tappet clearance ???

[10yeareer]

I have and GS650GL and am trying to check/adjust the valves. This bike has 14,000 miles on it and I don't think the valves have ever been adjusted on it. Using my craftsman feeler gauge, the smallest ( .05 ) wouldn't not fit in any of the clearances. So, I paid $30 for the suzuki gauge. Well, I couldn't get the .02 mm in any of the clearances. I have the suzuki service manual for the bike and I am checking the clearance as stated in the manual. If I check when the cam in not in the correct position, I can get the .02 mm in some of them.

Do you guys think that its possible that all the valves are too tight or do I have to be doing something wrong?

The bike has not been run in 10 years.

[Anonymous]

For my shim adjustable valves the clearance is to be 0.001" to 0.003". The thinnest feeler gauge I could find was 0.002", so I adjusted my shims to give a clearance of 0.002" to 0.003". Most of mine were too tight. As the bike ages/runs the valve wears into its seat causing the shim clearance to tighten up.

Be sure to check with the cam lobe straight up in the air.

I would try removing some of the shims and moving a thinner one in place of a thicker one to see if the clearance opens up as it should. I think most of my tight ones had to move down 0.05 to 0.10mm in thickness to get the clearance right.

[10yeareer]

Thanks for the reply. I switched a 2.65 with a 2.70 this morning. Now, I could get the .07 gauge in. Looks like its time to order some shims.

[saaz]

Clearances can get tighter over time, particularly on the exhaust side due to the valve recessing a little into the head. Clearances do not always get looser! If it makes you feel any better, once you get it right and the bike has a few miles on it, the clearances stabilise and don't chnage for ages.

Tight valves mean burnt valves...bad news.