valves...i feel stupid...

[airborneXS]

so ive been reading all trhough old posts and i just cant grasp what im reading...i dont know why...i dont have a valve shim tool, nor do i have any shims...i needed to take the valve cover off to replace my leaking cam plugs and while i was in there, since i already have the cover off i was gonna check out my shims and see whats what, since ive never done it and i have no clue when the PO did it...what am i looking at, where do istart, and would it be best to just wait and order the tool first? I have a brand new valve cover gasket,k so i didnt want to waste this one by having to take off the valve cover again in a few weeks once i got the valve shim tool in...i have a few days to spare as i really dont need the bike till tues...what could i use a makeshift gasket until i get the valve shim tool and shims? (btw i havent ordered the tool or shims yet cause i really dont know what i need, im learning as i go)

[Rasputin]

You can simply use Yamabond or another sealant for the valve cover so no big deal there. I use "the Right Stuff" on all my gaskets except the head gasket. If you check the clearance with a feeler guage you will see what your present clearance is. Post that and we can help with what you need for replacement if you need them at all.
You have to turn the motor over by hand using the square nut on the left (timing side) until the cam lobe is sitting opposite to the shim and bucket. That is where you take your measurement of the clearance.

[BA80]

+1 on what Rasputen said. To check the valve clearances use a feeler guage between the cam and shim with the cam lobe exactly 180º opposite the shim bucket you are measuring.

I'm a fan of using a new gasket on the valve cover but to each his own. They are only $10. a quart of Castrol 4T 20w50 is $4.

[XJkid]

I just did my valves today. I measured all of mine prior to taking them off and found only one that I could get a .004 mm feeler through. All the rest were too tight (Yes, I had the lobes in the right position). I made a diagram of the valves and recorded their measurements. Since I do not have a selection of spare shims to choose from to be able to do one at a time, I opted to pull the cams as suggested somewhere on here. That way I could pull all the shims and record them one by one on my diagram. Then I went to the chart in my manual and found the sizes I needed, (or as close as I could, not knowing exactly what the "zero" ones were,) and wrote them down below the sizes that were actually in the head. This helped me create a list of the sizes I needed. I re-used 2 of my shims on different valves and then took my list to the local Yammy dealer and swapped for the ones I needed. Removing the cams was a PITA, but honestly, there were shims that I feel I could not have gotten out unless I pulled the lifter bucket and went at it with a small screwdriver. Also, some of the new/used shims I got would not fit into the bucket, so I had to carefully grind the edge until they fit. That would have been a nightmare with the cams in. Final note: I would not have attempted this without the factory manual, marginal as it is, and direction from the Gurus.I KNOW I would have screwed it up. Now my valves are nice and noisy and the bike runs great! Next is carb sync as soon as I can afford the "YICS Eliminator".
Happy trails!

[GLoweVA]

I've heard some spray Pam on the gasket to make it easier to remove later.
If you don't have the tool you can always pull the cams out. That way you get access to all the shims at once.

[jetmechmarty]

some of the new/used shims I got would not fit into the bucket, so I had to carefully grind the edge until they fit.

Guy,

That is because it is the wrong shim! It is very hard to tell when you look at them in your hand, but those shims stocked on the mechanics workbench are of varying diameters. I'm sure what you picked up was about 1/2 mm larger than what is supposed to fit in your bucket.

I made the same mistake, but opted to go through the hassle of obtaining the correct shim. That being said, you know what I think you should do. As always, YMMV.

[XJkid]

What problems would this cause? I was apprehensive about them not fitting precisely. Would they tend to try to come out?

[crazy steve]

Grinding the shims on the outer diameter is not a good thing; some of them are quite a tight fit, but I haven't run into one yet (of the right size) that wouldn't drop in with a bit of persausion...

If the shim can move in the bucket, it could damage the bucket and cause the bucket to stick in it's bore. If it does that, that holds a valve open and you probably just dropped a valve and trashed a motor...

[petejw]

if u measure the gaps in imperial (thou)
instead of metric u wont need the chart,
each .5mm is just under 2 thou,
eg if u have a gap of 8thou, going up
1 size would put it at 10 thou, and going down
1 size would be 6 thou. just makes it a lot
easier.
also u can just lift the cams instead of removing them
less chance of having the cam chain slip.

[airborneXS]

i need to go buy a feeler gauge...whats the process of using the feeler gauge to check the clearances?

[Rasputin]

It is described quite perfectly in the manual.

[natemoen]

Rotate cam lobe away from shim/bucket then stick the tool in

[trbig]

a quart of Castrol 4T 20w50 is $4.

Every single post about oil, you make sure to post about this oil. You should be the spokesman for unnecessary more expensive products.

[BA80]

unnecessary more expensive products.

???? A gallon of Castrol GTX 20w50 is about $14 at Wally World too.

I fail to see how paying a couple extra bucks for the recommended type is unnecessary.

Having a bad morning Tod?

[natemoen]

Having a bad morning Tod?

He probably has 2 or 3 days to wait till his next vacation