Anyone know if the shim buckets are universal? About to buy a bucket-less head and thinking of reusing my own... anyone tried it? Doesn't seem like you can order them separately from the head, and I'm buying a new head because I'm having the same problem with a set of cracked cam caps...
I don't think it will matter but you may wanna keep a very close check on the valve clearances.
I have used different buckets in different heads plenty of times.
I had a broken exhaust valve caused by a tight bucket on my 02 GS at 21k miles. Was sticking when cold and the valve stuck open and crashed while cranking one freezing cold morning. A board member sent me a set of buckets from a parted out engine and the smaller 2 of the 4 fit my exhaust valve bucket bores nicely. The repaired engine has over 60k miles on it now with no further problems.
They must all be the same like dgyver says except for the diameter tolerances, I think they must select fit them at the factory. Just make sure you have a nice slip fit of the bucket in the bore when cold (they loosen as engine warms) and you should be OK. They show buckets sold seperately in the parts fiches and there are a few different numbers from 89 thru 08 models but one number carries over for all years. Must just be sightly different tolerences for fit in the bores. They give no info about diameters in the fiches.
gsJack;
Very interesting! I wonder if the new/different buckets should be lapped-in with compound like valve seats before final assembly? I hope I do not find out first hand.
prs
The bucket of course can stick if its too large for the bore, however I have had a valve breaking incident with a motor that had no buckets. Maybe the valve stuck in the guide and when cold before lubrication gets to it, it can get stuck open ? Cos I have not heard much of the "dont swap buckets" stories like I hear with cam caps.
Yea who knows what suzuki machined these to ... they prolly used eyeball and finger measurements.
Its Yea big, and that hole is yea big. So they work together.
Cool.
Buddha.
True enough. I was only asking because I couldn't find them in the parts fiche! Now that I know I can order them they must be swappable. I'll paypal you today buddha! Thanks everybody for your input!
Anti - see I have buckets, I could (bloody hell I wish I had thought of this earlier ... but I thought you have a bad head, not ... no head) find them and fit them and make sure they are not pinching or binding and send it, but I didn't anticipate that ... Maybe someone here has a set ... get 5-6 if you can for safe measure ... trial fit and make sure they are nice and smooth sliding etc etc ... BTW racers (Bob Broussard for sure did shim under bucket conversion a few years ago) Sorry for the hare brained ideas man.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on July 08, 2008, 11:55:23 AM
The bucket of course can stick if its too large for the bore, however I have had a valve breaking incident with a motor that had no buckets. Maybe the valve stuck in the guide and when cold before lubrication gets to it, it can get stuck open ? Cos I have not heard much of the "dont swap buckets" stories like I hear with cam caps.
Yea who knows what suzuki machined these to ... they prolly used eyeball and finger measurements.
Its Yea big, and that hole is yea big. So they work together.
Cool.
Buddha.
In my case it
was a sticking bucket that caused the broken valve. I bought the 02 GS slightly used with 4k on it and when I checked the valves at 10k miles I found the sticking bucket was holding the valve open slightly, maybe .008" or so. I tried to turn it and then put a screwdriver in the notch and hit it firmly with a small hammer and the bucket wouldn't turn. The bucket would loosen up after starting in 30-60 sec and you could hear/feel it smooth out. Caused no problems for 21k miles until I cranked it one very cold morning and the valve stuck wide open and was hit by the other one. Crash! Fortunately it was at cranking speed.
When I pulled the head I had to drive the bucket out with a long heavy pin punch from the inside, it went hard all the way. Fortunately the valve head was broken completely off so I could drive the shaft thru the guide, pic of broken valve:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/valve1.jpg)
I wouldn't say don't swap buckets, just make sure they fit properly in the head bores. Someone who didn't ride all winter probably could have ridden that bike for 100k miles without breaking a valve. It was hardly noticeable in warmer weather. I let it go as long as I did thinking it might wear in to fit OK but it didn't. :cry: My valve check/shim record for 140k GS miles:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/valveclearances.jpg
:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:
Had to drive the thing with a punch huh ... OK You win.
Cool.
Buddha.
Hmm... this is making me wonder now. I'm having a shop do the head swap (I figure it'll be easier to sell with a mismatched head if I have a shop receipt to go with it) and I don't want to get into this for $600 if it might just eat my valves! My mechanic is out until the 14th too so I can't ask him what he thinks of the deal. Did you say you have a few buckets? Think when you get back you could send me some buckets Srinath, and I'll send back the ones I don't use? He has to order parts from suzi when he gets back so itll be three weeks no matter what
OK I'll do that. Not a problem.
Cool.
Buddha.
GSJack, look here: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42595.msg483687#msg483687
Dang man... that's not a good look. I'm assuming that if the buckets didn't fit he wouldn't have crammed them in there... should I be worried?