setting lifter lash
- PastoT
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Re: setting lifter lash
Adjustments are made by changing the shims on which the cam lobes ride. Each shim has a number value relating its thickness and changing that thickness adjusts the valve lash/clearance.
Tom, in Mountain Home, Idaho
2002 GL1800 (Illusion Red) Non-ABS, 128k miles
Retired Air Force
"Audentes Fortuna Juvat"
2002 GL1800 (Illusion Red) Non-ABS, 128k miles
Retired Air Force
"Audentes Fortuna Juvat"
- thrasherg
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Re: setting lifter lash
It's not a complicated job, but unless you have a good selection of spare shims, it could take quite a while!! You can buy shim sets on eBay for not a lot of money that help make it a faster job (its just a collection of about 100 shims of different sizes that you can use). You will need a set of feeler gauges and an accurate micrometer (not all shims have the thickness marked on them so its useful to have a micrometer to check the shim thickness).
I don't know if the shims are under bucket or over bucket on the goldwing.
If they are under bucket, you have to measure the valve clearance gap on all valves (write it down), then remove the cam shafts, remove each valve bucket and shim, calculate the thickness of the new shim to give the correct clearance, then put the bucket and new shim back in, do this for every valve, and then bolt the cams back in. Recheck all clearances and you are done.
If they are over bucket then you measure the valve clearance insert a tool that holds the valve open whilst you rotate the cam shaft, this allows the old shim to drop out, calculate the new size shim, fit it in the bucket, and rotate the camshaft to allow removal of the tool, then recheck the clearance and move onto the next valve.
The over bucket is the easiest to work on, but under bucket shims allow a higher reving engine.
Hopefully someone can tell us which shim system the 1800 goldwing has.
If it's your first time doing it, count on a good 4 or 5 hours to do it.
Gary
I don't know if the shims are under bucket or over bucket on the goldwing.
If they are under bucket, you have to measure the valve clearance gap on all valves (write it down), then remove the cam shafts, remove each valve bucket and shim, calculate the thickness of the new shim to give the correct clearance, then put the bucket and new shim back in, do this for every valve, and then bolt the cams back in. Recheck all clearances and you are done.
If they are over bucket then you measure the valve clearance insert a tool that holds the valve open whilst you rotate the cam shaft, this allows the old shim to drop out, calculate the new size shim, fit it in the bucket, and rotate the camshaft to allow removal of the tool, then recheck the clearance and move onto the next valve.
The over bucket is the easiest to work on, but under bucket shims allow a higher reving engine.
Hopefully someone can tell us which shim system the 1800 goldwing has.
If it's your first time doing it, count on a good 4 or 5 hours to do it.
Gary
- Fatwing Chris
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Re: setting lifter lash
You also need special tools to release the pressure on the timing chain tensioners.
If I'da known it would last this long,I'da taken better care of it.
Chris
Double Dark
Darkside # 1602
Chris
Double Dark
Darkside # 1602
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Re: setting lifter lash
Why are you asking the question? The valves hardly ever need work done to them on the 1800's. I've not yet heard of anyone that has needed them shimmied, but that's not to say that it hasn't been done.
Ride safe
Darksider #562
Phil
Riding 12 months a year, gotta love it.
Darksider #562
Phil
Riding 12 months a year, gotta love it.
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2177 gl1800
Re: setting lifter lash
Checked the adjustment on my 06 at 150,000 miles and only one valve was out, and that valve was out of spec by 1mm. That was the first time any valve adjustment has been needed.
- thrasherg
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Re: setting lifter lash
Are you sure you meant 1mm? That's an awful lot to be out by!! I would be checking for a bent or burnt valve with that kind of error.jinx wrote:Checked the adjustment on my 06 at 150,000 miles and only one valve was out, and that valve was out of spec by 1mm. That was the first time any valve adjustment has been needed.
Gary
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Re: setting lifter lash
I was thinking the exact same thing. A 1 mm valve lash would make a hell of a racket.thrasherg wrote:Are you sure you meant 1mm? That's an awful lot to be out by!! I would be checking for a bent or burnt valve with that kind of error.jinx wrote:Checked the adjustment on my 06 at 150,000 miles and only one valve was out, and that valve was out of spec by 1mm. That was the first time any valve adjustment has been needed.
Gary
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Re: setting lifter lash
Sorry about that should have said 0.01 mm out of spec.
- thrasherg
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Re: setting lifter lash
That sounds much better!! Thats a very small change for 150,000 miles!! 
Gary

Gary