Mixed Up Valves & Shims
Mixed Up Valves & Shims
I think I know the answer to my question but I want to run it by the group. Long story short, all of my valves and shims got mixed up. I do not know which goes where, so how do I go about putting them back in there place?
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,304
Likes: 512
From: South Florida, USA
What you'll have to do is just install the shims anywhere since you don't know where they're supposed to go. Put the cams back in, tighten them down to specification Get the cam chain back on in the proper place and timed correctly. Then check all of your clearances/gaps to see what the clearances are. You may get some right, some may be too tight/close, and others may be too loose/wide. You'll have to determine from there how much it needs to change and then take it all apart and see if swapping any around will bring them back into specification.
Good luck... that's not a procedure that I'd like to have to do.
The valve clearance specifications are in the shop manual. Not knowing what bike you have makes it real difficult to tell you. I imagine you might find a link to a manual on the site if you search. You could also probably Google it to find out.
What you'll have to do is just install the shims anywhere since you don't know where they're supposed to go. Put the cams back in, tighten them down to specification Get the cam chain back on in the proper place and timed correctly. Then check all of your clearances/gaps to see what the clearances are. You may get some right, some may be too tight/close, and others may be too loose/wide. You'll have to determine from there how much it needs to change and then take it all apart and see if swapping any around will bring them back into specification.
Good luck... that's not a procedure that I'd like to have to do.
What you'll have to do is just install the shims anywhere since you don't know where they're supposed to go. Put the cams back in, tighten them down to specification Get the cam chain back on in the proper place and timed correctly. Then check all of your clearances/gaps to see what the clearances are. You may get some right, some may be too tight/close, and others may be too loose/wide. You'll have to determine from there how much it needs to change and then take it all apart and see if swapping any around will bring them back into specification.
Good luck... that's not a procedure that I'd like to have to do.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 378
Likes: 2
From: UK
That is a spectacular ***** up.
Just to make it worse, chances are that when you put the shims back in and tighten everything back up, some of clearances will be so tight they will be touching the camshaft, these cannot be measured so you will need to swap them over with a different shim and repeat the whole thing a few times before you are done.
Just a note:
DO NOT BREAK THE CAM COVERS, tighten down in the exact order listed in the service manual using a good torque wrench. If you mess that part up and break one of the covers you will need to buy a new cylinder head.