My '04 RC51 hit the 16,400mi mark and dropped her off to the dealership I bought her from for its 16k maintainence interval. Worried though. I haven't had the best "honest done" service to her in the past. Nothing major serious, but things that'll piss one off. Like.......... saying they changed clutch/brake fluid.... and uh... still DARK fluid. hmmm
Or, spark plugs changed... uh.... NOPE. Same ones.... How? I engraved my initials on the edges where the socket fits around (I know, but don't trust no mechanic there). So... lies and oops... we'll fix it. So, I hope they do their job and all on this big service deal. And I showed them my damage done from the vandalism... so, as to take special care in taking the body work off and not damaging it more.
There are some good tricks to make sure that the tech is actually doing the work. You can put white-out on the bolts you know he needs to turn to get the job done. But on the RC that defeats the purpose because all those critical bolts are under the tank and if you take the tank off then you just did most of the hard work one needs to do in order to check the valve clearances.
You can create a simple log of valve clearance measurements and hand it to the tech and ask that they record the size of the shim for each valve, what the spec was, if they changed the shim, and what size they put in if they did change the shim. This way, if you ever have a problem, then you have an idea of what was used where so when it doesn't match up, then you have proof a fast one was pulled.
I prefer my method: Get some beers, a torque wrench, service manual, and a simple set of sockets and other simple tools, and a feeler guage set and do the work yourself. Of course, consuming said beers by yourself qualifies you as an alcoholic so to avoid that all you need is a good friend to be around to watch you consume those beers. That makes the whole affair a social setting... which makes it okay to drink
Did you know the tool kit for the RC has two feeler guages included just for the valve adjustment work. Good little tid bit of info
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03 RC51 for street duty/ 00 RC51 for track duty
Generally...........taking your local dealership to court for "Theft by Deception" for charging you for saying they checked valves for clearence, when they never really did squat, cause it more than likely didn't need it........
Oh..........cleaning (blowing out with compressed air) the air filters and an oil change.
Top notch dealers will check, lube and adjust chain, adjust tire PSI and check and adjust throttle cable play..........
Helpfull info guys. Thank you. Noted... hopefully my pig will be done right this time. I did the extended prepaid service agreement with them... don't mean anything gets done better.
Derek, it sounds like you have things under control. A good service department will remember you well and your history and will know to do this one by the book.
I highly encourage you, if you have any doubts, to just drop the service writer/manager a call and ask to have a documentation of all the valve specs and the shim sizes used and have that added to your paperwork for your records. It really is not something they are incapable of doing since the tech has to write it down anyways to keep track of his work. You can always say that regardless of the vandalism, you are treating this bike with the utmost care and want to keep meticulous record of all services performed, just like muscle car builders/owners do with their prized posessions.
Good luck, I hope it comes back with a clean bill of health
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03 RC51 for street duty/ 00 RC51 for track duty
I guess that I am lucky that I bought my bike from the head mechanic at the local Honda dealer. Also one of my best buddies works in the parts department. So basically I know that the mechanic will treat it like it his own bike ( it was) and if they all know me up there through my friend.
Hey I just did this work myself just aweek or 2 ago now! Everything was in spec on my mc! Awesome 18,000+ miles.
Now if I was taking it to a dealership, I think that area51racer has acouple great suggestions! In post #3.
1st, the thing about you making a log, I'll say map, representing the valves!
Make, 4 Circles inside 1 big circle, 2 times, this will represent, the 4 valves per cylinder! and write (intake) for the (intake valves), and (exhaust) for the (exhaust valves), ask them to record their finds in the corresponding circles, what they got for a gap/measurement!!?
As (area) said, they have to do it anyhow!
Plus you will be able to see what they look like if they give you this info., which they should IMO, there your #'s!
Now, if they need to make an adjustment to the valves, as (area) also said, having them write down shim thickness, in your log, again, so you can see what they are doing to your engine! Also, good to have for your records.
Actually, I think these are Really Good ideas!
Also, lastly, his suggestions about calling and speaking to the service manager is the way to go too, IMO!
Let us know how it goes, if the valves were ok (which they probable will be) or if the had to make any adjustments.
Peace Jeff
"I highly encourage you, if you have any doubts, to just drop the service writer/manager a call and ask to have a documentation of all the valve specs and the shim sizes used and have that added to your paperwork for your records. It really is not something they are incapable of doing since the tech has to write it down anyways to keep track of his work. You can always say that regardless of the vandalism, you are treating this bike with the utmost care and want to keep meticulous record of all services performed, just like muscle car builders/owners do with their prized posessions."
1) I am not familiar with the RC51 engine, but I assume there are some valve covers that have to be removed to check the valves. How about getting a paint pen (gray or silver so not really noticable at first glance). Just put a spot of paint near the base of the screw/cover interface. If they are going to rip you off, chances are they won't even remove the cover.
2) If the paint is in place and they have a chart of clearances filled out, perhaps find a different dealership or order a manual.
That paint pen idea thing I came up with comes from the practice in the aerospace industry where inspectors use inspection paint to determine if proper maintinance has been performed. The other one I thought of about recording the shims for each valve was good one
And Rigor is right, not all shops are bad. But fool me once shame on you, fool me twice... shame on me is a good way to think about this stuff if you have been fooled by a shop before. In the end, we are all just looking out for each other and making sure we do our part to keep others from walking into horror stories
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03 RC51 for street duty/ 00 RC51 for track duty
And I showed them my damage done from the vandalism... so, as to take special care in taking the body work off and not damaging it more.
Derek
Derek - take the bodywork off yourself before you hand it over to the Dealer. Several years ago a Dealer scratched my bike and claimed the damage was there already - it wasn't. From that day on, I will NEVER hand over a bike for service with the bodywork still on it.... I prefer knowing where it is and how it's treated - by me, not someone else. Leave it in your garage, living room, anywhere - just not with them!
I once walked through a service department and there was bodywork laying face down (on the 'good side') Don't give them the opportunity to mess up your stuff...
Derek - take the bodywork off yourself before you hand it over to the Dealer. Several years ago a Dealer scratched my bike and claimed the damage was there already - it wasn't. From that day on, I will NEVER hand over a bike for service with the bodywork still on it.... I prefer knowing where it is and how it's treated - by me, not someone else. Leave it in your garage, living room, anywhere - just not with them!
I once walked through a service department and there was bodywork laying face down (on the 'good side') Don't give them the opportunity to mess up your stuff...
+1
Or, just get a manual and a few tools and do it yourself and don't even bother with the dealer. You will do a better job because you care about your bike.
My bikes get tires changed at the dealership...that's it.
That paint pen idea thing I came up with comes from the practice in the aerospace industry where inspectors use inspection paint to determine if proper maintinance has been performed. The other one I thought of about recording the shims for each valve was good one
And Rigor is right, not all shops are bad. But fool me once shame on you, fool me twice... shame on me is a good way to think about this stuff if you have been fooled by a shop before. In the end, we are all just looking out for each other and making sure we do our part to keep others from walking into horror stories
Time came for it to get done...
Worried though. I haven't had the best "honest done" service to her in the past. Nothing major serious, but things that'll piss one off. Like.......... saying they changed clutch/brake fluid.... and uh... still DARK fluid. hmmm
but don't trust no mechanic there). So... lies and oops... we'll fix it. So, I hope they do their job and all on this big service deal. And I showed them my damage done from the vandalism... so, as to take special care in taking the body work off and not damaging it more.
Good Suggestions!
and write (intake) for the (intake valves), and (exhaust) for the (exhaust valves), ask them to record their finds in the corresponding circles, what they got for a gap/measurement!!? 
Jeff
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