Valve Depressor tool

[Tim]

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 !!!!!!!!!!!

[swisherred]

oh yeah

ebay sells it for $17 or less sometimes. screw the dealer on that...damn

[Dave_17954]

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.......

[Tim]

Thanks, I found a Motion Pro Shim Tool for $18. Much Much better.

[Steve]

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.
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.

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[Harry P.]

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.

[lurch12_2000]

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.

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.

[Harry P.]

What I'm talking about is a tool to depress the valve for removal, not to shim them

[swisherred]

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?

[Steve]

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.

OK, I resemble that description.

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.

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[Harry P.]

Knew I saw it here just didn't remember who....cudos Steve.

[Steve]

BassCliff has both items posted on his 'little' website.

Valve spring compressor

Zip-tie method for valve adjustment

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[uudfourty]

Fabulous little invention.
If I knew a patent lawyer, I'd hook you up.

[chef1366]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=105743

Don't know if you have a sixteen valve or eight.

[Steve]

Don't know if you have a sixteen valve or eight.

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.

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