85Coupe wrote:I see,

I am rather scared I am very close to dropping a valve, so the bike is parked and will have the head off for investigation.

I think I am lucky as the valve has yet to drop...

If the shim came out the valve would drop out almost straight away.

Most likely something else but for the sake of a couple of hours to investigate and fix if need be it sure beats ruining an engine. Can measure the valve clerances while your in there... if somethings really loose then thats probably your ticking.

Hi Guys,

So I sent the bike to a local mechanic shop, the guy seems to know these bikes well and claims to have owned 3. His assistant called and said the guy has found the problem.

The bike has lost a shim and they need to find it, and then see what is potting in terms of damage.

I want to have the facts before I accept a qoute on the repairs. As people in this country love to rip each other off, its a African thing. lol.

The bikle was running fine other than the nosie, no over-heating, power delivery was fine etc. No starting problems, idle was fine too. It was merely the noise.

How much damage could a shim do if it came loose somehow. Can it fall into the motor and damage the piston? Please can you guys educate me so I know if he is bullshitting when he submits the quote.

I dont imganie labour would be more than 4-t5 hours and then the cost of parts would be minor also.

Please advise soonest as I will get the quote in the next 24 hours and then need to go ahead or not (then pay a diagnostic fee anyway if I dont go ahead so best to stick with these guys since Im into them a little already)

much appreciated.

p.s. I assume the cotter would still hold the valve in place even without the shim. lastly, if a bike drops a valve doesnt it basically just destroy the motor then and there? What I am getting at is that my bike doesnt seem to have dropped the valve?

If he says it does, I want to be sure this is the case and he is not making the damage seem worse than it is.

If a shim has fallen into the engine it could cause irreparable damage.

Also if the valve has dropped then yes it will have destroyed itself and the piston and probably other things in the process.

It's all unknown until you actually get the engine split and the shim out.

But how is it possible the bike runs so well, other than the ticking noise if it could be suffering such a thing as a valve dropped? That is what is confusing me so much.

Thanks again

But I hear u. Will wait for quote. This sucks.

Then either your mechanic is bullshitting, or you're a lucky bastard and all it's doing is sitting in the sump.

As for the valve, again if it's not dropped then same applies, bullshitting or very lucky.

if it runs - you have not dropped a valve.

A shim can come off the top of the stem - they are "loose" and have only the finger holding it in.

If you have a motor that is noisy - stop using it..

get the covers off - refit a shim, measure the clearances/

Then get the sump off and check it for the lost shim- they either end up fucked in the cam gear train or they drop onto the bottom and you get lucky.

Sorted braaa!!

Let's hope it's my good karma. Lol.

Holding thumbs!!

If in doubt. ... racebox in edenvale.... honest. Good price. Clued up on vfr.... im just saying