Valve Shim Help

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. mummyarms,

All you can do for those valves with no clearance is swap in the next smaller shim and remeasure. DO NOT turn the engine if there are any shims removed. You'll find a complete valve adjustment guide on my website. Now let me dump a TON of information on you and share some GS lovin'.

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these items must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...



Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Steve]

It wasn't doing anything when I bought it and now I can get it to start but it will only idle for like 10 seconds before dying. So hopefully the valve shim replacements are the missing link.

Have you cleaned the carbs and replaced their o-rings?

If not, you may only get about 10 seconds of running at a time, even with properly-set valves.

Look through BassCliff's "Welcome" page, there is a list of things that MUST be done to get the bike to run properly.
If you take ANY shortcuts, you will be depriving yourself of the pleasure of a well-running bike.

.

[shiznizbiz]

Hi Mr. mummyarms,

DO NOT turn the engine if there are any shims removed.

Yeah, x(infinity) what basscliff said. you could very well damage your cam lobe when it caught on the shim bucket/tappet. not fun. My buddy did that to his 850 over the summer. hard way to learn. He took the corner of his lobe right off.

insert "gets" before the "caught". lol der der

[mummyarms]

This is all great. Z1 is champion. I received my shims this morning and I only ordered them yesterday! On my way to the garage. I did replace o rings in my carbs and anything else that was looking funky. I considered turning the bike on with the shims out but I definitely foreseen what could possibly happen. I will hopefully return with good news!

[1948man]

How much comfort does that mummy tape stuff afford when riding in colder weather?

[mummyarms]

works wonders really.

[mummyarms]

well unfortunately it did not solve my problems. however I can now fit the appropriate feelers under so at least I know the valve shims are in good order now. I am gonna use the step by step carb tear down guide that mr basscliff hooked me up with;to further check out everything.I have already went thru and noticed some things I definitely did not touch when I went thru the carbs and they seem like they could be very important. I think the carbs arent getting gas and I'm now ready to admit my petcock is shot. when I turn the bike over the electronic flow pump is pumping but theres only the tiniest bit of gasoline coming out on each rotation, which leads me to believe that petcock is indeed shot? if anyone disagrees with this please let me know.

[mike_of_bbg]

I think the carbs arent getting gas and I'm now ready to admit my petcock is shot. when I turn the bike over the electronic flow pump is pumping but theres only the tiniest bit of gasoline coming out on each rotation, which leads me to believe that petcock is indeed shot? if anyone disagrees with this please let me know.

As far as I know, every GS was gravity fed, there is no "electronic flow pump" involved. Your petcock is "shot" if:

1) it lets fuel down the vacuum line while the vacuum is applied (i.e., the engine is running or trying to)
2) it lets fuel through the fuel line in the "on" or "res" positions without any vacuum applied to the vacuum line

You should be able to get fuel flowing on "pri" without vacuum applied. Unless you have one of those weird 1980 GSes with the disaster petcock...

You can create vacuum with a vacuum pump or by sucking on the vacuum line - just watch out if you get some fuel

[Ghostgs1]

You have a fuel pump? I think you have a gravity slow system. Does your petcock have a prime position? That should allow fuel to flow without restriction.

[mummyarms]

Yah I was definitely full of ****. it does have a prime position. I will do the creating suction thing tomorrow when I stop in.

[mummyarms]

I dont have the patience for this anymore. I cant get the grouping bar off of the carbs. The screws are stuck and stripping. which means I cant do anything with the carbs if I can't get them apart. Im going insane.

[cowboyup3371]

Okay, couple of things...do you have an impact driver with a #3 bit?

If not, take a dremel and cut a single slot across the heads. Using a chisel or flat-bladed screwdriver and a hammer, hit it in that slot counter clockwise. It should break free after a hit or two.

Go get yourself new ones (most prefer allen or hex headed) afterwards.

[mummyarms]

I know thats what I have to do but I'm feeling sorry for myself and very irritated. I didn't bring my dremel home. I do my bike work at a storage unit like 20 minutes from home, and I need the carbs to be done at home because I need the internet to use the tear down guide. I looked at the dremel too and contemplated but I was like nahhh. But these screws are IN THERE. My dads like 230 and gave it all hes got all they did was strip.GRRRRR

[cowboyup3371]

Trust me, I know the feeling especially when I didn't have an impact driver last year when taking my stator cover off. Try getting those screws out without one . Managed to do it but it was fun.

Just know this is part of the adventure you will be able to tell your kids later on. Good luck with getting it off. We've all been there and can sympathize.

[Steve]

Let me repeat what cowboy said.


USE A #3 BIT IN A HAND IMPACT DRIVER.

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