Basic ignition troubleshooting

checking the valves will only take 1/2 hr, but if you have to change some shims, it will take some time. You should get the valves in spec BEFORE checking the comp & you must get #1 hellicoiled otherwise the testing will be inconclusive.

 

"checking the valves will only take 1/2 hr" ... I assume that's the case if you've done it a couple times. I probably spent 4 hours on it by the time I got all the shim sizes figured out.

Here's what I got:
#4 exhaust 0.006/0.15 280 intake 0.002/0.05 290
#3 exhaust 0.006/0.15 280 intake 0.004/0.10 290
#2 exhaust 0.006/0.15 275 intake 0.002/0.05 290
#1 exhaust 0.006/0.15 275 intake 0.002/0.05 290

Big question about this: the service manual states the following clearances are in spec:
Intake: 0.11 ~ 0.15 mm (0.004 ~ 0.006 in)
Exhaust: 0.16 ~ 0.20 mm (0.006 ~ 0.008 in)

So my question is whether I should go by inches or millimeters. Everything is tight, but if I go by millimeters every shim is out of spec, if I go by inches then just #1,2, and 4 intake are out of spec. What is the best way to go?

(edit: fix the typo on #3 intake)

 

Just looking quickly I see half of your shims will interchange.

 

0.15mm is out of spec for exhaust, but 0.006in is not... 0.10mm is out of spec for intake, but 0.004in is not... thus my confusion.

 

I will listen to fitz (http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=24581.html) and go by the metric measurements, thus I'll be changing all 8.