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  • #1

    Valve Shim help

    So I finally took some measurements on my valves. here are the results:

    1 2 3 4

    E .127 .178 .127 .178

    I .063 .076 .102 .076


    My question is, what should they be and how far off am I right now. Could this be the cause of excess smoke in 1 or 2? I still need to go through the carbs but I thought I would check the valves before I get to that point. Thanks guys I know this has been beat to death but I can't find the stock clearances when using the search feature.

    Also does anyone have a spare front caliper piston for cheap? Cheapest I found was $26. The one I have was frozen and pitted pretty bad. I assume if I use the pitted one I risk the chance of it leaking...
    1978 xs1100
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Are those the valve clearance numbers or the shim sizes? If those are the clearance numbers that's a lot of clearance. If you find one of CatatonicBugs posts, he has the manuals available from download through a link to his website in his posts. Be aware, they are rather large, but they have all the information in there.

    Also, in order to know what to tell you, we need to know what year and model, as they differ. But in either case if those are the gap, I think that's too much clearance.
    Cy

    1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
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    I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

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    • #3
      These are the clearances....
      1978 xs1100

      Comment

      • #4
        Okay so I found the clearances
        E .21-.25mm
        I .16-.20 mm

        Please correct me if I'm wrong but I need more clearance on Intake and Exhaust.
        1978 xs1100

        Comment

        • #5
          Here's the easiest way to check valve clearance, IMHO. Going to be using inches here, not mm.

          Intake: .006"-.008"
          Exhaust: .008"-.010"

          First, measure your clearances in inches with the engine cold and write them down. If they are in the range, you're fine. If they are off, remove the shim and look at the number on the bottom side. Each increment of shim size is .002" in thickness. For example, if one of your intake valve measures .005" and the shim says 280 on it, you'll need one size smaller shim to open the gap up to .007" which would be a 275 shim. This is the way I check valve clearances, it's dead on accurate and no charts to fool with. HTH
          Last edited by bikerphil; 03-25-2010, 07:16 PM.
          2H7 (79) owned since '89
          3H3 owned since '06

          "If it ain't broke, modify it"

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          • #6
            Thanks for the help fellas. Still looking for a caliper piston if there are any floating around. I may just break down and buy one.
            1978 xs1100

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            • #7
              I saw a guy on Ebay making and selling stainless steel ones... that would be your best bet. I'm sure someone has one, but it will be steel that's been exposed for 30 years now. Probably good enough to work still... but???

              And Phil...

              First, measure your clearances in inches with the engine cold and write them down. If they are in the range, you're fine. If they are off, remove the shim and look at the number on the bottom side. Each increment of shim size is .002" in thickness. For example, if one of your intake valve measures .005" and the shim says 280 on it, you'll need one size smaller shim to open the gap up to .007" which would be a 275 shim. This is the way I check valve clearances, it's dead on accurate and no charts to fool with. HTH
              Prometheus says this is easier for him also... just never understood why you need to convert to standard? I can count by fives just as easy as counting by twos?

              Just my 2 cents.

              Tod
              Last edited by trbig; 03-26-2010, 05:48 AM.
              Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

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              • #8
                Tod, I'm not doing any converting at all. Just taking an easy measurment ex: .013" take away 2 at a time while counting on your fingers would be 3 shim sizes larger to get a gap of .007. All simple math with small numbers, no converting. I don't use the shim size as a metric measurement, only a reference number. I did learn this from Prom's posts BTW, much easier for me. It was a tad confusing at first but now it's a no brainer.
                Last edited by bikerphil; 03-26-2010, 06:41 AM. Reason: math error, lol
                2H7 (79) owned since '89
                3H3 owned since '06

                "If it ain't broke, modify it"

                ☮

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by trbig View Post
                  I saw a guy on Ebay making and selling stainless steel ones... that would be your best bet. I'm sure someone has one, but it will be steel that's been exposed for 30 years now. Probably good enough to work still... but???
                  That would be this thread:http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...+brake+pistons

                  I got and installed my set and couldn't be more pleased. No more rust for me...

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                  • #10
                    Maybe I missed if you told us your year of bike, but the valve clearance specs changed in '80. On 79's and older the clearance is 0.16 - 0.20mm, starting in '80 the valve clearance changed to 0.11 - 0.15mm. This is assuming your bike is an XS1100 and not an XJ, I wouldn't know the difference if that is the case.
                    "The Hooligan" XJ1100, Virago Gauge Pods, Screaming Eagle Mufflers, K&N Filter, hand made rear fender, side covers, and solo seat, round bar conversion, small headlight, tail light, and cat eye turn signals, chip fuses, rewired the right way.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Rudy View Post
                      Okay so I found the clearances
                      E .21-.25mm
                      I .16-.20 mm
                      Yard Dogg, I asked him and he really didn't say what year, but he listed the above clearances which would be for the early 78-9 XS head. We probably got him all confused with the different ways of measuring.
                      2H7 (79) owned since '89
                      3H3 owned since '06

                      "If it ain't broke, modify it"

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                      • #12
                        Yeah, I think you confused the hell out of me! I use a metric go-no-go feeler gauge and the chart. Does that mean I'm a geek?

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by bikerphil View Post
                          Tod, I'm not doing any converting at all. Just taking an easy measurment ex: .013" take away 2 at a time while counting on your fingers would be 3 shim sizes larger to get a gap of .007. All simple math with small numbers, no converting. I don't use the shim size as a metric measurement, only a reference number. I did learn this from Prom's posts BTW, much easier for me. It was a tad confusing at first but now it's a no brainer.
                          what?

                          Can you clearify for the people (me) who have no idea what your talking about? Also, can the shims be taken out without removing the cams, just need a valve spring compressor right?

                          Do the shims come in some standard size increment?
                          '79 XS11 F
                          Stock except K&N

                          '79 XS11 SF
                          Stock, no title.

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                          • #14
                            The service manual (clymer) lists the clearances in inches also, so there's no converting to mm, I just use the inch values. The shims can be removed with the well respected valve shim tool , or the cam's can be removed, your choice. IIRC, there is another method with a different tool, can't remember tho. The shim thicknesses increase in increments of .002" if you are using the English system. Less numbers to fool with when dealing with round thousandths of an inch. I'll search for a few threads explaining it better to really confuse youz guys.
                            2H7 (79) owned since '89
                            3H3 owned since '06

                            "If it ain't broke, modify it"

                            ☮

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by bikerphil View Post
                              explaining it better
                              Prom explains it pretty well, read posts 9 and 12....

                              http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ghlight=inches
                              2H7 (79) owned since '89
                              3H3 owned since '06

                              "If it ain't broke, modify it"

                              ☮

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