• 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 Depressor tool

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim
  • Start date Start date
T

Tim

Guest
Is there an affordable alternative to the Suzuki Valve Depressor tool. I went to a Suzuki dealer and they said the tool cost $127. That's insane !!!!!!!!!!!
 
oh yeah

oh yeah

ebay sells it for $17 or less sometimes. screw the dealer on that...damn
 
Do you mean the valve tool for removing your shims? If so you can buy one off ebay for $20 or less. Thats where I got mine. For $127 sounds like someones taking you for a ride and its not on a GS either.......
 
He may have been thinking of the valve spring compressor that lets you take the valves out of the head. Not necessary unless you are changing the valves or the seals, neither of which is 'normal' maintenance stuff. That is a couple of levels deeper than most riders get into.

The tool you are looking for retails for $20 or less, but there is an even cheaper alternative that many of us use. A folded nylon zip-tie. (<--click) The article in the link shows how to make and use a tool made from a folded zip-tie. It works well, it is the method I prefer to use. Just start with a zip-tie that is about 10-12" long, make the center fold crisp by pinching it with pliers, and wrap a couple turns of tape around the tie about an inch or so above the 45-degree bend to make it a little more stable.

Since you are getting into a valve adjustment, it's time for another shameless plug. :D
Send me an e-mail (not a PM) with a request, and I will send you a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet. It will help you calculate the shim sizes you need and also help keep track of your shims from one adjustment to the next.
For my email address, click on my name.

.
 
Last edited:
Saw a link where a guy made his own valve depressor with a 2" section of 2" PVC pipe, cut a "window" in it a 1/4"-3/8" up from the bottom, maybe 35% around, 1" high and glued a washer to the top, said he sanded it down as it fit tight and needed a little more clearance...seemed to work fine using a 6" C clamp. Very low cost.
 
Harry Porosky said:
Saw a link where a guy made his own valve depressor with a 2" section of 2" PVC pipe, cut a "window" in it a 1/4"-3/8" up from the bottom, maybe 35% around, 1" high and glued a washer to the top, said he sanded it down as it fit tight and needed a little more clearance...seemed to work fine using a 6" C clamp. Very low cost.
Click to expand...
Seems like work....just use the zip tie like I do. Worked great and you don't have to look for it when it's that time again...just grab a new zip tie.
 
What I'm talking about is a tool to depress the valve for removal, not to shim them
 
zippy

zippy

so after you change the shim do you just pull on the zippy to remove it or do you need to rotate the engine back to the valve to release the tie? would doing so cause the valve to contact the piston on the return cycle?
 
Harry Porosky said:
Saw a link where a guy made his own valve depressor with a 2" section of 2" PVC pipe, cut a "window" in it a 1/4"-3/8" up from the bottom, maybe 35% around, 1" high and glued a washer to the top, said he sanded it down as it fit tight and needed a little more clearance...seemed to work fine using a 6" C clamp. Very low cost.
Click to expand...
OK, I resemble that description. :oops:

Let's back up here for just a minute or two. Tim, are you looking for a tool to pull the shims for valve adjustment or are you removing the valves from the head to change the seals?

As I mentioned in my first post, your dealer might have interpreted your request as wanting the tool to compress the spring so you can remove the valve to change the seal. Yes, that one is expensive. That is why I made my little PVC adapter to use with a c-clamp. (This tool is not necessary for routine valve clearance checks.)

However, if you are only wanting to depress the bucket to change the shim for routine clearance adjustment, there is the $20 Motion Pro tool or the zip-tie method that only costs pennies (assuming you have some zip-ties in the garage). My personal favorite is the zip-tie, I have problems getting my Motion Pro tool to stay in place. Some have reported that the official Suzuki tool works better than the Motion Pro tool. They look identical, I don't know what the difference might be.

When using the zip-tie to hold the valve open, there is no contact with the piston. Rotate the crank until the cam is pushing the valve down. Look into the spark plug hole, you can see the valve. Insert the zip-tie. Rotate the crank until the cam lobe is pointing away from the valve. Check/change your shim. Rotate the crank until the cam is pushing on the valve again, pull out the zip-tie. Again, there is no contact between valve and piston.

.
 
Last edited:
Fabulous little invention.
If I knew a patent lawyer, I'd hook you up.
 
chef1366 said:
Don't know if you have a sixteen valve or eight.
Click to expand...
Well, since he doesn't have any information posted in his sig line (hint, hint), I looked up his profile and hit the "Find all posts by Tim" link. Seems that most of his early posts are asking about a '79 850, so let's assume that is the bike in question. :o

.
 
I've used Steve's Valve spring compressor design and it works like a charm. I have used the zip tie method to good success for shim replacement.
 
I can appreciate you guys making your own tools. I like making my own stuff too, and I'm all for saving a buck. But when it comes to engines and the like, there's nothing like the real tool for the job. I bought a really good spring compressor on sale for about $50. It's big enough to work on cars and trucks, but works great on all bikes too. And it's quick! Just set the depth with the screw clamp end, then use the lever to compress and decompress.

As for getting the keepers in, I compress the springs just enough for the keeper to slip into the groove with help from a little pair of bent nose needle nose pliers. They're halfway into the upper seat already, then just pull the lever on the compressor and you're done. I don't know how you use a magnetic tool Steve. That would drive me nuts.
 
rudy said:
I don't know how you use a magnetic tool Steve. That would drive me nuts.
Click to expand...
Did you watch the video? :-k

It doesn't always go so easily for me, either. :-\\\

You will notice that my first attempt (starting with about 2 minutes left in the video) was not all that graceful. :oops:

.
 
Steve said:
Did you watch the video? :-k

It doesn't always go so easily for me, either. :-\\\

You will notice that my first attempt (starting with about 2 minutes left in the video) was not all that graceful. :oops:

.
Click to expand...


Lol! That's what I was referring to. :D The grease is a great idea though! I'll have to try that next time. Likely on the FJ engine, all 16 freakin valves!
 
Steve said:
Did you watch the video? :-k

It doesn't always go so easily for me, either. :-\\\

You will notice that my first attempt (starting with about 2 minutes left in the video) was not all that graceful. :oops:

.
Click to expand...
You should move to Hollywood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top