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The only 'special tool' I would suggest involves a shameless plug (again).
Toss an e-mail request in my direction (click on my name for the address info) and I will send you a copy of my Excel spreadsheet that will help you figure out what shims to use and will also help you keep track of them.
Personally, I have the 'special tool', but still prefer to use the zip-ties. I find that I have to turn the engine over a few more times to get the zip-tie in and out, but that takes less time than it does for me to keep trying to keep the 'special tool' in place.
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Its mostly the inner cylinders. More times than not, the only way i get the tool to "grab" and actually depress the bucket leaves it actually in the way of getting the shim out. Also, when I dont get the damn thing to grab, I end up busting my knuckles on the cam cap or the idler sprocket tower..Maybe im going about it all wrong, but I have a short fuse so there have been more than one occasion where it got chucked across the room. The outer ones seem to be ok, tho I still find the ziptie method easier. I have to say I wonder if they've cheaped out a bit too, as Ive seen some that seem to have a better, thicker "handle" on them compared to mine...I've never had any problems with mine. I must have gotten one of the GOOD ones!
Once in a while, it'll slip off the edge of a bucket, but that's pretty rare.
It just takes a couple of seconds to insert the tool and lever down, so I can't imagine the zip-tie method being more convenient or faster. I usually don't even bother to remove the spark plugs.
But seriously, I do wonder why you've had trouble with your shim tool. Maybe they're getting sloppy or something -- I've had mine for about 9 or 10 years.
