Shim Clearance

Do these clearances look normal? I mean like the .003 - .006 on the intakes seems like a wide margin
Exhaust
1: .004
2:.005
3:.006
4:.004

Intake
1:.003
2:.003
3:.003
4:.006

Or should I redo them again. xj700 hasn't been run in 25 years and has 5500 miles on it.
Valves have never been checked.
I have read several threads on this.

 

I can't read what it says on the first shim.
must be 280, looks like 260

 

it measures 2.66 with my digital caliper. does that sound possible?
which I assume would be 265
Sorry forgot to rezero so 2.66 is what it is.

 

The clearance margins given are not wide for the type of valve system the bike has.

If you measured the shim with a decent set of calipers (dial or digital, not vernier) then your measured shim thickness can be trusted. There is no standard shim that an engine would have been built with. Each valve seat, valve stem, shim bucket, and cam face will have different measurements that all add up to a different clearance for each valve, even when they are brand new.

You are due for the first actual shim change, so you'll need to know what every shim you currently have is.

I'm assuming that you are using an SAE feeler gauge, so am converting to metric to make the math easy later on.

I am also assuming that you have an airhead and not a Maxim-X.

Exhaust (clearance 0.16 - 0.20 mm)
1: .004 in - 0.10 mm - Tight, needs to go down by one shim size (0.05 mm)
2:.005 in - 0.13 mm - Tight, needs to go down by one shim size (0.05 mm)
3:.006 in - 0.15 mm - Tight, needs to go down by one shim size (0.05 mm)
4:.004 in - 0.10 mm - Tight, needs to go down by one shim size (0.05 mm)

Intake (clearance 0.11 - 0.15 mm)
1:.003 in - 0.08 mm - Tight, needs to go down by one shim size (0.05 mm)
2:.003 in - 0.08 mm - Tight, needs to go down by one shim size (0.05 mm)
3:.003 in - 0.08 mm - Tight, needs to go down by one shim size (0.05 mm)
4:.006 in - 0.15 mm - In spec, no change needed.

 

yes it's a airhead
Got all the shims out, not an easy job.

Exhaust
1. 265 to a 260 The one i can't read but used my caliper
2. 255 to a 250
3. 255 to a 250
4. 255 to a 250

Intake
1. 265 to a 260
2. 275 to a 270
3. 275 to a 270
4. 270 This one is ok

Did I do that right?
Thanks k-moe for all your help

 

Get yourself a METRIC feeler gauge.

 

ok, will do.

 

Yea.... Not one with METRIC equivalents on it, but an actual metric one. There will only ever be one shim that gets you in spec. The SAE gauge will get you close, and irritated. Most bike shops... Under S10.

 

Metric equivalent gauges are fine so long as you remember to round to the hundredth's place. I don't like doing that, so I have a metric set. KD Tools 2274.

 

get a metric KD tools 2274 feeler gauges any auto parts store can order you a set

 

According to sae-to-metric conversions

Exhaust 1 and exhaust 4 have to go down TWO shim sizes

Others seem to be accurate, if sae-to-metric translation is correct... BUT I will not do the translation myself. I want to see the clearances as measured with METRIC feelers. I don't trust conversion numbers.

I have my chart drawn out, but will wait for accurate metric numbers

 

ok thanks hogfiddles. I pick up the feeler gauge monday

 

Theoretically should be adjusted to:

E1 - 255 ( from e2, 265 moves to I2)
E2 - 250 (255 moves to E1)
E3 - 250 (255 to shim pool)
E4 - 245 (255 to shim pool)

I1 - 260 ( 265 moves to I3)
I2 - 265 (from E1, 270 to shim pool)
I3 - 265 (from I1, 270 to shim pool)
I4 - ok

I'll re-do once I have actual metric measurements.

Dave

 

You are correct. Either I goofed when reading the table, or I made a typo (typo is more likely I did a lot of pasting text to save time). The conversions to metric are accurate, but a metric measurement would be better (if nothing else than because the gauge-feel will be different due to the difference in thickness).

 

No prob.... But yes, that's why I want to see actual metric feeler measurements

 

I like when we agree.

 

Well back to work tomorrow morning . Been laid off since Christmas . I'll get the gauge right after work and take some measurements.