oldgreyandslow wrote:"dont see why your strugling mate

no one else has a problem?"

Incompetence probably

Youll be ok, just take ya time, put the tools down, have a fag,beer or tea and try again in an hour, flower

I did manage to get the one in! However having done so and feeling quite elated, I looked at the valve drawing I made and FFS it's in th ewrong one! I put the thing in the exhaust instead of the inlet!

Jeez, enough!

keep perservering. you'll be glad you did and have a great sense of relief/achievement when your done!! karma for having a go

i feel your pain. i took ages doing this. Its fiddly, especially the ones at the front but once you get the hand of it its not too bad.

I used no grease. just a magnetised scredriver and i also used a socket adaptor (its squared off and the right width) to hold the rocker arms back. just pull the arm back and wedge the socket adaptor in the gap so the arm can't move back. then you've got a free hand to deposit the shim in the bucket before slowly removing the socket adaptor and sliding the rocker back into place.

FOR GOD SAKE MAKE SURE YOU BLOCK ALL THE HOLES WITH SOME LINT FREE RAGS OR YOU WILL DROP A SHIM INTO THE ENGINE.BAD TIMES.

I did this- fortunately it was at the rear cylinders and it dropped down the gapright to the bottom. I was able to take the clutch cover off (after draining the oil) and retrieve it with a magnetic tool.


I created an excel spreadsheet that you can fill in all your measurements on and it will chuck out the correct shim sizes that you need for you. pm me your email address if you want me to email it to you.

hardnutdvd wrote:keep perservering. you'll be glad you did and have a great sense of relief/achievement when your done!! karma for having a go

Karma unjustified!

Got help I'm afraid, local mobile mech I've used before, helpful bloke showed me where I was going wrong, it also turned out that my wonderful new micrometer was sheite, anyhow with a bit of help and the right tools, I realised my magnetic thingy was way too large, I even managed to sort a few out myself. (I know "a bad workman always blames his tools" anyhow I have seen the light, buy quality! Right stuff and skills of course = job done, lesson leaned.

In the end, where I thought I was going to need 8 shims I actually needed 2, however good old local honda suppliers sold me a shim marked 1.8 which actually measured 1.3!

The covers are now back on, just need a replacement washer for one of the cover bolts, thats probably hiding in some corner of the garage.

Carbs, next, as they're off, armed with Cammo's guide and bits from Rick O, what could go wrong?

Watch this space!

Finally thanks for the advice etc much appreciated

Good job for having a go mate, it can be a little frustrating at first but once you get into a rhythm it's not too bad.

Can anyone confirm that when replacing a shim it's better to go for a lower gap than a larger gap within the specified range? I.e do the clearances get wider or tighter over time?

Cheers.