valve adjusting

[cruiser]

Is the valve adjusting tool to remove the shims the same for an XJ as an XS?
Dealer only item???

[DiverRay]

No; you should be able to buy it from any good cycle parts dealer. In San Jose, CA, we have a shop called Road Rider, and my tool was about $13.00 with tax. It is made by an aftermarket supplier, I just don't remember the exact name. I think it was KT tool, but I'm not positive. It should be the same tool for both machines, as they are both two valve heads.
Ray

[Snow]

I belive most of the ones floating around are motion-pro and you can even find it in Dennis Kirk. There are many reports of them not working properly on some XS11 motors though.

I bought one, but ended up not using it as I had to take out the cams anyway during a rebuild.

[randy]

I've never been able to get them to work, so I remove the cams to swap shims.

Anyone have 'instructions' on how to make them work?

[thumperjsa]

I thought I remember a thread in the past on how to trim down the motion pro tool so it will work.

Here is the link to someone who posted how to trim it.

link

[randy]

I know Motion Pro has been less than helpful about this issue with their tool in the past.

A tool that has to be altered to make it work leads me to believe that it is not designed for the intended task!

A pox on Motion Pro!

[DiverRay]

I know the tool I got in December was NOT motion pro. I just don't remember the brand. It worked very well, as well as I remember the Yamaha tool working back in '79.
The trick with the tool is you need to rotate the cam lobe one direction, install the tool and then back the cam off until the lobe ALMOST rests on the tool. I've had very little problems with the shims, and they seem to have been in the machine a looong time.

[cruiser]

valve adjust

thumperjsa

The link you provided is excellent. Pictures tell thousands of words!

[Dan Hodges]

Originally posted by randy
I've never been able to get them to work, so I remove the cams to swap shims.

Anyone have 'instructions' on how to make them work?

I have two of them,both of which I purchased From the local Yamaha dealer in St.Louis (Donaldson) and they both work,albiet a little tricky. The how to do it is covered in the Yamaha shop manual.If you have a valve train that has the shims under the bucket (Kawasaki style),you gotta remove the cams,but not on the good ole Yammie.Race cams have the shims under the bucket,so if you float a valve it doesn't spit out the shim and take out the motor,oh Lord I hate it when that happens,especially to me.