Off Topic » Why more motorcycle engines don't use hydraulic valve adjusters

Here is an interesting discussion regarding why more motorcycle engine designs don't use hydraulic valve adjusters (like my current Royal Enfield and my two old Honda 700 and 750 Nighthawks):  https://www.motorcycle.com/ask-mo-anythi...ve-lifters.html

When Harley was able to use hydraulic adjusters on it's new high revving engine I wondered if BMW would give it a try in the future.
Would hydraulic adjusters make the engine wider or taller?

Checking the valves on the BMW boxer is easy but some of the other BMW engines can be time consuming.

I would settle for screw/locknut. Checking/adjusting valves on my airhead was actually fun. My V45 Sabre wasn't fun, but once accessed, adjustment the valves only took a few minutes. Measuring then ordering shims turns a ten minutes adjustment into a days-long affair.

Just be thankful you're not setting valve clearance on a Ducati .

I just listen to mine. They sound fine. Job done.

The response from the Honda rep was pretty interesting.

But, the heads on my bike point straight at the face of the mechanic. Now, that "mechanic" could be me, but's someone that does it for a living and seems to be pretty fast (not too expensive). I'm thinking that's a better answer to the problem.

Zitat von duccrazydave im Beitrag #4

---

Just be thankful you're not setting valve clearance on a Ducati .

---

I liked the setup on the K75 bikes we had. It was very rare to change a shim. If you had to change a shim you could do it without removing the cam.

Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #8

---

I liked the setup on the K75 bikes we had. It was very rare to change a shim. If you had to change a shim you could do it without removing the cam.

---

My guess it is cheaper for the manufacturer to avoid hydraulic lifters. $$$$

The Harley guy said the design for hydraulic was more complex, and the lifter it self is more complex, etc etc.

And is there any real demand from say BMW M/C buyers for a quieter engine and no valve maintenance?

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #9

---

Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #8

---

I liked the setup on the K75 bikes we had. It was very rare to change a shim. If you had to change a shim you could do it without removing the cam.

---

The LC engines aren't the same? I assumed it would have been. Remember the box of K-bike shims?

---

Zitat von Vtbob im Beitrag #10

---

My guess it is cheaper for the manufacturer to avoid hydraulic lifters. $$$$

The Harley guy said the design for hydraulic was more complex, and the lifter it self is more complex, etc etc.

And is there any real demand from say BMW M/C buyers for a quieter engine and no valve maintenance?

---

Zitat von Vtbob im Beitrag #10

---

And is there any real demand from say BMW M/C buyers for a quieter engine and no valve maintenance?

---

There were only 2-valves per cylinder and that nifty spring depressor tool........

Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #8

---

I liked the setup on the K75 bikes we had. It was very rare to change a shim. If you had to change a shim you could do it without removing the cam.

---