/fail before the warranty's end.

 

[ARtraveler]

Here is my take on the valve check. If the dealer does it, figure about $800 for the service. The labor hours are the killer.

My history:

2008--done at 12,000 miles like a good little customer wanting to save and protect his warranty. Valve check done. Needed NO adjustments or fixes. $800

2010 RTS--let the valve check go until 28,000 miles. Needed NO adjustments or fixes. $800. Mechanic screwed up the job. Did not put a new gasket in and the 2010 began to leak oil. Dealer re-did the valve job and replaced the gasket on their dime.

2011--Based on the experiences above, I am going to wait until at least 56,000 miles and/or see if it is making noises before doing anything.

2014--Problem solved--valve checks no longer required.

Some additional points.

:ani29:: Mess up the warranty? In the case of the 2010, I told people that the choice to NOT do a valve check was a customer gamble. Save $800, take a chance? It's like should I buy extended warranty, or not?

:ani29:: I believe the valve check maintenance was BRP overkill in the beginning. Better to recommend it--just in case. Have not heard of any posting where they had a valve check, and lucky for them, had they not, the engine would have blown up.

:ani29:: A buyer beware suggestion. Since most dealers know the valve check is unlikely to be a problem, how many have charged customers for them and not even done the work? They are out there, I am sure.

 

[jtoro1]

valve justment

AS YOU KNOW THE VALVE AJUSTMENT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY , I AM GETTING ALL THE INFO I CAN GET . I WILL DO IT MYSELF, THERE IS A VIDEO ON YOU TUBE ON VALVE AJUSTMENT, i need to find out where to buy the shims or buckets for the ajustment. My bike has 41000 miles but still no valve noises but I think I better get ready to do it.