Easy Access for Valve Adjustment.

[Drifter]

While doing my side stand switch mod i noticed a couple easier ways to get to the valve cover, the spark plug cover is easy!!! Remover the rubber foot pad remove one screw for the cover and there you go. I tried getting to all 4 screws with a small 1/4 inch drive ratchet with success i did not remove the valve cover but i could have removed the screws!

The second way which provides more room is to remove the bottom painted panel the one the side stand goes through, then look at the front of the scoot there is a support brace, round tubing with 2 bolts holding it on....remove them and the brace... slide the black kick panel forward it should come off alot more space available. There is one screw at the back holding it on.

Either option is way easier than removing all the panels and coming in from the top! 500 more miles and i will try this method .

[homie]

................... um

[DAB]

While doing my side stand switch mod i noticed a couple easier ways to get to the valve cover, the spark plug cover is easy!!! Remover the rubber foot pad remove one screw for the cover and there you go. I tried getting to all 4 screws with a small 1/4 inch drive ratchet with success i did not remove the valve cover but i could have removed the screws!

The second way which provides more room is to remove the bottom painted panel the one the side stand goes through, then look at the front of the scoot there is a support brace, round tubing with 2 bolts holding it on....remove them and the brace... slide the black kick panel forward it should come off alot more space available. There is one screw at the back holding it on.

Either option is way easier than removing all the panels and coming in from the top! 500 more miles and i will try this method .

To adjust the valves like this, you need to be a good gynaecologist.

[Drifter]

I got my hand and ratchet in there with just the small panel removed and the red bottom panel using a flash light to see, it was not that hard to do. Take off the black kick panel and you could put both arms in there!

[Steph]

To adjust the valves like this, you need to be a good gynaecologist.

That is too funny!

[iceman]

I got my hand and ratchet in there with just the small panel removed and the red bottom panel using a flash light to see, it was not that hard to do. Take off the black kick panel and you could put both arms in there!

A bit cramped for safety reasons and not good to put the cover back on esp. with sealant.

[Drifter]

What safety reasons, anything you do on this scoot or car etc. is cramped normal fact of life one reason they charge so much to work on stuff!

Its always good to put the valve cover back on!!!!

[iceman]

Although I have the 2015 PCX and the UK shop manual is in two parts, the 2013 original shop manual suggests it's not as difficult to get to the valves as often is thought - not sure if it's right though
It says the order needed is (page 3-6): side cover, radiator cover, cylinder head cover, three bolts, left crankcase cover duct (and adjust with engine cold!).

[frog13]

Drifter , have you achieved the 500 additional miles yet and tried the method you suggested ?. If so , tell us your experience .

[fish]

I own a Forza and a Kymco LIKE200i.
You folks own a great little scooter - that is hellishly hard to do a valve lash check on.
So hard that you have written pages on how to get at the valves - and even more pages on why you don't ever need to get at the valves for a check or adjustment!

What is the deal with both of our scooters from Honda?
Why has Honda made it so hard to get at the cylinder head and valve cover?
It cannot be that hard to design a scooter with simple to remove body panels - which lead directly to the valve cover and spark plugs?! (OK - Vespa can't figure it out - you have to drop the engine to get at 'em on those scoots)

IS it that Honda feels the valves really never need checking because they never go out of adjustment?
Too many owners have proven otherwise...when they were checked.

My Kymco has one panel over the battery (3 screws - looking you in the face) and 2 more screws (same,same) holding on one more panel - and then you are looking at the valve cover & its 4 easily reached bolts and the spark plug. In the time it takes your buddy to smoke a Winston - you can be in to your valves with a feeler blade.
You pop off a plastic plug and you're looking at your timing mark, spun with a socket. Nothing else needs to be unbolted or unfastened after those 5 sheetmetal screws, one plastic plug and 4 - 10mm bolts.

My question remains - why did Honda make valve adjustments so hard on the PCX & the Forza? It can't be for added service fees to the dealer - heck, they won't, don't or fake doing the valve checks.

The LIKE200i : battery cover in the floor and one body panel = this:

Also, why does the rubber valve cover gasket cost over 300% of the metal valve cover?
Crazy
Fish

[frog13]

Great questions Fish . But Honda will never say why , and the rest is speculation . I do believe extra fee's is the real answer however , if they really check them , fake it or whatnot . Shame on Honda . Before buying the PCX , I read various threads and posts on other forums discussing the ease of valve adjustments on much older scooters , by various manufacturers . Tis a mystery I suppose ( $).

[iceman]

It's the fact Honda specific a valve 'check' every service that annoys me, esp. when dealers do not do this and charge a lot for oil and filter - £970/2yr's when VAT is added on to their specified charges, which range from £80-230 + VAT along the way. It seems Honda put this is to cover themselves, and will then blame the dealer/owner for damage if the valves were not checked.

[Mel46]

When I had my Burgman 400, we put both it and our PCX in the shop at the same time. My Burgman was done and out of the shop in 30 minutes. The PCX did not come out of the shop for another hour. Obviously the scooter manufacturers can make it easy to access the valves if they think about it as they are designing it.

[dkazzed]

The tupperware removal is just to keep the techs occupied while the engine cools down.

[gn2]

Vespa can't figure it out - you have to drop the engine to get at 'em on those scoots

Not so, the engine remains in place on the pivot and its really easy to get at the valves.

[fish]

Easy smeezy. Watch Robot with his lifts and a couple dozen tools.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LShiXIH ... detailpage

Fish

[gn2]

That's the hard way, "Method B" is the easy way: http://modernvespa.com/forum/wiki-valve-lash-gt

[Steph]

Don't look easy to me.

[gn2]

Don't look easy to me.

Compared to getting at PCX valve adjusters, Method B is unbelievably easy and quick.

[ScottDR]

Hey drifter. Did you try your method as of yet?