Checking Valve Clearances: Near Disaster?

[ekabil]

What are you talking about dude. Getting the cams off to inspect and clean the valves and buckets is the plan is it not? So I took off the cam chain tensioner and the next step is those covers.

And i super appreciate yalls help but why are you gonna post something like "oh man you are probably ****ed" or "this is scary" I mean trust me however much it scares you it's ten times worse for me right?

So I'll just get pictures and not touch anything. I heard we are supposed to use photobucket. To post pictures. So once I make that I just link the pictures?

[Allie]

Kent has mad skillz, but he's a complete sociopath. Ignore him. In case you weren't certain, Nessim and 90125GS also have mad skillz, listen to them. I don't mean to slight anyone else here, we have many many knowledgeable and helpful members here.

P.S. I'm just a neophyte, if I say something and Nessim contradicts me, listen to HIM.

[Nessism]

Tom is correct about Suzuki recommending the use of Vice Grips to hold down the cam. I use this method when installing the cams, but not removing them, but it wouldn't hurt to do so assuming there is room.

I suspect you scored the edges of your cam lobes pretty good, and generated some metal debris. A few different people here have done the same thing and the cams, while somewhat damaged, ran fine afterwards. What to do is your call. Good used cams are easy enough to find, and cheap, so don't loose a lot of sleep either way. The 8V 750/850/1000/1100 cams all interchange so there is a lot of stock floating around.

[Allie]

Is close visual examination of the lobe faces enough to verify they are okay? I'm assuming when people worry about bend valves the concern is that the lobe tips come down and bend the valves - I guess that could damage the lobe in a bad way. Is there enough reach to achieve contact without the shim and bucket in place though?

[Guest]

What are you talking about dude. Getting the cams off to inspect and clean the valves and buckets is the plan is it not? So I took off the cam chain tensioner and the next step is those covers.

And i super appreciate yalls help but why are you gonna post something like "oh man you are probably ****ed" or "this is scary" I mean trust me however much it scares you it's ten times worse for me right?

So I'll just get pictures and not touch anything. I heard we are supposed to use photobucket. To post pictures. So once I make that I just link the pictures?

I think people are trying to save your bike from yourself. Not busting balls but I think this is getting outside your skill level a little bit and we are scared for your engine

Can someone close to this guy's location stop by to help?

[tkent02]

He still has no location.

[Guest]

He still has no location.

I think he mentioned Charleston South Carolina but adding his location to his information would be helpful

[Nessism]

Is close visual examination of the lobe faces enough to verify they are okay? I'm assuming when people worry about bend valves the concern is that the lobe tips come down and bend the valves - I guess that could damage the lobe in a bad way. Is there enough reach to achieve contact without the shim and bucket in place though?

Allie,

You can't bend valves by not having shims installed. No worry there. The only issue is the cam scoring and resulting metal debris.

[hampshirehog]

Allie,

You can't bend valves by not having shims installed. No worry there. The only issue is the cam scoring and resulting metal debris.

And as you said earlier Ed, just to try and reassure ekabil, very often it's nothing to get too worried about - this position is easily recoverable.

[ekabil]

thank you nessism and hampshirehog for your reassurances. I think its recoverable too, I am hoping not to have to install new cams because that is definitely out of my skills. but taking covers off, cleaning cams, smoothing them if necessary, that I think I can handle. this afternoon Ill take pictures if it isnt raining

[Guest]

He's near Charleston in Mount Pleasant. Looking at the registry I see one other member in Mount Pleasant and two in Charleston. Everyone else is some distance away. Anyone want to help help out? I would, but I am a bit further away. Ray

[Allie]

Allie,

You can't bend valves by not having shims installed. No worry there. The only issue is the cam scoring and resulting metal debris.

Oh yar, oops. I'm imagining the valve stems exposed, but he didn't take the buckets out.

[Steve]

I am hoping not to have to install new cams because that is definitely out of my skills. but taking covers off, cleaning cams, smoothing them if necessary, that I think I can handle.

No reason to think that new cams are outside of your skill set. You are already in the process of removing a cam (or two), cleaning it and re-installing it.

The only difference with new cams is that when you reach down to get your cam off the bench, you will pick up a different cam.

All the other steps remain the same.

.

[ekabil]

true Steve. But I wasn't planning on actually removing the cams, just lifting them enough to clean out the buckets. I dont have the vise grips needed to install them back on if I take the chain off, and removing the chain seems complicated. I looked it over in the manual and it said that the chain can fall into the engine? sounds...dangerous. honestly with all the knowledge on this board I think a monkey could rebuild the engine, its just a matter knowing what NOT to do. for me anyway

[tkent02]

if the chain falls in you can fish it out with a coat hanger, no big deal.