Routine valve clearance check showed no clearance on one valve

[Dr.McNinja]

Hey everyone,

Finally got around to doing my valve check. Everything was mostly in spec (right intake was a bit on the loose side, but whatever). Unfortunately, I found that my right exhaust valve has zero clearance. It was not possible to move the bucket.

So my question is, is there anything I can do to save this? I have access to the screwdriver cutout on the bucket. Can I use the tool to depress it and get the shim out, or am I stuck pulling the head and forcing the bucket out?

[jtl216]

You won't be able to use the shim tool to depress it completely so use the shim tool to depress  it a little even if you're putting force on the shim itself and not  just the follower,then sTick a thick feeler gauge (~1mm) between the shim and cam lobe . Then with the extra space you can insert the shim tool like you would normally.

[twocool]

You should be able to just use the regular Motion Pro or Suzuki tool...especially since the notch is facing the right way...just use the tool and take out the shim

The tool pushes against theedge of the  bucket, not the shim...so it doesn't matter if the clearance is zero.


Cookie

Hey everyone,

Finally got around to doing my valve check. Everything was mostly in spec (right intake was a bit on the loose side, but whatever). Unfortunately, I found that my right exhaust valve has zero clearance. It was not possible to move the bucket.

So my question is, is there anything I can do to save this? I have access to the screwdriver cutout on the bucket. Can I use the tool to depress it and get the shim out, or am I stuck pulling the head and forcing the bucket out?

[Dr.McNinja]

You should be able to just use the regular Motion Pro or Suzuki tool...especially since the notch is facing the right way...just use the tool and take out the shim

The tool pushes against theedge of the  bucket, not the shim...so it doesn't matter if the clearance is zero.


Cookie

Perfect, I'm really glad to hear this. I'll pull it apart to respec the shims next weekend and follow up with this. I have to order a shitload of parts for my carbs because a bunch of the plastic, o-rings, and gaskets were totally unusable. So I'll just do them together.

My main concern was that there's a chance the shim is so pounded in that if I can't depress the bucket I would have to pull the head and rebuild it. Thankfully I don't.

This is off topic, but maybe someone might know. Where is the best place to buy all new hosing for the gs? Everywhere around me only sells imperial sized air/fuel lines.

[Dr.McNinja]

Bumping because not good news. The bucket seems to not be able to be depressed. I stick the tool in and it doesn't rebound like it should. Does the cam need to be positioned pointed up to remove it? Anyway, here are some images: http://imgur.com/a/vFngX


As you can see the bucket is completely depressed without the tool, and the tool doesn't change anything. I tried to cram a 1mm clearance tool into there to "introduce" some clearance and it doesn't seem to want to work. Ignore the old oil all over the engine, thats part of the reason I decided to tear her down again anyway...

Am I screwed?

[Suzuki Stevo]

Point the lobe up..then try the tool, are you taking you're measurements with the lobe down also?

[Dr.McNinja]

Point the lobe up..then try the tool, are you taking you're measurements with the lobe down also?

Nope, took all measurements with the lobe pointed up so the fat end was on the shim.

[Dr.McNinja]

Just went out to check on the way you said:

http://imgur.com/a/sJwPr

Doing that there's plenty of clearance by pushing down the bucket to remove the shim. I can see clear through to the other side. However, the new problem is the shim feels stuck. I'm prying up where the screwdriver slot is and it feels like its not budging at all.

[twocool]

Sometimes the shims don't want to come right out...it's like the oil film makes a seal and suction...

Sometimes I use a pocket knife instead of a screwdriver...but be sure you don't break off the knife blade or the tip of the blade...

Or...use a small screwdriver...but one with a really sharply squared off blade tip..sometimes those sharp corners will dig in enough...

I've had shims which didn't want to budge...and messed with them for a long time...then went away for a while and came back and the damn thing popped right out...go figure.

I guess it  is a technique thing....just keep trying different ways of moving the screwdriver...be sure you're  in the slot on the bucket...a magnet on a stick is also a good thing to have once you pop the shim loose..I've had 'em pop out, only to slide right back in again...also you don't want to have the shim go somewhere you don't want it to go...stick a rag into the area of the cam chain...

Cookie

Just went out to check on the way you said:

http://imgur.com/a/sJwPr

Doing that there's plenty of clearance by pushing down the bucket to remove the shim. I can see clear through to the other side. However, the new problem is the shim feels stuck. I'm prying up where the screwdriver slot is and it feels like its not budging at all.

[Dr.McNinja]

Twocool is definitely right. There's a technique. That shim was STUCK. I ended up sitting there for 30 min trying to different angles until it just popped out on its own. I'm guessing it was the oil suction as you suggested. Replaced both shims, now everything is back in spec - $40 later . No one in town would trade shims so I had to go to a shop and buy them at a premium. I'll probably have 3 shims and a shim tool up for sale here soon - I got an extra tool by accident and I don't need the 3 shims.

[twocool]

Yeah, isn't it crazy?   You mess around for 1/2 and hour, and then when if finally comes out it comes out easy...You ask yourself..."why didn't I do what I just did, 1/2 hour ago?""  But you never know exactly what you just did!


Cookie

Twocool is definitely right. There's a technique. That shim was STUCK. I ended up sitting there for 30 min trying to different angles until it just popped out on its own. I'm guessing it was the oil suction as you suggested. Replaced both shims, now everything is back in spec - $40 later . No one in town would trade shims so I had to go to a shop and buy them at a premium. I'll probably have 3 shims and a shim tool up for sale here soon - I got an extra tool by accident and I don't need the 3 shims.