Valve Adjustment Tool

[Andrew F.]

Hi, I'm new to this site and am really impressed with the support you provide to your fellow users. I'm from Sudbury, Ontario and am currently
laid up for riding due to snow so I've decided to restore my 1971 BSA.

So now to my question, I need to adjust my valves on my 2003 GS, I consulted my factory manual on the procedure and require the tool to depress the shim bucket. I consulted the dealer and they want $200 CAD for it.   Now I searched the net for an aftermarket tool and the closest I've seen is the one from Motion Pro which covers almost all the GS models except the GS500. I'm under the impression that it will work but
I would like to doublecheck. Don't all the GS Twins have a similar head
design. One more thing, they say to use a product called Suzuki Bond to
seal the valve cover, is there a similar product that works as well. I've worked on bikes where people use silicone gasket maker to seal up valve covers and end up starving the cam journals of oil from bits of silicone plugging stuff up. I've had good results with a little Permatex Black around the end caps and a touch around the cover itself. I'm just wondering what you guys use, I'm just a little paranoid about my new bike and don't want to mess it up.

Thanks.

Andrew

[gsJack]

No need for special tools.  See thread:

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1370&highlight=valve+adjustment

There are many other threads here on the subject.  A search will turn them up.

[Sideshow]

You could try asking a cycle shop near you if you could rent their tool.  I would bet they'd be willing.  You just have to talk about what you're working on and BS with the guys a little.  Sometimes a six pack is worth, well, 200 CAD.  

[Gisser]

Never tried the Motion Pro myself, but it's been reported that this tool will work fine for about $30.

I use silicone underneath the valve cover gasket for reinforcement.  Easy to clean-up, where as, case sealants can be a bear to remove.  I doubt stray silicone bits can get by the oil filter and into circulation.

[mjm]

....Now I searched the net for an aftermarket tool and the closest I've seen is the one from Motion Pro which covers almost all the GS models except the GS500. I'm under the impression that it will work but.../quote]

The motion pro tool works on the GS500 just fine - available quite cheaply through various catalogs like JC Whitney - and a bit easier to use than most of the methods talked about in previous discussions -

[Andrew F.]

Never tried the Motion Pro myself, but it's been reported that this tool will work fine for about $30.

I use silicone underneath the valve cover gasket for reinforcement.  Easy to clean-up, where as, case sealants can be a bear to remove.  I doubt stray silicone bits can get by the oil filter and into circulation.

I've got an Ex500 in my garage that has a pooched head from the owner thinking more silicone is better than a little. What happens is the excess goop tends to fly around plugging up oil galleries before it has a chance of hitting the filter. So trust me on that one. I'm just curious what product you've all had luck with, I've always used Permatex Black in high moderation.

[Diderich]

Having just recently gone through this myself...i fought with the valve shims for about an hour with screw drivers and such, because i really don't have the tools to make a decent compression tool.  I ended up just taking the cams off.  It was actually pretty simple as long as you follow the directions in the manual for putting them back on right.  I'm sure you don't want to screw that up.  However it's really not that hard...after the third or forth try  

As far as suzuki bond goes, what i found was that the new gasket didn't want to stick into the upper half of the valve cover, where it is supposed to go, when you are trying to cram the cover back into the bike and onto the engine.  I used a little bit of permatex something...just enough to stick it onto the cover so the gasket stays in place when i put the cover back on the bike.  The cover has a little groove where the gasket is supposed to fit, if you've looked at it.. You don't want to twist up the gasket when you cynch down the bolts on the cover, and the sealant just holds it in place when you drop it on the engine.  I suppose it is also useful for those half circle rubber bits that plug up the side of the engine too.

[Kerry]

I think I've posted this before, but I'm too lazy to find the original thread today.  This image was scanned from the Haynes repair manual.  Only problem is, I don't have any dimensions for this tool:


I could probably make a good guess based on the measurements of my MotionPro tool - if I remember when I'm at home....

EDIT: Changed link from sisna.com to bbburma.net

[JohNLA]

Wahoo! That rocks Kerry. I was planning on buying the Motion Pro tool but if I can save $30 and make my own. I love being frugal
I need to get the Haynes book

[The Buddha]

The motion pro tool cost me ~$16 if memory serves me right. Its good to make a tool by hand but if you cant... well motion pro's tool is great... looks like a over sized spoon... hence I call it a spoon.
Cool.
Srinath.