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Valve Shim Adjusting Conundrum

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    #1

    Valve Shim Adjusting Conundrum

    My recently acquired GS is in need of valve shim adjustment. As I opened it up, I realized I am probably the first person to ever do this maintenance on this bike

    It has 22k on it, and all the valve shims have ZERO clearance. This makes my adjustment ordering difficult, as I suspect some of the valve shims are not actually at zero clearance, but a slight negative clearance, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to accurately measure the gap I'll need to get valve shims that will be in spec.

    If memory serves (i'll have to double check my manual) I think max spec is .008. My plan is to measure my current shims and order .009 smaller shims all the way around.

    Does this sound like a reasonable plan, or is there a smarter way to do this?
    Tags: None
    #2
    First of all, you nned to brush up on the specs. The max clearance is .08 mm (just one zero in there). If you are using inches to measure, the max is .003" (two zeros in there).

    To help your situation, I would recommend two things:
    1. Get a very thin shim. You can buy one from Z1 Enterprises, but it will likely cost more to ship it than to buy it. You can also contact the GSR Shim Club for details on how they work. Contact user GhostGS1 for details. You will be looking for a shim in the 2.30 to 2.40 range.
    2. Take advantage of the invitation in my sig. It will help you do any calculations to figure out what you will need next.

    When you get that thin shim, remove one of your current shims, replace it with the thin shim. Measure your clearance, enter it into the spreadsheet. Remove the thin shim, put the original shim back in, move to the next valve. Continue until you have them all checked. DO NOT MOVE THE CRANK IF ANY SHIMS ARE REMOVED.

    Yes, it's going to take a lot longer this time around, but next time, you will be able to do a complete valve check in less than an hour.

    .
    .
    sigpic
    mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
    hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
    #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
    #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
    Family Portrait
    Siblings and Spouses
    Mom's first ride
    Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
    (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

    Comment

      #3
      I read in a post that if the buckets freely spin go down 1 size. If the buckets don't spin go down 2 sizes. More than likely you can reuse some of your shims on another cylinder. You need to inventory your shims to see what you have and what you need. There is a shim club on this site that can save you some cash.
      By the way you need to put what bike you have in your signature before you get fussed at

      Comment

        #4
        .08 MM iis the TOP end allowable tolerance. .03 MM is the lower end. I shoot for the middle at around .05

        Take the very smallest METRIC feeler and see if it goes in..if so use the next size feeler guage up. Fit gauges till one isn't going in to find where its at.

        If , say the .03 mm goes in but the .05 wont, then take that shim out and physically measure its thickness. NEVER trust them printed number because shims do wear.

        Write down what shim is in that bucket and put it back in..then check the next one and so on till you have checked them all and recorded what is in each one.

        SUPER IMPORTANT that you NEVER rotate the crank with an empty bucket.

        Hers an example of how I track the shims...

        Chucks simplified spreadsheet - The GSResources Forums
        http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=204012&highlight=simplified+spreadsheet
        This is pretty self-explanatory I think...
        Last edited by chuck hahn; 07-01-2013, 09:41 AM.
        MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
        1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

        NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


        I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

        Comment

          #5
          Oh..and when you install shims always place them printed side toward the valve stem. This protects them from having a cam lobe wear them off.
          MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
          1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

          NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


          I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

          Comment

            #6
            Lots of members here run clearance up to .10mm (.004"). The valves tighten with mileage, so running your valves on the loose side extends the safe running interval between adjustments.
            Ed

            To measure is to know.

            Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

            Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

            Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

            KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

            Comment

              #7
              Isn't there also a shim club here he could join and save some money by exchanging shims?

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by koolaid_kid View Post
                Isn't there also a shim club here he could join and save some money by exchanging shims?
                Already mentioned.
                Originally posted by Steve View Post
                To help your situation, I would recommend two things:
                1. Get a very thin shim. You can buy one from Z1 Enterprises, but it will likely cost more to ship it than to buy it. You can also contact the GSR Shim Club for details on how they work. Contact user GhostGS1 for details. You will be looking for a shim in the 2.30 to 2.40 range.

                .
                sigpic
                mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                Family Portrait
                Siblings and Spouses
                Mom's first ride
                Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                Comment

                  #9
                  Maybe even put your location in your profile so it shows with your post and there just may be another member in your area that would borrow you a shim or two to find out what new shims you will need.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    I don't know just why anyone would go .10 MM I say stay within factory specs always. They are specified for a reason.
                    MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                    1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                    NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                    I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Nessism View Post
                      Lots of members here run clearance up to .10mm (.004"). The valves tighten with mileage, so running your valves on the loose side extends the safe running interval between adjustments.
                      A BIG plus 1 on that!
                      All the robots copy robots.

                      Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.

                      You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choices.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
                        I don't know just why anyone would go .10 MM I say stay within factory specs always. They are specified for a reason.
                        Chuck, are you saying that EVERYTHING on your bike is EXACTLY as specified by Suzuki?




                        Nah, I didn't think so.


                        One reason we go to larger clearances is to allow more cooling time for the valves on the seats. Yes, it does tend to reduce valve lift ever so slightly and also reduce the open duration, but all that does is move the torque peak down a bit, closer to where most of us actually run the bikes. If you are looking for the absolute maximum performance (for racing), yeah, you will want to have as much lift and duration as possible, but for those of us on the street that don't insist on getting to 60 mph in two seconds, a little extra clearance does OK. Because the valves run a bit cooler, they also tend to go longer between necessary adjustments, which is another benefit.

                        In the end, it's your bike, ride it and maintain it as you wish. You can even suggest to others that following manufacturer's specifications is recommended, but it's not necessarily the only way.

                        .
                        sigpic
                        mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                        hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                        #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                        #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                        Family Portrait
                        Siblings and Spouses
                        Mom's first ride
                        Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                        (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Any day you wanna come and inspect ANY of my bikes bring it. I go by the factory service manual specs...PERIOD!!!

                          That goes for anyone out there...you wanna call me put..then come on by.
                          MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                          1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                          NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                          I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            You need to clarify your "EVERYTHING" statement. As for service maintenance specs..yes they are to the manuals specs. Maybe not EXACTLY spot on as far as a mirror or something else missing ( like rear cowl trims).
                            MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                            1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                            NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                            I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Just wanted to say thank you everyone for the help! I ordered a shim as mentioned by Steve, and got in touch with Ghost about the Shim Club.

                              Comment

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