Valve clearance check, Service Manual or Kerry's video?

[twocool]

Haven't tried it but I'd like to play devil's advocate, what happens if the zip tie breaks off in the cylinder??

-Jessie

You could probably get in there with a long tweezer, or vacuum cleaner or something.....

But I would be afraid of knocking some carbon off and getting it stuck under the valve or something.

Athough this is a "creative" idea, I still think it's better to blow $12 on the motion pro valve tool!

Trick we use to "unstick" a stuck valve on airplane engine....Move engine until piston is "down", then feed it a length of rope, thru spark pluc hole....then turn engine so piston comes up, presses on rope, which pressed on valve and valve "pops" closed again!   Also way to prevent valve from falling into engine when rockers and valve springs are taken off..

Cookie

[Paulcet]

I've done it. I didn't like the uneven stress on the valve stem, so I used two zip ties,  I was surprised at how much the plastic deformed, so Jessie's concern is legitimate.

Now I use gsJack's method.

[piresito]

My wife is still looking for the missing tweezers that are hidden away in my tool box.   

lol!
Gggrrrr...she gave me lowest quality tweezers in the world, it was too thick to fit under the shim. Anyway, it took me under 5 minutes in to switch the left shim, and 30 seconds in the right. The two screwdriver method is perfect! Next time I will buy a second long shaft, 6mm tip screwdriver do it, so I have two similar screwdrivers. I just used a smaller one that I had . It was so easy that I will never buy the shim tool.
I depressed the shim/bucket with the help of both screwdrivers, alternating between them, depressing more and more in order to fit the 6mm screw driver tip vertical in the edge of the bucket. As I fit it, the trick was to press down the shim in the opossite side of where the vertical scredriver blade was. If it was in the left edge of the bucket, I would press it a bit on the right side of the shim. That way the shim just pop out, I could do it everytime I want...tweezers in, shim out, new shim in. Strange that after turning the engine 2 times the clearance didn't get to where I expect, one side got 6mm instead of 8mm... :-s Maybe a bit of oil still under that?!

Head cover in, reassembled carbs and airbox (there was a carb job too) time to fire it!!
Then, oops...it my work better with tank petckcock in the "On" position...charge the battery, Prime for 5 minutes and a smoke later, still no go! 
Pulled the tube out of the tank to check if fuel was going down, and as soon as I touch the Start button a beautiful (not so much, but at that time it felt like it) idle came!!! Brrrrummm!!!
My garage got full of exhaust some! Like a cloud!  Strange..why did this happen? Why it only worked when I removed the Gas tube from the tank petcock? And the smoke?

Anyway, so far so good! 
Thanks guys!

To do:
Check Float Height;
Play with air-mixture screws;
Sync carbs;

Rear wheel alignament, but thats another thread...

[mike10]

I guess the zip tie is not suppose to break off in the cylinder.  Good question. If it was a tiny piece maybe crank over the engine and blow it out the spark plug hole. I don't know.

[mike10]

Just did a search on GSresources site. The Zip Tie valve tool, will break off sometimes. A small hose hooked to a shop vac. has worked to get it out. But another guy had to pull the head off the bike. I will be using my TOOL. But if you are caught in a pinch with no tool, use a good fresh Zip Tie.