First time adjusting valves

[willman]

Quick question, can i rotate the crankshaft without shims if I use the zip tie method?
I want to remove the shims to trade them in to the shim club, but that would require me to have them all out at the same time.
Also, my exhaust are both too tight to get a reading so I would like to move the intake shims over if they are smaller; haven't check yet... again I would have to have them both out at the same time.
Oh, and my bike is a 450L, if that helps.
thanks, willman

 

[Steve]

Quick question, can i rotate the crankshaft without shims if I use the zip tie method?

NO!!!

I want to remove the shims to trade them in to the shim club, but that would require me to have them all out at the same time.

Check with the Club. I don't know for sure, as I don't use their services, but I think if you tell them what you think you need, they send them to you, then you send back what you don't need. Again, I don't know that for sure, so contact Ray (ghostgs1) to find out for sure.

Since you are playing with valves, please read the invite in my sig.

.

 

[willman]

OK, that's what i thought, just some wishful thinking.
I'll ask the shim club, but if they don't i guess i'm going to Z1.
thanks, willman

 

[apopleptic]

You should update your profile with your location, maybe someone local to you can lend you a spare? you should also add your bike model to your signature so you don't have to introduce it in each topic you start (until you get a dozen like some guys on here).

 

[willman]

OK, I updated my profile

 

[cowboyup3371]

NO!!!




Check with the Club. I don't know for sure, as I don't use their services, but I think if you tell them what you think you need, they send them to you, then you send back what you don't need. Again, I don't know that for sure, so contact Ray (ghostgs1) to find out for sure.

Since you are playing with valves, please read the invite in my sig.

.

Yes, Ray will send what you need on the condition you return those you don't. I did that with my bike the last time and will probably do it again when I adjust mine in the next couple of months.

 

[willman]

Wow, that's great! that will help out a lot.

 

[Mattias44]

I know I'm probably going to catch flak for this, but when I took my shims out, I removed 5 at once and threw $1 coins in the shim buckets. They're smaller than the shims, but just big enough to keep the cam lobe from wearing on the edge of the bucket when you turn the motor. The good thing is, they're (basically) free, so you can go spend them once you're done swapping your shims out.

 

[Guest]

Good old American ingenuity. The dollar isn't worth much anyway. Ray

 

[hampshirehog]

I know I'm probably going to catch flak for this, but when I took my shims out, I removed 5 at once and threw $1 coins in the shim buckets. They're smaller than the shims, but just big enough to keep the cam lobe from wearing on the edge of the bucket when you turn the motor. The good thing is, they're (basically) free, so you can go spend them once you're done swapping your shims out.

Used to be the standard procedure in the dealers, though we must be a bit cheaper in the UK as I've been using the old 10 pence bits for years to do the same job. Unfortunately the new coins are too small and I now have to supplement with whatever foreign coins we get fobbed of with at Tesco.

 

[willman]

OK, one intake is .038mm and the other .051mm I can't get the .038mm gauge under the exhaust cams, but i can spin the buckets freely. So should I leave the .051mm go one size down on the other intake and 2 sizes on the exhaust?
thanks for the help

 

[cowboyup3371]

Have you contacted Steve yet for his spreadsheet? Look him up (Steve is his name and his username) and EMAIL him for it. It will help you keep track of what you have and what you need.

 

[willman]

Yep, I got the spreadsheet. Unfortunately, I can't view it on this computer and it may be a couple of weeks before i can

 

[Steve]

Yep, I got the spreadsheet. Unfortunately, I can't view it on this computer and it may be a couple of weeks before i can

Why can't you view it? :-k

It's written in Excel 97.

If you don't have Excel on your computer, go to openoffice.org and get a FREE program that can open it for you.

.

 

[willman]

It's a new computer and i haven't gotten around to finding my old install discs, when i find Microsoft office i should be able to see it.

 

[apopleptic]

It's a new computer and i haven't gotten around to finding my old install discs, when i find Microsoft office i should be able to see it.

I would consider trying openoffice.
I used to work for a company that switched all their computers over to openoffice since it was compatible with MS office and free. Something about saving over half a million dollars or something...
http://www.openoffice.org/
I'm pretty sure you can just get rid of it later like I did if you don't like it.

 

[willman]

I used the zip tie method worked like a charm!
ok so they are:
front right: can't get gauge in, and the shim is not marked, miked in at .1018"(2.5857mm)
front left: could not gauge, shim marked 2.60, miked in at .1029in(2.6137mm)
rear right: could fit a .002in(0.051mm) gauge in, shim marked 2.60 miked in .1024in (2.6001mm)
rear left: gauged at .0015in(0.0381mm), shim marked 2.55X miked in at .1014in(2.5756mm)
any suggestions?

thanks guys,
willman

 

[willman]

Alright, i'm downloading it, but i wouldn't hold my breath if i were you. I live out in the middle of nowhere and the internet is slow.

 

[apopleptic]

do you have a measuring caliper so you can check the unmarked one? I recommend buying a digital one if you don't have one already. they are $15 or so at Harbor Freight (or elsewhere). Inaccurately marked shims is the only reason I jumped up two sizes at once(replacement was marked 2.55 but was really 2.59)
also, I've noticed that at least two of the shims I came across were mis marked or unlabeled, and I have heard that story from others on these boards.

I recommend the shim club for two reasons.
1. if you get one and the size doesn't work you'll be able to swap it for a new one.
2. how many extra spare shims do you need to have that you will probably never have use for again? Maybe someone else will have a use? It's called recycling. and at $5 per shim or more, I would say that this is a perfect candidate.

 

[willman]

Yes, i have some dial calipers but i used a 0"-1" mike and it read as .1018"(2.5857mm)
I also listed the readings for all the other ones as well to make things easier.