Sticky valve shims

[Motorhobo]

They usually pop right out, but not on this 94 K75. I can see that the tool is on the bucket, the shim is clear but won't come out. Trying to leverage it out with angle pick doesn't do the trick. Any recommendations for solvents or tools? Also, light is an issue -- any tips on a way to get some illumination in there?

As always any help greatly appreciated...

Van

[TimTyler]

I had to use a small, strong magnet to get mine out.

I may have used some canned air too.

[Chaos]

Compressed air if you got it

[wmax351]

Try a nice thin dental pick.

[2000rsv]

As for light, use an LED miner's light.

http://tinyurl.com/k8ye476

[Motorhobo]

Compressed air if you got it

Tried it -- no cigar.

I had to use a small, strong magnet to get mine out.

I may have used some canned air too.

Tried a disk-shaped super magnet, but the pull was nearly equal between the shim and the cam lobe, so the net pull was minimal and it didn't come out.

Try a nice thin dental pick.

That worked on the first one but by the second one the cheesy metal on the dental pick was all bent to crap and useless.

What did work was setting the edge of a small flathead screwdriver, one small enough to fit in the groove of the bucket, against the rear edge of the shim where it meets the bucket and tapping with a rubber mallet just hard enough to dislodge it. It's a pain in the ass because if you don't get the angle right the bucket rotates and the groove shifts, then have to you pull the tool off and rotate the bucket back into position. But I did get them all out.

Now -- do I have to go to the dealer and pay $8 apiece plus tax or is there a cheaper way? I'll need five of em...that's 40 bucks plus and I'm a thrifty person...or cheap...either one applies.

As for light, use an LED miner's light.

http://tinyurl.com/k8ye476

Thanks...got one from Home Despot. Very handy.

[orforester]

I found some at the Kawasaki dealer, but they charged the same $8 each.  KZ1000 and I think Yamaha 850 have the same size. 

I had good luck using the shim tool and then the magnet/dental pick, once the pressure is off them they slide right out.

[wmax351]

I picked mine up on fleabay, 8 bucks each, maybe a bit less if you buy multiples. Quick shipping though.

[Motorhobo]

I had good luck using the shim tool and then the magnet/dental pick, once the pressure is off them they slide right out.

Didn't have any problem at all on the other bike but on this one they just didn't want to go budge. May I ask what kind of magnet you have? I saw some rare earth bar magnets that might work better than the disk type but I'd  have to order them and don't want to waste any more time or $$ on trial and error.

If its $8 everywhere I might as well go to Bobs -- need some dealer parts anyway and give me an excuse to ride a couple hundred miles.

[wmax351]

The trick is you need real dental picks, good ones that don't break easily.

[Motorhobo]

4 out of 5 dentists agree -- don't use crappy dental implements on your brick!

I'll see if I can find a real one, not the garbage I got from Wally World. I'm sure I'll find more uses for it than just this.

Thanks...Van

[bocutter Ed]

Yeah, we get free used ones from ... the dentist.  :yes

[Motorhobo]

Yeah -- free tools! Local dentist gave me a whole bag of 'em...



Use pick to dislodge it at the top, use magnet to suck it out at the bottom -- easy peasy.

Thanks!

Van

[wmax351]

Best to avoid magnets on anything in the engine: you can magnetize parts of the engine, and have metallic particles stick.