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My First Valve Clearance Check

  • Thread starter Thread starter peterpressure
  • Start date Start date
P

peterpressure

Guest
Thanks to Steve for the spreadsheet and Cliff for the PDF's, I just last evening finished my first Valve Clearance Check on my 78 GS750. .02 just means it was less than .04, my smallest feeler gauge!

And here it is...

Exhaust clearance. (mm) 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.02
Mid-point (mm) 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06
Difference (mm) -0.04 -0.02 -0.04 -0.04
Present shim 2.55 2.50 2.45 2.60
Needed shim 2.50 2.50 2.40 2.55

Intake clearance (mm) 0.08 0.04 0.04 0.07
Mid-point (mm) 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06
Difference (mm) 0.03 -0.02 -0.02 0.02
Present shim 2.50 2.45 2.40 2.35
Needed shim 2.50 2.45 2.40 2.35

Just need to go buy some shims, thanks everyone!
 
Last edited:
Well done! Steves handy calculator and Mr BassCliffs excellent website is part of the toolbox now.
You will be surprised at the improvement in performance.
 
Check with your local Suzuki dealership and see if they do "shim swaps". Mine does. Give them one of yours, and they give you one of theirs, no charge.
 
renobruce said:
Check with your local Suzuki dealership and see if they do "shim swaps". Mine does. Give them one of yours, and they give you one of theirs, no charge.
Click to expand...


Darn had not thought of that. Already put her back together...

I already made sure my local Suzuki had a good collection of shims, but I am not sure how much hes going to charge me for them, I'l go grab em tomorrow...
 
peterpressure said:
Darn had not thought of that. Already put her back together...

I already made sure my local Suzuki had a good collection of shims, but I am not sure how much hes going to charge me for them, I'll go grab em tomorrow...
Click to expand...

"Back in the day" it was free to swap shims for the size you need. Ask them if they still honor that agreement. Both of the dealerships near me will do it.
 
Even if they charge a couple of bucks, it's worth it to have them now, instead of waiting for mail-order.

This first time, go ahead and just get the shims so you have a couple of extras sitting around. You don't want to rotate the cams without all your shims in place, so having an extra or two will allow you to move some around.

Also note that you can move the shim that is currently in EX 1 to EX 4, meaning you will only need to get a 2.40 and a 2.50 for 1 and 3. Since that will leave you with a 2.45 and a 2.60 as extras, you will have some ready for next time. All your intakes appear to be good, and in an interesting progression. You might want to pick up a 2.30 now to be ready for the next adjustment in case IN 4 will need it. It is also sometimes handy to have a shim that is several sizes smaller than what is in there, just in case something drastic happens and the valve tightens up more than one size. Not likely, but it can happen.

So, your shopping list should include a 2.30, 2.40 and 2.50, and be sure to ask about an exchange policy for next time.

.
 
Is it OK the Shims I just got from the dealer are slightly magnetic?
 
NO!! De-magnetize them! You don't want them accumulating any metal shavings.
 
I'm getting ready to do my first clearance test so I'll ask:
How do you demagnetize shims?
In fact how did you know they were magnetized to begin with?
 
Did a little googling, Heat or AC current will de-magnetize. Wow, Im pretty angry I got magnetic shims, I think I might just go return them for non magnetic ones, what a bummer..
 
peterpressure said:
Did a little googling, Heat or AC current will de-magnetize. Wow, Im pretty angry I got magnetic shims, I think I might just go return them for non magnetic ones, what a bummer..
Click to expand...

Don't be angry, it's not like its a special material, its likely an artifact of machining them on a lapper or blanchard grinder with magnetic clamping.

You can do several DIY things as you mentioned to demag them, or you can by powered or handheld tools that do it. I use one on screwdrivers, but keep in mind you can magnetize the screws unintentionally this way, which may or may not be desired.

Here's a cheap 3$ link I found googling that is more or less what I have.
http://www.magnetsource.com/Consumer Pages/Mag_Demag.html

You'll need something bigger for shims, the one I have I bought off of the snap-on truck, but isn't snap-on. It looks like an extruded X and you rub the item for mag/demag on one side or the other. Worth picking up if you can find it, sorry that I can't find a link for you...
 
Put them on an electric or gas burner till they heat up pretty good. That will break up the magnetic properties.
 
Shaughn said:
Don't be angry, it's not like its a special material, its likely an artifact of machining them on a lapper or blanchard grinder with magnetic clamping.

You can do several DIY things as you mentioned to demag them, or you can by powered or handheld tools that do it. I use one on screwdrivers, but keep in mind you can magnetize the screws unintentionally this way, which may or may not be desired.

Here's a cheap 3$ link I found googling that is more or less what I have.
http://www.magnetsource.com/Consumer Pages/Mag_Demag.html

You'll need something bigger for shims, the one I have I bought off of the snap-on truck, but isn't snap-on. It looks like an extruded X and you rub the item for mag/demag on one side or the other. Worth picking up if you can find it, sorry that I can't find a link for you...
Click to expand...

Machine shops have demag tools. They might do it for free. It's nearly zero effort, if you have the tool.
 
hmmm? I am not sure if I would cook them. I am not sure what the tolerances are in terms of constructing the shims, but really getting the steal hot can mess with other properties in steel besides magnetism. Just be careful on this. If your really concerned I'd exchange them or get one of those de-magnetizers.

rick
 
Well I went and swapped my shims for some non-magnetic ones and finally finished my Valve Clearance job the other evening. I ended up re-measuring my clearance and I kept getting slightly different measurements when comparing the clearances when the lobe was perpendicular versus paralell to the Valve so I sort of Averaged :oops:

I decided to Loosen all 4 Exhaust by .05, and Intake #3 also by .05. After completion and re-measuring I found 3 of the Exhaust were still below .04 but I did not have enough shims to go .05 less for any. I put the Valves cover back together and rode her all day today and vibration was decreased, my idle was better and she just drove like a new bike. I will get some more shims and in a few weeks loosen my 3 exhaust clearances some more.

Thanks everyone, the Valve Clearance fix has been one of best improvements to my bike thus far!!
 
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