What to check/fix while cam cover is off

[Guest]

Hi all,

My GS850G has 15k miles. She runs great. I have removed the cam cover, checked the valve clearance and ordered some shims. What else should I look at or replace, etc while I am in this far?

Is there some thing I should check on the cam chain or tensioner?

Thanks

[hampshirehog]

Only 15k miles - apart from the shims if everything looks ok pop it back together.

[Gregory]

I just took mine off to measure the gap...and i dont think mine has a gap. So I wonder what size to start with? At $10 a pop it could add up couldnt it?

[hampshirehog]

If you can't measure a gap anywhere one idea is to get hold (= beg, borrow, steal or buy) a 'checking' shim. A checking shim is a thin one, say 2.20. It's thin enough so that you will always (within normal use) be able to get a feeler gauge in the gap to check the clearance. Slide this shim in all of the positions so you can work out what shim you need where and keep a note of all the shim sizes - chances are you'll be able to shuffle them around and you'll only need to buy a couple of sizes.

[Gregory]

Wow thank you Hampshire hog, much appreciated. I have never done this before so I was racking my brain to think how to go about it.

The funny thing is that the bike actually started and ran (but not well) before I checked these.

[subforry]

I had 2 valves that my thinnest 0.038 feeler gauge wound not slide in. Since the range is 0.03 - 0.08 mm (for my GS850) and since shims only come in 0.05 increments, then I just ordered the next thinner shim. There just isn't a choice unless you are going to make custom shims. I would rather have more clearance then too little.

Z1 Enterprises sell the 29.5mm diameter shims for $6.60 each.

[Nessism]

If you take an inventory of your present shims, and the clearance at each valve, you can then make an educated guess at what shims you will need and place an order accordingly. Hope you understand to never rotate the engine with any shims removed. It would surprise you how many people don't understand this critical detail.

Say your .038 mm feeler gauge won't pass on one valve and the shim is a 2.70, then I'd order a 2.65 and 2.60. Better to have too many, than not enough shims.