Valve Adjustment Questions

[Good Times]

While I'm waiting on some tools to be shipped I thought I would check my valves and adjust them if they are out of spec.

'82 GS850GL

This is the first time I've done this and want to be sure I'm not missing anything obvious. I have my Clymer Manual out and have been through BassCliff's tutorial but want to check on the following:

1) When I measure with my feeler gauge I am measuring between the shim and the cam lobe correct? The reason I ask is because so far, when I measure, there is no gap when I measure with my .001/.025 mm feeler gauge.

2) I am having trouble understanding the set of feeler gauges I ordered from Snap On (FB-310B). The gauges are as follows from top to bottom:

.015/.381 mm
.001/.025 mm
.004/.102 mm
.005/.127 mm
.007/.178 mm
.008/.203 mm
.010/.254 mm
.012/.305 mm
.013/.330 mm

Spec for my valves is between .03 & .08 mm right? How do I measure that with these gauges? Can I?

[cowboyup3371]

If those numbers are accurate then yea you will need a different gauge. You can get one with just metric on it at your local bike shop or at Sears. And you can find them with the smaller inch sizes as well

[Big T]

Your sets too large, you need a smaller set

Check to see if the clearance is too tight

Remove the shim, enter into the spreadsheet (you do have the spreadsheet, right?) and reinstall the shim. Repeat for each valve

Now, see what probable shim size you need and order the size you need

Once you get the new shims, start swapping them in and recheck

[Steve]

Yep, your limited number of feelers STINKS. Only one of them will do you any good, and it is smaller than the minimum clearance.

... enter into the spreadsheet (you do have the spreadsheet, right?)

Spreadsheet.

[Good Times]

Thanks fellas. I figured I had the wrong set. I'll pick some more up tomorrow. I know what happened now. I searched the site for threads on feeler gauges. I came up with a post where someone bought these guages. I ordered a set. Now I realize that they only bought it because of the smallest gauge which is hard to find. Awesome.

I have requested a spreadsheet. Looking forward to getting this done the right way.

[Good Times]

Wow Steve. Thanks for the spreadsheet. It's as amazing as you polished internal parts.

[Good Times]

It's better to ask questions than make mistakes right?

Want to make sure I am correct with labeling my valves. In the picture below:

#1 EX <A> #2 EX ------------- #3 EX <B> #4 EX

#1 IN <C> #2 IN ------------- #3 IN <D> #4 IN

Correct? or no...

[TheCafeKid]

It's better to ask questions than make mistakes right?

Want to make sure I am correct with labeling my valves. In the picture below:

#1 EX <A> #2 EX ------------- #3 EX <B> #4 EX

#1 IN <C> #2 IN ------------- #3 IN <D> #4 IN

Correct? or no...

Correct. And By the way if for any reason you ever have to remove those cam caps, they need to go back exactly like they came off... They're labeled for that reason.

[gearhead13]

1) When I measure with my feeler gauge I am measuring between the shim and the cam lobe correct? The reason I ask is because so far, when I measure, there is no gap when I measure with my .001/.025 mm feeler gauge.

Should be between the shim and base circle, not the top or any part of the lobe.

[Good Times]

Should be between the shim and base circle, not the top or any part of the lobe.

What is the base circle?

[Good Times]

Correct. And By the way if for any reason you ever have to remove those cam caps, they need to go back exactly like they came off... They're labeled for that reason.

Thanks ZRX!

[cowboyup3371]

Should be between the shim and base circle, not the top or any part of the lobe.

Would you please explain this as it doesn't make sense.

[gpd211]

the base circle is the part of the cam that isn't the lobe. You are measuring clearance between the shim and the cam. When the lobe comes around it will touch the shim and push the valve open. If the shim is touching the cam when the lobe is 180 degrees around from the shim your clearance is too tight.

[Dogma]

The 850 factory service manual on BassCliff's site has a diagram that shows pretty clearly the correct position of the cam for checking clearance. I don't remember how good the diagram is in Clymer's. Basically, if you imagine a line passing through the point of the lobe and the center of the cam, you need that line to be parallel with the cam cover gasket face. Point the lobe toward the outside of the head.

[cowboyup3371]

Okay that's what I thought he meant but I hadn't seen that spot on the cam named as such. I learned something new, thank you.