Valve Adjustment fun

[Alan Schlosser]

So, I got the week off and decided it was time to do these before Steve threatened me for his test shim back
Anyway, got it all apart, and was fortunate to have the gasket come off in one piece. Cleaned it all up and quit for the day.
This morning I go and check all the clearances and they're all too tight except for one. Used Steve's 2.40 test shim and recheck, and plug all the numbers into his spreadsheet. Called Z1 and talked to Rob, he put the shims aside and I drove over there to pick 'em up. Cool place by the way.
Get back, stuff all the new shims in (getting handy with that stupid shim tool) and spin it over and recheck my clearances. Holy crap, they're all off. What the heck. Then I notice I got two feeler ribbons stuck together!!!! Doh!!!
Stay calm, go back through and re-measure, this time I separated the ribbons from the pack. Luckily, with what I pulled out and what I had, I was able to get them all between .04 and .07, just coming up short on three of them. Another trip out to Marion in the morning.
Fun stuff. Time for a beer I think.

[MisterCinders]

How did you "get them all between .04 and .07" but still come up short on three?

Is the minimum clearance >0.04?

[Alan Schlosser]

Oh, sorry. All of them meant the 5 that I had enough proper shims for.

[Steve]

So, I got the week off and decided it was time to do these before Steve threatened me for his test shim back

I was not aware of any impending "threats".

I know where that shim is, I figured I might grab it on my way home in another two months.

.

[1980GS1000E]

So, I got the week off and decided it was time to do these before Steve threatened me for his test shim back
Anyway, got it all apart, and was fortunate to have the gasket come off in one piece. Cleaned it all up and quit for the day.
This morning I go and check all the clearances and they're all too tight except for one. Used Steve's 2.40 test shim and recheck, and plug all the numbers into his spreadsheet. Called Z1 and talked to Rob, he put the shims aside and I drove over there to pick 'em up. Cool place by the way.
Get back, stuff all the new shims in (getting handy with that stupid shim tool) and spin it over and recheck my clearances. Holy crap, they're all off. What the heck. Then I notice I got two feeler ribbons stuck together!!!! Doh!!!
Stay calm, go back through and re-measure, this time I separated the ribbons from the pack. Luckily, with what I pulled out and what I had, I was able to get them all between .04 and .07, just coming up short on three of them. Another trip out to Marion in the morning.
Fun stuff. Time for a beer I think.

HA! Just finished my clearance check and adjustment and he exact same thing happened to me with the feeler gauge blades sticking together. The .038 was what I thought I was using and the .051 was snuggled up behind it.
I thought the whole motor was tight and ordered a bunch of shims thru the shim swap. Turned out that only three were in spec, so it was good that I got the shims. I did have to sand one down a bit, though.

[MisterCinders]

Um, "sand one down a bit" sounds a bit dodgy. You might hook up with the shim club and get a smaller shim to replace that one. If you send the sanded shim to the club, they can machine it to a useable dimension.

win-win-win

[Alan Schlosser]

Update. Went back out to Z1 to get the shims I needed. Rob was great. Swapped the new ones for the ones I bought in error. No charge. Got back and installed them (checked clearances twice) and buttoned things up. Everything is back together but I'll run it tomorrow. Waiting on the Permatex on the half moons. No rush. Got the entire day tomorrow for riding. And I got a little collection of spare shims now. Cool.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Nice work! It will go much smoother and quicker next time. And if you have spare shims in smaller sizes than you are currently running, chances are you won't have any downtime waiting for shims. Good going.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[1980GS1000E]

Um, "sand one down a bit" sounds a bit dodgy. You might hook up with the shim club and get a smaller shim to replace that one. If you send the sanded shim to the club, they can machine it to a useable dimension.

win-win-win

I was trying to sound dodgy on that one. I used some 400 grit wet dry silicon carbide paper, a surface plate and a micrometer and was able to dial in a shim that was just a hair too big. And I did get the shims from the shim club. Not the club's fault as I measured incorrectly anyway.

[Alan Schlosser]

Cliff. Z1 is only 20 minutes from my house! So, the downtime was only the trip back to their place. Met the guys in shipping and Rob and Chris in sales. Very nice folks. Shot the breeze with them for a bit before I headed back. And yeah, you're right. Next time will be a lot quicker. Boy, once you get the hang of that shim tool, you can pop 'em in and out like a pro.

[Stahlgrau333]

Maybe a stupid question, but...what is this 'shim club'?

[Steve]

Maybe a stupid question, but...what is this 'shim club'?

Not a stupid question at all.

Click HERE

.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Cliff. Z1 is only 20 minutes from my house!

Luuucky!



I wish there was a Z1 out here in the LA area.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Stahlgrau333]

Not a stupid question at all.

Click HERE

.

Awesome! THANKS!!!

[Alan Schlosser]

10:00 AM (EST)............... SHE LIVES!!!!!!!!
Fired it up this morning. Tap the starter button and she came to life! Sounds gooooood.
Time for a shower, suit up, and hit the road.