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Valve shim measurements don't add up

  • Thread starter Thread starter swedge61
  • Start date Start date
S

swedge61

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I am doing my first valve adjustment on my 83 GS1100GK. I have been measuring the gaps by doing one valve at a time as my manual instructs instead of doing two at a time. I kept getting slightly different numbers doing two at a time. I don't know if the valves were ever done on this engine.The engine has 30,000 miles on it. Some of the gaps are larger than the .08. I thought that the gaps got smaller as the bike gets more miles on it. Here are my numbers. I have been using a feeler gauge that has both inches and mm. I am presenting the numbers in mm.
1E .102 2.65 shim
2E .102 2.60 shim
3E .051 2.60 shim
4E .102 2.60 shim

1I .063 2.70 shim
2I .102 2.70 shim
3I .102 2.75 shim
4I .076 2.75 shim

3E. 1I, and 4I appear to be within spec.
The rest are to large. Can I run with these numbers or should I get the next larger shims?
Thanks
Swedge61
 
You should be OK running it until your new shims arrive.
They usually do wear tighter, maybe someone previously shimmed it incorrectly?
 
I wouldn't even worry about .10 mm clearances. The engine will run a wee bit noisier, but being .02 mm large isn't going to hurt anything. It'll just extend the time until the shim needs to be swapped out again.

By the way, using shims in the 2.60 range on the exhaust and 2.70 range of the intake to keep in spec at 30,000 miles is excellent. It indicates minimal wear on the seals and valves.
 
swedge61 said:
1E .102 2.65 shim
2E .102 2.60 shim
3E .051 2.60 shim
4E .102 2.60 shim

1I .063 2.70 shim
2I .102 2.70 shim
3I .102 2.75 shim
4I .076 2.75 shim
Click to expand...
If it was my bike, I would look for a 2.55 for 3E, a 2.65x for 1I, and a 2.70x for 4I.

That would put them all right in the .10mm range, making them ALL very happy. :D

Unfortunately, you can not order "X" shims, so you have to rely on someone's generosity and availability in a personal stash.
(I might have some of them, I will be home later this week to check, if you are interested.)

.
 
Well, if you really want to change shims, I do have a 2.70x you can have. Personally I'd just bolt it back up and ride...
 
Put it back together and ride. I wouldn't worry about those clearances for one second.

Nothing bad will happen, and honestly, a .02mm difference isn't even enough to make any extra noise, at least nothing you can hear amongst the other cacophony of a running GS engine.
 
I will probably replace the 3E with an extra 2.55 shim I have as Steve suggest just so the exhaust are all the same. Then I am going to put the valve cover back on and finish my carb rebuild.
Thanks for all the advice
Swedge61
 
Just so you know, if you check the valves one at a time instead of using the proper Suzuki method of checking in pairs your measurements will be off. It's always best to follow the factory method.
 
I was using the instructions in my Clymer manual. I will double check everything using the 2 valve method after I exchange the #3E shim.
Thanks
Swedge61
 
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