Valve shimming and throttle balance??

For years the faithful has preached don't do a throttle body balance

without getting valve clearance as perfect as possible.

With the cam head there is quite a bit of range for the valves.

Is it so necessary to be perfect before you do a TB sync??

I've got the RT back on wheels and before I install all the

plastic I thought I'd check the TBs.

8,000 on the bike and according to service records it had a 6,000

mile check up at the dealer with the note that valve clearances were

in spec.

I did mine at 12K miles and 24K miles.

With the combination of getting the valves as close as possible to spec and 2 TB adjustments, I have a smooth running 2012 R1200RT.

Now at 36K miles it is very smooth and I'll probably wait to 40-48K miles before I adjust again.

Also I had just purchased a CarbTune Pro and was curious see how much a difference it would make. They were out of balance for sure, so I am glad I checked the them, after I adjusted the valves.

If your bike is a Camhead, I'd wait until whatever the manual says, then do a good job. I have also found the dealership, in my part of the world, gives a lot of latitude to what is in spec. What they call in spec, I'd adjust, so that there are no problems down the road.

I think when you adjust the valves, it throws the TB out and you would just have to do it again.... the more initiated here will know for sure.

But your mileage is so low, it probably is not an issue yet.

I am a not a pro, I just like to work on the easy stuff on my vehicles & think the "faithful" are correct.

For years the faithful has preached don't do a throttle body balance

without getting valve clearance as perfect as possible.

With the cam head there is quite a bit of range for the valves.

Is it so necessary to be perfect before you do a TB sync??

I've got the RT back on wheels and before I install all the

plastic I thought I'd check the TBs.

8,000 on the bike and according to service records it had a 6,000

mile check up at the dealer with the note that valve clearances were

in spec.

Evening mrzoom

As long as the valves are somewhere within the spec range then the TB sync should be good.

Even on the older BMW boxers as long as the valves were somewhat close then you could get a decent TB balance.

WAY more importance has been put on a super critical valve adjustment than should be as all non hydraulic valve camshaft lobes have a take-up ramp machined in to pre-tension or remove the basic lash before the (effective) valve lift starts. The take-up ramp pretty well covers any small errors in the basic valve lash so even if the lash varies a little the EFFECTIVE valve opening when air flow starts or stops it usually pretty darn close.

Thanks DR. I put the Carbtune on just for grins and the balance

was perfect. I'm leaving it alone until the 12,000 mark.

Now what do I do with the 9 left over screws??