During my first valve adjustment, I noticed that one of the PAIR valve hose clamps rubbed a big groove in the top of the valve cover. The clamp is the one just to the right of the valve, which is now pointing it's "sticky out bits" straight up. The string was added to lift the hose off the cover, otherwise it will just add a bigger wider groove.
Suzuki should have put a hanger here but they didn't.
My bike is an '07 with 9K miles on it and in that time, the groove it cut is around 1mm deep (didn't measure it). The cover casting isn't much thicker than that!!!
This is a good time to take the tank off and check for this problem, if you don't think you have it, check out TREYBRAD's pictures in the valve adjustment thread (see below) His clamp was just like mine!!!
El BANDITO (and Treybrad) solved his (their) problem by removing the PAIR and installing block-off plates, but he still has the groove... I can see it in his pictures near the start of the valve adjustment thread... something to fill and polish there - sorry.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30793&highlight=valve+1250 post #1 picture 2 - ElBandito ; post#68 for Treybrad
Seriously guys, this could cause an oil leak, or worse let dust and dirt into the engine. Check yours now, fix it and tell a friend.
Suzuki should have put a hanger here but they didn't.
My bike is an '07 with 9K miles on it and in that time, the groove it cut is around 1mm deep (didn't measure it). The cover casting isn't much thicker than that!!!
This is a good time to take the tank off and check for this problem, if you don't think you have it, check out TREYBRAD's pictures in the valve adjustment thread (see below) His clamp was just like mine!!!
El BANDITO (and Treybrad) solved his (their) problem by removing the PAIR and installing block-off plates, but he still has the groove... I can see it in his pictures near the start of the valve adjustment thread... something to fill and polish there - sorry.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30793&highlight=valve+1250 post #1 picture 2 - ElBandito ; post#68 for Treybrad
Seriously guys, this could cause an oil leak, or worse let dust and dirt into the engine. Check yours now, fix it and tell a friend.