• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

valve clearance check 1980 GS450ET

  • Thread starter Thread starter surviverguy
  • Start date Start date
S

surviverguy

Guest
I had a new old stock OEM valve cover gasket, so I decided to take the valve cover off and check valve clearances. The odometer shows less than 11K miles. The thinnest feeler gauge I had was .0015" and it wouldn't fit between the cams and shims on any of the four valves. While .0015 isn't quite the minimum it's close.
Looks like I'm gonna need some shims and proper tools. Bought myself a set of thin metric feeler gauges .02mm-1.0mm, a Suzuki valve tappet depressor and a metric dial caliper (just to make it easier).
It took a long time to remove the old gasket from the engine and cover. I'm glad to have gotten that cleaning done. I installed the new gasket with some grease smeared on both sides of the gasket and put the cover back on.
I'm waiting for the tools to arrive to properly measure clearances and shim sizes. I have downloaded the valve adjusting page for notations. Soon I'll know what shims I need to install.
I'm glad I checked. I think they're all too tight. I wouldn't have imagined that they'd be so tight with so few miles (<11,000).
 
Thanks Nessism for the tie strap idea. I actually tried holding a valve down by using a tie strap, but didn't think of doubling it. The main problem I'm having is not being able to measure the clearance. I think there is some although very small. I'll try tomorrow and see if the shims will rotate or not. Rotation indicating that some clearance exists.
I was cooking dinner tonight using some aluminum foil. Then I got the idea to measure the foil. It measures very close to .001" maybe it'll fit in there?
 
Another idea I've had is try some dental floss! Maybe dental floss will fit between the cam and the tappets? The valve cover will come back off easily. The fuel tank is still off as well as the horn.
 
Managed to get dental floss to fit as a feeler gauge in a couple. Clearance is basicaly practicaly zero. Removed the shims and measured them and reinstalled them all (4)one at a time. Created a Z1 parts order today. Thanks again Nesssm- you saved me lots of time on this! The folded tie strap "tool" works great. I even ordered two extra shims- anticipating future needs...! Those six shims have me runnin' in spec for many 1,000's of miles. I'm sure the engine is happy also to get some valve lash again. It wasn't too far from burned valve syndrome at only 11K miles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
GS550 Bottom End Rattle/Knock
Replies
15
Views
341
dgates1
dgates1
E
'79 GS850 - One Year Ownership & Maintenance Summary
Replies
3
Views
97
emlivings
E
S
To remove the cyl head or not? That is the question
Replies
14
Views
300
sacruickshank
S
S
Grime in Valve Cover
2
Replies
35
Views
567
rphillips
R
crazyramen
Question on Points Ignition - maxxed out?
Replies
7
Views
224
crazyramen
crazyramen
Back
Top