Valve Clearance

[Markca]

The problem is using the Manual method I could not get 2 of the valve clearance to pass the 0.034mm gap.  Should I be worry?

theoretically, manual method or kerrys method, either way should give you the same result. so if somehow you got different results, sadly but surely you should double check your work.  both ways are designed to look for one thing only - clearance between the cam lobe and valve shim.  both ways work.

if you couldnt fit your smallest gauge (seemingly .034mm) but the bucket would spin under the cam than you should probably pull the shim out, measure it, and go one size down. if anything, trial and error goes a long way, unless your bike is your primary source of transportation (as it is for me) than i'd say you should take any free time to get it right.

im no pro, but i'd like to say i understand what i do when i do it =P

They should give the same result, but if I can rotate and able to get the 0.05mm clearance, then that would mean that the maximum clearance is at least 0.05mm right?  So what I did wrong is unable to follow the manual, but as far as the clearance go, it should be OK, shouldn't it???

[pandymai]

everyone's feel is a little different, so it's hard to tell. but since youre pretty sure you got to within spec for each valve, than i see no reason to worry.

glad to be of assistance.

[gsJack]

If you can turn the bucket with your finger tip with the cam lobe turned away from the shim your bike will run OK and probably do so for many more miles.  Nothing to panic about but if you want to get 100k miles from your engine without valve work you better run more exhaust valve clearance.  If you want to do it right you should check clearances with the cams set like the manual shows.  Using Kerry's method will give slightly different usually tighter values.

About 11 years ago with my first GS I let an exhaust valve go with minimum clearances for 20k miles and that valve needed frequent shim changes after that until it was down to a minimum 215 shim by 80k miles.  On my current 02 GS I've increase exhaust clearances and am now approaching 80k mile still running mid size shims and expect them to go 100k miles with little or no more shim changes.  Still, I didn't change my first shim until about 40k miles on the 97 and about 30k miles on my 02.  That's when I began increasing clearances on the exhausts on the 02.  Will be doing my 80k mile check next month on the 02 with about 79k miles on it now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/valveclearances.jpg

[Allen]

Watch Kerry's video, thats how I learned it, but the book's way allows you to check both intakes and the right exhaust at the same time. In general the lobe needs to face away from the shim/bucket, then measure clearances.  What you worry about is when the lobe is facing away and the back end of the lobe is still touching the shim (ie. zero clearance).  Don't worry you are doing fine, as long as you have clearances the bike should run fine, you may have to readjust your idle or other things afterwards.