Valve shim chart

Let the floggings begin… lol

wrote:

I'm so confused on how to do this.  So I measure my clearances, find it on the left side of the chart. Then slide to whatever shim that's in it which would be at the top of the chart and that will tell me what size shim to put in?


 

You need two things. The existing shim size and the existing lash (gap). You locate the shim size across the top with you right hand, locate the lash on the left side with your left hand. Draw down with your RH and across with your LH till they meet. That will give you the shim to use to get into the correct shim range. 

EDIT. Obviously if you land in the blank space no change needed.

So if I don't have a caliper or a way to read the shim size on the shims already installed,  would it be ok to take them out and measure without the shims and just put the correct shim size in ?

I don't think there is enough range on the chart to account for a gap with no shim installed, also how are you planning to measure the gap??

wrote:

So if I don't have a caliper or a way to read the shim size on the shims already installed,  would it be ok to take them out and measure without the shims and just put the correct shim size in ?

Negitive. The shims should have a stamped number on them. Unfortunately its on the bottom. You can remove the shim and see if the size is still on the shim. You can purchase a digital caliper pretty cheap. As mentioned shim come in .05mm increments. 

WARNING, NEVER ROTATE THE ENGINE WITHOUT ALL SHIMS IN PLACE.

What bike is this. You addy pic looks like a 750e. If so shims are under the bucket

All these charts do is make a simple job more complicated than what it really is. I do my valve clearance in standard not metric. Each shim is .002 thousands difference.
You have .008 thousands clearance and you want .004 thousands. So you go up two shim sizes. Simple...........Don't need no stinking chart to figure that out!!!!

Before you start get yourself a perfect set of feeler gauges. Not one with wrinkled, damaged, or rusted strips with the sizes you need. A micrometer. I like the digital mikes that show you the size in numbers. That way you don't have to count all those little lines to find out what size you really have!!! Then have a assortment of various shim sizes on hand. That way you don't have to wait and order the correct size shim you need. If you plan on keeping the bike, its nice to have on hand the shims you need. Most bikes have a shim range between 2.35 to 2.85. I said most. Now if someone's been in the motor and did a "valve job"  without checking how much they cut off the valve seats you might find shim sizes down in the 2.00 to 2.20 range.