TOPIC:

So I was checking the valve clearance using the "zip tie" method,very effective tool,by the way.Anyways,I was having trouble getting the #3 intake shim out.Went into the shed to get a thicker zip tie came out and started turning the crank when I heard a very loud pop and saw what I first thought were 2 sparks flying upward,one toward the front and one back.When I looked to see what exploded the shim was gone.Took a couple of minutes of head scratching to realize when I first tried to get the shim out I didnt seat it properly in the cup,when the cam lobe hit the shim,BANG! So now I had no idea what size the shim was,couldnt find either half of the broken shim.Had to take another shim out of another cylinder and measure.All but 2 valves were within spec,but on the low end, .002-.004 except 2 exhaust valves that measured .0015.Ordered all new shims to bring them all closer to the wider .006 spec. All the shims in the bike were 270 to 290's

Got to make sure they aren't hiding in there somewhere.
Steve

99% sure they cleared the bike completely.The "sparks" I saw didnt seem to deflect,and I didnt hear any ricochet.The only place it could have entered would be the center where the cam chain runs.The sun was to my back and I'm pretty sure the "sparks" cleared the frame above the engine,didnt really follow cause I really thought it was sparks,it sounded like a small explosion.I slowly turned the crank and listened carefully for any odd clicking,short of tearing the engine down completely,aint much to do but cross my fingers,eh?

Got a magnet?
Steve

Sure,what do you suggest?

I have a small telescopic one I can fish with.
Steve

I'll have to find one,I have some time till the shims get here,pretty sure Lowes or Home Depot has something like that.So I guess I just slip it down along the cam chain and probe that area?If a piece did land in there,would it be contained,or could it slip in somewhere deeper?I'll pick one up tomorrow.Thanks for the heads up,Steve.

They have them at the AP stores.
Steve

I gotta go get some caps to cap off some vacuum lines,I'll check there too.

Just a cautionary note... find the pieces!

I've seen enough engines /vehicles damaged from parts and tools "gone missing". Some of the best where:

An FJ1200 drag bike that had a no. 2 Phillips screwdriver magnetic bit embedded through the dome of piston #3,
A 4.0 L Ford Ranger with small pieces of broken spark plug porcelain embedded in the head and piston (bent valves too),
A CB550 that had a head sealing washer remove several teeth from various transmission gears - I found the washer and the bits of gear teeth in the sump when I dis-assembled the engine,
A "fresh rebuilt" Yamaha Raptor 350 quad with a M6 x 10 Phillips screw wedged between the crankshaft and crankcase,
A Cummins Select Series 500 HP truck diesel engine with broken timing gear from a 1/2" drive x 12" extension dropped into the timing / accessory drive cover,
A Honda CB350 that sucked up small pieces of a chewed up "extra" piston ring cir-clip into the oil pump....
A 3.3 L Dodge V-6 with the broken off dip stick wrapped around the crankshaft,
3 (!) valve keepers stuck to the rotor magnets of a KZ1000J

And the winner - A Ford L9000 highway tractor that spent frustrating and costly days in our shop after arriving by tow truck because it would run, then die, then run again, then die...classic case of fuel starvation...

No one could figure out the problem until one mechanic said something about how clean the inside of the fuel tanks were - the printed part number inside of the fuel tank still being visible by looking into the filler neck with a flashlight. I asked what the hell he meant, so he showed me. It wasn't the part number of the tank he saw - turns out the driver had replaced the alternator belts only a few hours before the problem first occurred. When he was done, he just discarded the plain tan colored cardboard sheath the new belts came packaged in on the ground in the truck stop parking lot. A conscientious homeless bum loitering in the parking lot observed this and, obviously not impressed with the driver's littering habit, gave the driver a malicious stare... but he wasn't quite finished yet. He must have waited until the driver went into the restaurant for dinner before dispensing additional justice....

It only took a few minutes with a flashlight and coat hanger to fish out the now clear (as in see -through) diesel fuel soaked cardboard sheath hovering around at the bottom of the tank and intermittently blocking the fuel outlet fitting - the "tank part number" was actually the belt part number stamped in black ink on the cardboard....

+1 Find the pieces or they may turn up later in very bad places. Ed

This past weekend I changed the pistons on my KZ900. The small threaded circle (like a nut, but round) on the piston pin puller fell into the crankcase. I couldn't see it. Picked up a $6 magnet on a stick at the hardware store and retrieved the part within 30 seconds. It's a lifesaver. If I couldn't get the part with the magnet, I was going to remove the motor and turn it upside down.