Valve Shims

[sprint_9]

Im thinking of taking my bike apart and checking the valves. I have a clicking clacking sort of noise at idle, and can hear exhast puffing when around 5,000 rpms while engine breaking. I was wondering where to get shims if I need them? I dont know about the local stealer or perhaps someone on here has some extras.  Also I was wonder about checking the cam chain tensoner, anything I need to look for with that? Thanks.

[The Buddha]

Cam chain tensioner...Well its easy to test it.
When you turn the motor over inbetween valve checks and otherwise...look at the section of the chain between the 2 cam sprokets. If it ever sags even a bit your tensioner is bad.
Valve shims...well easy job there, just make sure you measure and get the right sim size and swap it.
What the manual dont tell you is
1. Never ever turn the motor over without a shim in the bucket, even if its the wrong one...(to do a swap you need a third shim).
2. After swap its near impossible to get a correct reading...well due to the fact that oils will get under the shim and float the shim.
3. Measure the shims cos they do slowly wear. So a 255 shim may actually be a 254.
4. Set them to spec and they will rattle and be noisy so dont worry about clacking noises.
5. Yamaha shims are near identical to suzuki and will swap in and work fine but suzuki shims fit tighter and so work better.
6. Valves get looser as the motor gets hot and clearances increase but not by much, however I have been able to measure ... sorta...
There is probably more... But hey I dont remember much anymore.
Oh yea...Write down what shims you putting in which bucket so you can buy shims on either side of those and be well prepped next time.
Cool.
Srinath.

[sprint_9]

Thanks for the info srinath it will help me greatly when I tear into my bike.    

[GSinUS]

Interesting as this is from a while back, but why is that you are not supposed to turn the engine over w/o a shim in place?  I took two shims out and was turning the engine while checking the other two, but I can only think of the pressure building up in the engine as a bad thing.  And that was remedied by having spark plugs removed.  ANything else?

[TragicImage]

bad for the journals?  I have no idea.

[MarkusN]

You can damage the cams and buckets, as the cams run on the edges of the buckets.

[Egaeus]

Yeah, I can vouch for that.  Beats the crap out of both.  Ask me how I know....

[galahs]

I can't believe how expensive valve shims are 

[mi_dude]

I did a valve check a few weeks ago.  I was able to get a new shim free from the local dealership service department, they were willing to do a swap with me.  I actually found two dealerships that were willing to do a swap.  I think that the best price I found online was about $4.50.