I never knew it could be like this. 

I  have had this GS for 1000 miles.  Setting up the suspension made her firmer.  I found some smoothness when I tuned the carbs.  Still I was thinking of dumping her and getting something prettier, hotter, faster. 

I adjusted the valves and wow.  This is a whole new ride. 

Love it.  Love it. 

 

What were the clearances like? Were they tight or loose?

I am planning on checking mine in the near future and hoping for a little performance increase as well.

Also, did you use the valve bucket tool or a screwdriver?

thinnest feeler I have is 0.04mm

before
e1 <0.04, bucket impossible to turn
e2 <0.04, bucket difficult to turn
i1 0.07, freely turning bucket
i2 0.04, freely turning bucket

I thought higher suction in left carb, as evidenced by greater "bounce" in fluid on left carb side during manometer balance.  Guessed e2 not seating completely  (On initial rebalance, still very close to balanced, but excessive fluid bounce on left side manometer greatly diminished.  Thoughts?).

Removed cams, changed exhaust buckets, adjusted clearances.
Clearance with cam in place but not secured is same as with cam secured.
Chipped a tooth on the cam gear that drives the tachometer.  FSM suggests removing tach cable before removing cams.  I agree.  Now.  FSM also suggests removing cam chain tensioner before removing cams.

after
e1 0.05, freely turning bucket
e2 0.04, freely turning bucket
i1 0.04, freely turning bucket
i2 0.04, freely turning bucket

Sounds great.  FEELS great.  Starts easier.  Easy warm up.  FAST warm up.  Great GREAT idle, no more stalling at lights!  More power across the board.  75, 80, easy peasy, no problem...

There is a slight Slight bog from idle to WOT.  Everything else is so good I will not F with that for a while...

OK, fine, I have to go take the carbs off now.

Is removing the cams the easiest / best way to adjust the clearances?

I've adjusted valves on an '82 CB900F (16 valves!), the special tool from that job fits the GS500 but not with enough clearance to remove the shim.

I do not have the tool, and I had to remove the cams to replace buckets.

Quote from: noiseguy on August 28, 2009, 06:03:38 PM
Is removing the cams the easiest / best way to adjust the clearances?

I've adjusted valves on an '82 CB900F (16 valves!), the special tool from that job fits the GS500 but not with enough clearance to remove the shim.

Yeah if you're just adjusting the valve clearances you don't need to remove the cams.  Just use a/the little tool jobby.  Replacing the buckets is a whole other story.

So, BeerGarage did not really adjust the shims, but rather corrected some problem with the follower buckets?  What was the nature of that problem and what was done that corrected it?

prs

Nature of problem: I did not know the valve clearances.

To correct: I opened it up to measure the clearances.  Exhaust clearances were tight.  Tried to remove the exhaust shims, but could not rotate one of the buckets, so could not remove the shim.  Removed the exhaust cam to get the shim.  Removed the bucket to inspect.  Such a pain with pliers to remove, decided to get new buckets for the exhaust.  Put in new buckets, adjusted clearances. 

Quote from: noiseguy on August 28, 2009, 06:03:38 PM
Is removing the cams the easiest / best way to adjust the clearances?

I've adjusted valves on an '82 CB900F (16 valves!), the special tool from that job fits the GS500 but not with enough clearance to remove the shim.

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