Modern Vespa

A search didn't turn up what I expected, therefore my question.

At a recent 6,000 mile service, the clutch was serviced, and belt and rollers etc were replaced. What was not done is a valve check. Am I right that Vespa specifies a valve check for the 6k service and if that is correct, what is a usual time needed by a professional to perform a valve check and possible adjustment?

I'm also interested in knowing how important a valve chack and possible adjustment is at 6k, as this is rather low mileage, compared with the requirements of many other engines. I know of the importance of proper valve adjustment, but would l love to hear real world experiences, good and bad as they relate to hpe engines and their valves. For example those of you who frequently checked their valves, at what intervals have you noticed that they were to tight or loose.

Yes, a valve check is required at 6k miles on the HPE. Do not miss it. The first valve check is important, as are all the others of course. Valve clearances can change at anytime during a motors life but can change the most during the first few thousands of miles and also when the motor starts to cover repeated big mileages at high speeds. But that first check is the first time you get to see that everything is ok. I've seen valves on all makes of bike using bucket and shim clearances and screw and locknut adjusters all needing adjusting at the first valve check. Of course, many don't need adustment, but you won't know unless you check them.

Another example I can use is that of the Suzuki Burgman 400 motors. The later versions from 2007 are DOHC motors and use bucket and shims to adjust the clearances and tend to stay longer in adjustment. However, roughly 2 out of 10 bikes would come in for the first valve check and need re-shimming to get the clearances back to factory settings. Of course if this is not done the motors can become toast quite quickly and often there are no symptoms to start with. By the time symptoms show, it can already be too late to prevent engine damage. Service intervals are designed to show up problems early so no damage will occur so it's important to follow the book on this one.

Valves can start to close up during those first few thousands of miles depending upon how the bike is ridden. Checking is easy but the motor is usually dropped down at the rear for this (it's possible to do them without dropping the motor but it's much harder) which means disconnecting the rear shocks to allow enough movement on the motor. Fuel line and cables need to be watched as you do this to make sure none of them becomes stressed as you jack up the bodywork of the bike. I always remove the spark plug too as this makes turning the motor over much easier and reduces the risk to the spark plug cable. This all facilitates the cylinder and head swinging upwards so you can access the valves from the pet carrier area. It really is very easy to do and a pro will take around an hour or so to do this. I don't know what the Piaggio allocated time is to do this job but I'd suspect it's around 75mins. I take around 55-60mins these days.

My bike is not the HPE GTS, but I check my valves every 10k miles instead of 12,500 as recommended. I had just one exhaust valve going slightly tight at the last check. Not enough to cause any issues for some time but it's corrected now! Dunno if any of this helps.

If done at the same time as the other 6k service items, it won't add more than 15 minutes maximum to the overall time taken.

Yes, it's a good idea to check at every 6k service, but as long as it's checked at the first one, personally I'd not bother again on my own (locknut adjuster) bikes thereafter unless I could hear some valve clatter or I was bored.

This is my first Vespa and it's the HPE to boot. While i have been known to skip a valve check on my Honda, I never miss a look at my Royal Enfield (it always needs a tweak), and I don't think it would be at all wise to skip a check on a new model motor like this HPE. . At least not early-on. JMHO.

Thanks much for the very helpful info! I will get to that valve check soon.

Unbolt the shocks, jack up the scooter until the motor drops far enough, pull cover, check the valves, reassemble. You may do it in 15 but a dealer is not going to.

I have discussed the HPE with a couple of dealers and they like Raulph, may his soul rest in Vespa, the long time Vespa tech who's videos can be found on YouTube, say they do not adjust valves every 6000 miles as it is a waste of time and the customers money. They only adjust them were there is a indication of a problem.

Full disclosure I have stated my opinion of the HPE elsewhere and it ain't a good one.

If you have the rear wheel off already for the usual 6K tyre change, oil change, belt change and plug change, then pivoting the engine takes less than a minute. It's one extra shock to undo. Undo valve cover, another minute. Checking and especially adjustment may take several minutes, but not more than ten say. That leaves three minutes to replace the valve cover and nip up the left hand shock.

15 minutes easy, BTDTGTTS.

However, I see no point unless you have some indication that some adjustment may be needed - after the first 6k check that is.

You made the assumption that the rear wheel was off. I did not as it is not a 6000 scheduled item. So, we are even.

PS: if you ain't going to Greece neither am I

OK. That sounded very grumpy! We're constrained because of lack of income over the last year. Luckily I enjoy beans and rice almost ad infinitum.

Let's see what the VCdM come up with for next year - I still want to do that Sahara trip if the Mali situation allows it.

Problem is jim, no symptoms show for most of the time until it's too late. Owners don't recognise symptoms even when they do show and continue to ride until a really big symptom shows. And by then damage has usually happened. You cannot tell if the valves need checking/adjusting just by listening to the motor. Ok yes you can tell if you have a noisy valve, but what about the silent ones that are too tight that you cannot hear. I would not have known about my exhaust valve going a bit tight at 10k miles unless I had checked it. It most likely would not have made it to 12,500 miles without symptoms showing and some form of damage.

Big mistake not to check valves at the specified times. Our workshop used to be full of crying owners because they had ignored their valves in the past. The HPE being a more high performance engine is likely to need more not less attention to valve checks.

Fair enough, I have no experience of the HPE, only the older bog-standard engines.

Good advice that ^^^

Thanks again for the info, especially Stromrider.

Here's an update as I think it might interest others: I was charged one hour of work plus some small parts for the valve check at a dealer. I wish I had a proper space so I could do it myself, because it's satisfying.

I think a 1 hour labour charge to do a valve check is very reasonable.

It turned out to be significantly more than just that. I wish there would be more Vespa dealerships, as some of the ones around are less than honest when it comes to service.

My 6K is gonna be coming up quick considering the amount of miles I put on it last month alone. Any idea what the 6K service should really cost? I'm in NY as well. I usually go to CT for the services

When I bought my hpe back in March, I asked that question and was told around $600. I am going to buy the parts from scooterwest and do it myself.