Consequences of bad valve clearance?

[goat]

I did a quick search for this and came up enpty handed. I know that my bike needs a valve clearance adjustment badly. The left hand exhaust valve is REALLY loud, but I won't have the tools to check/fix it until they come in the mail.

My question is, how bad is it to ride while the valves are in this condition. I really want to ride, but I don't want to cause damage especially since I have put 10 miles on since I rebuilt the engine.

Thanks

[dgyver]

Depends on how bad they are. They may just make a lot of noise and give you no problems. But if they are loose enough, a shim could come loose and split. Damage after that will vary depending on where the shim goes.

[The Buddha]

It can be extremely loud and be a total racket, and the valves can still be in spec... and BTW I have a ton of end play in my camshafts, however the end play is too small for the end play shims ... which are 1mm, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 I think. I think I am close to 1mm but just under, and that makes 99% of my valve noise ...  :dunno:
I guess I am saying... look for end play in the silly cam shafts... Dammit someone should have made shims and end play fittings in rubber already... like that cam chain guide material, some synthetic, that attracts oil, wears like steel and does not make hammering noises when you hit them with a hammer... BTW I also have another Idea... 2 words... "Reverse Microwave"... to make instant cold drinks from warm drinks... Oh your beer is not cold cos the wife tossed it out of the fridge cos she wanted to put vegetables.... eeeewwwww, OK No problem, RevZap (Trademark) it for 30 seconds... how is it now... frosty.... mmmmm...
Cool.
Srinath.

[tt_four]

i was supposed to check my valves on my other bike at 8k, and i rode it until i checked them at 20k :dunno:   my bike has gotten pretty loud around that part, so i assumed i had 10 valves way out of spec, but it turned out i only had one out, so i replaced it, and it's still loud, so i don't know, it does kinda ruin fun though, i'd still ride it, i would just take it easy on the engine, but that takes away from the point of having a bike, if the redlight turns green and i can't take off, but anyway, my bike didn't have any problems, but i've heard of some pretty serious ones that can come from not checking the valves,

[Hi-T]

People have described some serious performance issues from the vavles being out of spec.  Usually it is a loss in power and horrid gas milage.  A couple guys posted saying they couldn't get any pull at freeway speed- like it would starve out.

[The Buddha]

That's from them being too tight... You'll lose mix on the compression stroke and power on the power stroke... and when it gets real bad, you'll quit running on that cylinder. Loose = noise, on a GS even in spec = noise.
Cool.
Srinath.

[goat]

Wow. Denniskirk has a warehouse in egan, MN. I ordered the motionpro valve shim removal tool and feeler gauges last night. They are scheduled to be delivered today, and I only paid for ground shipping. Cool.

[Rema1000]

Cool!  Is that the "Valve Shim Tool for Suzuki GS550/750/850 #28270 " for $33?  I priced the MP tool at $30 at JC.

What kind of feeler guages?  My smallest is  0.038mm.

Also, let us know if you find someone local who has a good (and cheap) shim selection.

EDIT: I know that Midwest Cycle Supply doesn't carry them; I think it would have to come from a dealer, which probably means Tousley, Primo or Southside.  Roy's Repair probably has a selection that they use, and might trade stock sizes for your odd size, but probably not for sale.

[goat]

Yeah, the $33 dollar thing (shoulda looked harder). Unfortunately since it ships from MN, I also get to pay sales tax. I should have my billing address at school...

I got a .02 and .03 guages for 4.99. I already had a pretty good set, just not small enough. It was cheaper than buying another set.

I was hoping one of the dealers would have shims, but I haven't called yet. I wasn't expecting the tools to come until this weekend, so I haven't had a chance to check on that.