The Core of Oil-Cooled Maintenance: Tappet Adjustment & Engine Dampers on a Bandit 1200.
Vehicle: Suzuki Bandit 1200 K6. Work: Valve clearance (tappet) adjustment and Engine mount damper replacement. Details: After completely refreshing the chassis and brakes, it’s time to focus on the heart of the machine. I opened the cylinder head to precisely measure and adjust the valve clearances, which cures power loss and annoying ticking noises. Next, I replaced the old, plastic-hard engine mount rubber dampers with fresh, elastic ones. Verdict: The mechanical noise is gone, and the new engine dampers completely absorb the unpleasant micro-vibrations. The engine now feels incredibly silky and powerful. This is how the final oil-cooled model was truly meant to ride!