clearance tools

[lloydie]

i want to do my clearances and i need the the tools to do it
feeler gauges which to get and what sizes ?
vernier or micrometer ?
any help will be great thanks

[benny hedges]

most shims you get will be in metric, so metric feelers are better for the job.
i got some extra long ones off ebay a few years ago and i trim them down when they get bent.
(you will probably have to bend them a bit to get them in if you are setting clearances with the heads in situ)

digi verniers are nice & cheap, or use a micrometer if yo are competent in their use, but tbh if you are using new shims the numbers are clear on them, as will be the numbers on the bike.

you dont really need them though.
just a set of feelers and a calculator - and the correct spec, which is in the manual (or the numerous threads on here)

the engine must be cold though, and double check before you order shims.
i got myself a box from hotcams... hundreds of assorted shims, 3 of each size for about £70. bargain.

[lloydie]

thank you but im still unclear as to what size feeler gauges to get (thickness)?

[benny hedges]

clearance front & rear is

in 0.16mm +-0.03 (6 thou += ) thou)
ex 0.31mm +-0.03 (12 thou +- 1 thou)

i prefer to work in imperial for the clearances myself, old habits, but the shims (apart from some in my baccy tin) are stamped up in metric.

[tony.mon]

You buy a set of feeler gauges, then you can measure all of the gaps for (usually) .06mm to .5mm.

Then once you know which ones you need from measuring the clearances and inspecting/measuring the shims fitted, you order the correct shims to get each clearance back to the middle of the adjustment range.

[lloydie]

thank you guys i can only find gauges in .05 increments these will be fine yes ?

[tony.mon]

No, not really.
try these or something similar:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/4499640.html

[lloydie]

ive just won these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... _500wt_947

[alec]

Being Blue point, I could be wrong but shouldn't you be able to take them to a snap on dealer and have them replaced as they have a lifetime guarantee ?

yeah you can and you wont need proof of purchase either as they are supposed to have a lifetime guarantee, usually best tracking down one of the vans and asking them as they sometimes give you a better replacement or bung you something for your inconvenience (or they used to when i was in the motor trade)

[benny hedges]

£16 lol!!!!! are you mad!
you can get a pair for a quid in the poundshop.

and the ones that are broken will no doubt be the ones you need

they go rusty and tarnished quite quick tho so give then a wipe and squirt with wd when youve finished with them.
dont expect them to last forever tho as you will probably need to bend them to fit them in

also recommend you get yourself a strong magnet on a stick to pick the buckets out complete with the shim.
without it you will be fishing the shim out and if it falls down inside you will cause a lot of damage.

make sure when you are doing the job you count the shims in & out.
dont be in any doubt that you may have dropped one.

also write down the sizes as you take them out, per cylinder, left inlet, right inlet, left ex, right ex.
makes it easier to work out the right shim & also to make sure the right one goes back where it should be.

[lloydie]

my friend knows a snap on man/van so the broken two will be replaced .
thank you all for the info you have given it has been gracefully received

[sirch345]

ive just won these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... _500wt_947

I find the cranked ones are the best for this job

Chris.