After 14,000km(8680mi) I checked the valve clearances and they are dead center. I think the valve issues on this bike are over-hyped. If you run the snot out of them in places like Moab, your results may vary, but I don't thinkit's thehuge issue that certain KLX300 riders report it to be.

My dealer thought I was out of my mind for checking them 'so early.' He says they are never out of spec at the first interval. Maybe the bikes that Thailand ships to Japan are treated differently?

 

Do you have a KLX 250s or a KLX 300

 

My owner's manual states it's supposed to be checked at 7,500 miles(12,000 km). For a shim in bucket design, that's pretty frequent. Hopefully I won't have to get new shims either.

 

mine needed shims at 1200 miles.

 

He has a D-Tracker

 

Did you do them yourself or is that what the Dealer told you? The manual doesn't even say to check them until 7500 miles. Trust me, Valve adjustments are the biggest rip-off done by dealers. Having been a dealer mechanic, I know how the deal.

 

So he has a 249 cc engine? I still don't understand the KLX300 reference.

 

So he has a 249 cc engine? I still don't understand the KLX300 reference.

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The valves trains on the KLX300 and 250 are the same, right down to the part numbers on the intake valves. There is a fellow that hangs-out on the TumperTalk KLX300 forum that has bunch of horror stories about intake valvesgoing out of adjustment way before the firstinterval, then requiring shorter and shorter intervals until they arecompletey mushroomed andwon't open.

I think it's just a product of the environment he rides in (Moab). The heads on both bikes are identical,other thanours (250) having the air re-circulation reed vavle at the front. That's why the KLX300 stock cylinder is a direct bolt-on to our bike...using the 250 cylinder head.

 

[quote]ORIGINAL: tremor38

So he has a 249 cc engine? I still don't understand the KLX300 reference.

Okay, I get it now. So what actually get's "Mushroomed"? It sounds like a definite heat issue or possibly one of the Mods done is creating way too much back pressure. Or a bad Cam. If there was a problem with the Metal used or a bad design in the head, All the KLX's would be doing the same thing. I am pretty confident that the valves in these babies will last 100,000 miles with maybe one or 2 adjustments unless there is some other problem. I've already seen where some people adjusted their valves too tight over and over until they either bent or mushroomed at the keeper end. Also, I've seen worn cam lobes for the exhaust cause mushrooming and bent intake valves. The reason was that the spent exhaust was not being expelled and the pressure just kept building in the cylinder causing tremendous pressure on the intake valves.

 

Gerry, when would you suggest having them looked at?