• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

valve adjustment-on different models

R

ron bayless

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
When I owned my 80 gs 1000L the valve adjustment thing was difficult for me, and i uderstand some of the gs model years this wasnt necessary.Or is it? i also remember the clearance was to be between 4 and 8 thousandths, with looser being preferable.is that right? I also remember shims being a priority and buying a kit with a jillion shims was about a $100.00.Waiting for someone here to trade some was not a good option, and the chances of one shim i take from one valve set being the one i needed on another seemed unlikely.Input appreciated.
 
The good news is you don't have to do it very often. A few assorted shims will get you there. You can also measure what you need and then call Ray (GhostGS1) for the sizes you need, swap them out when they arrive.

The later four valve per cylinder heads use no shims.
 
Yea the valve shim design thru me for a loop at 1st. I was doing an oil leak repair on camcover and/or 1/2 moon seal plugs so I figured I'd do it while there. Thanks to members here helping me along. Now I got a fresh topend with new gaskets. I got a nice new feeler gauge set from harbor freight for like $4.00 and the local Suzuki shop had a large assortment and only charged me $3.00 ea.:eek: I also had an inexpensive 6" calipers from HF for checking shim thickness
and carb float height. It's on sale now http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch...zIjoiMTEuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk IjoiMTQ2OSJ9
http://www.harborfreight.com/32-piece-sae-metric-feeler-gauge-32214.html
So $15.00 a couple gaskets and some time and you're all done!:D
 
slyone said:
Yea the valve shim design thru me for a loop at 1st. I was doing an oil leak repair on camcover and/or 1/2 moon seal plugs so I figured I'd do it while there. Thanks to members here helping me along. Now I got a fresh topend with new gaskets. I got a nice new feeler gauge set from harbor freight for like $4.00 and the local Suzuki shop had a large assortment and only charged me $3.00 ea.:eek: I also had an inexpensive 6" calipers from HF for checking shim thickness
and carb float height. It's on sale now http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch...zIjoiMTEuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk IjoiMTQ2OSJ9
http://www.harborfreight.com/32-piece-sae-metric-feeler-gauge-32214.html
So $15.00 a couple gaskets and some time and you're all done!:D
Click to expand...

Thanks, that is great information.
 
People that can't muster the discipline to read the service manual and adjust a shim type GS's valves shouldn't own a 30+ year old motorcycle. It's a very easy process, and there are all kinds of threads here describing the process plus a Basscliff tutorial. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but come on. It's a dead easy process.
 
Last edited:
As for the one part of your question, there are models of GS bikes that don't use shims. The 16 valve bikes still need adjustment but there are no shims. Recently I did my first adjustment on a friends 1150 and it was way simpler although as Ed said, valve adjustment isn't that hard especially with the step by step procedures on Cliffs site. It's just a lot quicker when you're not dealing with shims.
 
azr said:
The 16 valve bikes still need adjustment but there are no shims. ... It's just a lot quicker when you're not dealing with shims.
Click to expand...
Oh, I'm not so sure about that. :-k

Might be a little easier to not have to change a shim, but you have twice as many valves to do. :p

.
 
Nessism said:
People that can't muster the discipline to read the service manual and adjust a shim type GS's valves shouldn't own a 30+ year old motorcycle. It's a very easy process, and there are all kinds of threads here describing the process plus a Basscliff tutorial. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but come on. It's a dead easy process.
Click to expand...
And if trying to figure out that shim replacement chart in the manual is too confusing, just read the invite in my sig.
down2.gif


.
 
Wait until you have to adjust a 16 valve shim under bucket head before you start complaining. The 8 valve gs heads are a piece of cake to adjust.
 
almarconi said:
Wait until you have to adjust a 16 valve shim under bucket head before you start complaining. The 8 valve gs heads are a piece of cake to adjust.
Click to expand...
Care to try a CBX? :-k

24 valves to adjust, and I believe they are shim under bucket. :-\\\

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top