no shim tool.. wanna get them out

[jake42]

I'm an obsessive compulsive.  I borrowed Kerry's shim tool and replaced my shims, but I think the new one I put in the left exhaust is too small. It ticks like crazy. I think I can probably swap a few shims around and get something that works, but I already sent the tool back to Kerry.

any suggestions for getting those shims out without having the tool.  I was thinking of loosing the bolts that hold the cam shaft on and then trying to get at the edge of the bucket with an open end wrench or something.  

Jake

[Kerry]

See my new post in your other thread....

[jake42]

i just read it, but it sounds like he still has the shim tool.  I'm sans tool as yours is back in the mail now.  

jake

[Kerry]

Yeah, he had the tool.  But he apparently didn't use it to FORCE the bucket down - just to HOLD it down.  Did I misread it?

(I thought he used the cam itself to force the bucket down.  If that's true you should be able to stick just about anything in there.  If it's NOT true, then at least his process makes it easier to extract the shim WITH the tool.)

[jake42]

hmm.  i was a little confused by his explanation.  I'll reread it tonite and see if I can make sense out of it.  

Jake

[Kerry]

I should also mention that some folks simply unbolt the camshaft altogether rather than goof around with the Motion Pro tool.

I have never done it that way, but you obviously have to keep things matched up really well.  One idea is to mark a camchain link and a matching spot on each camchain sprocket.   (Using white fingernail polish or something? :dunno:)

I think some have used a zip tie instead, to "clamp" the camchain in place on the sprocket - using one of the holes on the side of the sprocket as seen in THIS BikeBandit DIAGRAM.

At any rate, I found a good tip about keeping tension on the camchain so it doesn't drop down into the "channel" and kink up or cause other problems.  See RichardUK's post in the Canshaft stuck in place thread.

[richard]

I've swapped shims that way... remember, Kerry, the other day when we checked my clearances and you'd already sent away our tools?  (well, okay, your tools and my shim... )

It's not too hard, but it's not as convenient or easy as with the tool.

[jake42]

Richard,

which method did you use.? marking the cam chain, zip tying it, or anchoring it to the ceiling to maintain tension.

Jake

[richard]

actually, I just loosened (but didn't remove) the bolts holding it down, held it up with a screwdriver, and used a combination of jewelers screwdrivers and pliers to pull the shim.

*DISCLAIMER*:   If you do it this way, and don't put something down the center to catch it, you probably *will* drop a shim down inside the engine.

[jake42]

ditto.

I don't need no steenkin' shim tool.

Jake