VALVE CLEARANCE TROUBLE AFTER REBUILD ON 78 KZ650

Gents, I just completed a rebuild on my 78 KZ650. Cleaned up the pistons and valves and installed new gaskets. Now as I checked the valve clearances I cannot even get a .005 feeler inserted between the lifters and the lobes---does this seem right? They were tight before the rebuild averaging about .005 clearance on each valve. What size shims would be recommended to start with, since I need to make the adjustment? How does one get started when there aren't any clearances to work with?

I dont know about the 650's but general rule is if its too tight for a feeler gauge,But you can spin the bucket with your thumb drop one size and remeasure. If you cannot spin the bucket with your thumb, drop two sizes. My Feeler guages go i believe to .002.

shims go down to .001, maybe even further i believe. You should be able to autozone and buy feeler guages, you need to see what your clearence is and then do some simple math to determine your required shim size. a rule of thumb is shims are measured without the decimal. EXP: a 152 would actually be 1.52MM, currently you are mesuring in inches, on the feeler gauge you use, it should also have a measurement for MM.

also if you can move the bucket easily while lobes arepointed away from valves that would mean your clearence is most likely between .001 and .005

also all angines are different and began at slightly different sizes and wear differently, therefore in order to determine needed shim size you would have to take your existing shims out and go from there.

Yeah, I can spin the buckets easily. Apparently I have been measuring in inches when mm is what is called for but it's still too tight for .038mm which is my smallest gauge.

Does anyone have a better source for shims than Z1 Enterprises?

Correct clearance is .10mm-.15mm-millimeters (.004"-.006")--Inches
.038mm is ---.0014 inches
.038mm divided by 25.4= inches
inches multiplied by 25.4 = millimeters.

Example,,,if you had a 265 shim and went to a 260 you are installing a smaller shim for more clearance.
265-260 is roughly .002 more clearance
If you had 265 and it went 263 (half sized shim not too uncommon) thats about .001 approximately.
Just remember, the smaller number on shim will give you more valve clearance.

Also you said you cleaned up your valves? did you happen to lap the valves? That would change your clearances.

mrscherer wrote: Yeah, I can spin the buckets easily. Apparently I have been measuring in inches when mm is what is called for but it's still too tight for .038mm which is my smallest gauge.

you really need gauges down to .001"

www.bing.com/shopping/bike-master-feeler...er%20gauge&FORM=HURE

Did you put the shims back in the same locations you pulled them from or were they mixed up when you assembled the engine.