SHims

[Guest]

Doing valves on fiends GS1000 and every clearnance is to tight for my .02 metric feeler, what gives? Odo shows 39K. Is this unusual?

[JTGS850GL]

Not if it hasn't been done in a while. When was the last time the adjustment preformed?

[eil]

Not at all unusual, almost no one thinks to adjust the valves on these old beasts until someone here beats it into them. Crossing my fingers for ya that there are no burnt valves.

Since this is your first post and it sounds like you're already halfway through the job, allow me to usurp our regular greeter BassCliff with a link to his website: http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/ There you'll find factory service manual and supplementary instructions for doing the valve clearance adjustment among many other procedures and items.

[Scout]

I am pretty sure maintenance was never performed. I am sure the valve cover had never been off before. Once upon a time I got a tech degree from MMI so I know my way around but my speciality program was Harley and I am trying to fall back on my core training. If the clearance is nil do you just shotgun off an order for shims a couple sizes smaller than what currently in the bucket and go from there or does the head need to come off at this point and the valves ground?

[JTGS850GL]

If the shim bucket will turn then you know that have some gap. One shim size down should bring it into spec. If the bucket wont turn, then go two sizes down and prey. Many times you can swap shims from one valve to another to get some into spec. First step will be to inventory all your shims, how much if any gap and what position they're in. You could pick up one shim that's thinner then any you currently have and use that as a base ship to measure off of.

[koolaid_kid]

There is a shim club here; someone should be able to provide a link. Not sure how they operate, but it would most likely be cheaper than purchasing all your own shims.

[Scout]

If the shim bucket will turn then you know that have some gap. One shim size down should bring it into spec. If the bucket wont turn, then go two sizes down and prey. Many times you can swap shims from one valve to another to get some into spec. First step will be to inventory all your shims, how much if any gap and what position they're in. You could pick up one shim that's thinner then any you currently have and use that as a base ship to measure off of.

About half of the buckets spin. The guy I am doing this for ordered a tool so I can take the shim out but he's about 3 days late. I guess take each one out and record/measure and put back in and then proceed through them all. This bike is kind of growing on me, wish my friend had not rattle canned it, it did look very cool.

[Scout]

There is a shim club here; someone should be able to provide a link. Not sure how they operate, but it would most likely be cheaper than purchasing all your own shims.

Thanks, I'll look around and see if I can find it

[850 Combat]

You can hold the valves open by sticking a folded zip tie through the spark plug hole and into the gap between the open valve and the head. I personally prefer the Motion Pro tool, but many swear by the zip tie method. My eye sight is not good enough.

[Scout]

You can hold the valves open by sticking a folded zip tie through the spark plug hole and into the gap between the open valve and the head. I personally prefer the Motion Pro tool, but many swear by the zip tie method. My eye sight is not good enough.

I did see that on the Basscliff site. Looks like a good, cheap way to do it but since the tool is supposedly on the way I will just wait it out. My friends bike is getting more lift time than I bargained for. I've already soniced the carbs, repaired & set the points to spec, replaced fuel line & cleaned the petcock. Guess couple more days can't hurt

[eil]

Some people buy a thin shim and then use that to measure the clearance of each bucket to figure out what the exact value each replacement shim should be. That way, you don't buy the next size down and then pop it in and realize you need still more clearance. Even from the cheapest source, these run $6-$7 a pop.

[koolaid_kid]

Send an email to Steve and he will send you his valve adjustment worksheet. Make a couple of copies. Record current valve clearances, current shim thickness (use a mike or caliper to measure) record new shim thickness and new clearances. Once you see it, you will understand. It is very handy.

[Steve]

If the shim bucket will turn then you know that have some gap. One shim size down should bring it into spec.

I used to think that, too, but I just did an engine where the bucket spun, but it took THREE shim sizes to get it into spec.

Many times you can swap shims from one valve to another to get some into spec.

Before you do this, be aware that you should NOT turn the engine if ANY shim is missing. To swap shims, you need another shim or a "place holder" before you turn the engine. It is possible to use a coin for that job. Silver dollars and quarters work quite well and will not hurt the cam.

I guess take each one out and record/measure and put back in and then proceed through them all.

Take a look in my sig, there is an offer for a free "tool" there that will help you with that.

There is a shim club here; someone should be able to provide a link. Not sure how they operate, but it would most likely be cheaper than purchasing all your own shims.

Thanks, I'll look around and see if I can find it

Would you believe it's the Shim Club Thread in the GS Parts and Services forum?

You can hold the valves open by sticking a folded zip tie through the spark plug hole and into the gap between the open valve and the head. I personally prefer the Motion Pro tool, but many swear by the zip tie method. My eye sight is not good enough.

No eye sight necessary to use the zip-tie method.

It can be done blindfolded.

.

[Ghostgs1]

Scout, The link to the club is in my signature. It explains how the club functions, etc. Your friend may want to join to avoid tying up a small fortune in shims. Ray

[Scout]

Well the tool actually came in the mail yesterday and I got right to it. Not a fan of shims but it was a whole lot better than KZ750 we did in school where you have to remove the cams, overall impressed with Suzuki technology! Wrote them all down, used a dummy washer in place of a shim and did the shim shuffle. I have 3 within clearance now and need 5 shims. I am tasking my friend to obtain them now that we know what we need. Somewhere in the world all the larger suzuki shims must gather together to never be used again. I'm sure hoping this old girl is a runner