Dievas tevas: May 2010

For last two years I was riding my honda shadow with quite annoying "feature" - valve ticking. This usually happens, if spaces between valve and rocker arms are not aligned properly. In most of the engines this is quite an easy task - you need some basic tools to measure spaces, screwdriver, and some 15-20 minutes to fix everything...

Nice example. Well, and the guy complains about that it has to be adjusted every 4000 miles.;)

In Honda shadow VT1100 case - it's different. No adjustment necesary for long time - meet fully automatic, hydraulic valve adjustment. :)

In general it is nice, and should work with no problems in most of the cases. Anyway, when engine get's older, it needs to be tuned a bit - some number of "shims" has to be placed under tappets, to correct wearing problems.

What is what - in the image below:

Number 11 is called "shim", number 13 - tappet.

To access these parts you need to remove engine from the frame, and open engine cilynder "head". Honda does not reccomend doing that without proper knowledge and skills. As I have some skills, decided to try.

The problem - tools. I was unable to find honda tappets/shims adjuster tool, nor it was clear, how to built it by myself. Until one day, an idea, how everything could be realised came.

Results are below:

First, we need caliper, that would be able to measure depth (see that small thingy under caliper in image below ?).

It will not be damaged anyhow. As you can see, it's bottom is mounted in to custom device, that I've made from L shape metal...