Service

SERVICE

All is well

Every time I inspect the valve clearances on my 4-year-old Suzuki GS1150E that has 66,000 miles on it, the valves don’t need adjusting. The bike has the original clutch, gets 46 miles per gallon and still raises the front end at the slightest provocation. When clean, it looks great, even next to new bikes. What should I do?

Rick Dreher Glendale, California

Acid fuel and apply wax as needed, all the w hile congratulating yourself for performing regularly scheduled maintenance and adhering to the “If It Ain 7 Broke, Don 7 Fix It " theory of motorcycle upkeep.

One cable fits all?

I recently purchased a 1 75cc Cam-Am Bombardier. The bike is in excellent condition, however, the

throttle cable does not fit correctly, and constantly needs adjustment. I’ve called many shops and cannot find the correct cable for the bike. Does anyone make universal or custom cables?

Bruce Hyberg Idyllwild, California

Flanders Company (PO Box 93605, Pasadena, California 91105; 213/ 681-2581), which distributes motorcycle accessories that include universal and custom-made cables, will probably be your best bet. Since you do not have the original cable you will probably have to take your motorcycle to a dealer that carries Flanders products, so that he can determine the correct length and the type of cable ends required for your bike.

Alphabet tires

I currently own a 1988 Yamaha V-Max and would like to install a new rear tire. Metzeler makes one in an H rating, but I don’t know if it would be safe. I don’t drag race the bike, but I do take occasional bursts up to 120-plus miles per hour. If an H-rated tire won’t work, can you tell me if Metzeler makes a V-rated tire for my V-Max?

Bill Rhoda

Memphis, Tennessee

There are three different ratings for motorcycle tires: H for speeds up to 130 miles per hour, Vfor up to 150 miles per hour and a newly created Z rating for speeds up to 170 miles per hour. Metzeler has two H-rated tires to fit the 15-inch rear wheel of your VMax, a 150/90 ME88 and a wider 170/80 ME88, either of which, the company claims, would be adequate for your Yamaha V-Max as long as you do not exceed speeds of 130 miles per hour for any length of time. However, because the top speed our test VMax was 146 miles per hour and because the bike comes stock with a Vrated tire, we'd have a V-rated tire on the bike if it were ours.

Missing link

I own a 1980 Suzuki GS 1000G with 37,000 miles on it. For the last couple thousand miles, there has been a rattle from the cam chain. I called the local dealer and he said it’s unlikely the cam chain is worn out and the problem may be with the cam-chain tensioner. However, if the cam chain is at fault, he said, it would cost between $700 and $ 1000 for its replacement with an endless chain, because the engine would have to be torn down to install it. Is it likely the cam chain is worn out?

If it is, where can I get one with a masterlink to avoid the cost of dismantling the engine? Is the replacement of the tensioner an expensive job?

Jeremy Ranson

Santa Barbara, California

The Suzuki dealer is correct: It's doubtful the cam chain is worn out in 37,000 miles. Following the manufacturer's recommended maintenance intervals, a cam chain should last at least 50,000 miles and probably a lot longer. Although a cam chain will stretch some, the tensioner should be able to adjust out any excess slack.

Fsubaki (18031 Cortney Ct., City of Industry, CA 91744:8181913-1344) is one source for heavy-duty cam chains and recommends using endless chains, rather than trying get by with either a clipor stake-type masterlink, due to the loads exerted on the chain and the consequences if the link failed.

Compared to the cost of replacing the cam chain, the cost of replacing the cam-chain tensioner is inexpensive.

Fhe actual price will vary depending on the fiat rate of the dealer, but you 'll probably be billed for two hours of shop time, plus the cost of the tensioner unit. 13