1981 Kz650 running rough. looking for suggestions

Trumpology101 wrote: so while checking the valves i just got the readings:
1 .05
2 .06
3 .06
4 .06
5 .08
6 .07
7 under .04
8 .10
Ive never done this before, does it seem correct?
I'm reading the manual as saying tolerances are between .08 and .018 so on the majority of them I'm not even there, does this call for replacing shims or is there any other way to adjust?

So I just checked my feeler gauge and it is metric. Should I shim all of these valves out or is there a possible build up on the existing shims?

If the measurements you posted are in mm, and the correct gap is .08-.18, then you need to change shims in all but one. Continuing to ride it with those gaps will lead to more problems as the gaps get smaller as the miles go by.

when removing the camshaft bolts and camshaft caps i then pull the camshaft itself. do i need to keep these in any certain position what keeps the timing itself from changing?

Tackle one camshaft at a time.
put a zip tie through hole in camshaft sprocket and around cam chain.. remove caps. roll cam shaft back. pull buckets.
See what shims you have in there and what shims you need..
put everything back and do the other cam shaft

sounds more difficult than it actually is

Refer to the manual for the fine detail You may need to loosen cam chain tensioner first.

JR wrote: Tackle one camshaft at a time.
put a zip tie through hole in camshaft sprocket and around cam chain.. remove caps. roll cam shaft back. pull buckets.
See what shims you have in there and what shims you need..
put everything back and do the other cam shaft

sounds more difficult than it actually is

Refer to the manual for the fine detail You may need to loosen cam chain tensioner first.

Thank you, will tackle tomorrow.

if i measure the shim itself will i get the number marked on it? I'm mic'ing this shim at .127 which converts to 3.2mm but every other shim i have is between 2.35mm and 2.65mm and from what i can read on this one it says 2.55 or 2.85mm..