not enough clearance to remove shims

[Cmart]

intake 3 shim is stuck. i can pop it loose from the bucket, spin it around, move it a little, but can not get it to come out. i have gone as far as prying on it from the other side which puts it into a bind. i simply cannot get this shim out.

any ideas? been working on it for an hour while rotating the engine to different spots and trying the shim from all sides and angles

[tkent02]

Really thin shims I bet, resulting from a valve job?
Which tool are you using to push the bucket down?

[Cmart]

im using the zip tie method. so the bucket rests at the bottom

[Cmart]

nevermind. i ended up bending a washer into a curve and beating in through the back side forcing the shim out.

[tkent02]

Beating it?
That can't be good. Got a thicker zip tie?

[Cmart]

Not really beating, tapping lol. Took 2 small taps on the screwdriver I was holding on the washer