Stuck valve shims

i need to adjust my #1,4 intake and exhaust valves . I have use a weed eater line to hold the valve open, then rotate the cam around w/ the lobe away from the bucket. But the shims seem to be stuck, I’ve tried a 90 degree pick to easily pry up on the shim, but they do not want to come loose. Any ideas on what to do, besides removing the camshafts ?
Both intake are .001” and exhaust are .005” and .0025”
Marc

 

Almost sounds like the trimmer line isn't thick enough. You gotta have the bucket farther down to give 'clearance' to pop the shim up. I use a small screwdriver to pop the shim, too. Then a magnet AS PER THE FSM to remove the shim. If it's still tough to remove, I'll use needle nose pliers or tweezers

 

The trimmer line is .10” think, it looks like there will be enough room, I’ll try a screwdriver.

 

Yep I see what you mean. Guess I’ll be buying the tool for it.
Marc.

 

no need for a tool use a wide wire tie and double it up if needed it will hold the valve open from inside the cylinder or insulated solid housewire 14 or 12 guage.

bend end a little .go in throughthe sparkplug hole and turn thecrank to position cam lobe. then pop the shim with a narrow thin screwdriver . when it pops up use a magnet to lift it out.

 

the tool you buy will need to be ground down a little to fit

 

I read your article and I found a peace of #12 wire that works. So I have Y280 shines in my 1,4 intake and exhaust valves. The chart shows the shim are .275mm thick, is that right ? I didn’t measure them when I had them out, but I could again.

 

Buy the tool I use.... 2 zip ties stacked together

 

Not sure I fully understand your question.
You need to know what clearance you have, what shim is in there now and then do the “goes-into’s” to calculate what shim you need.
A Y280 is 2.80mm thick, a Y275 is 2.75mm thick...
These are nominal sizes. You certainly can (should?) measure them to verify what size it is.

What XJ do you have?

 

I’m sorry, I have a 1981 XJ550 Maxim.
Like my intake #1 is .001” clearance and has a Y280 shim in it. So I would need a ?

 

life would be easier if you used a metric set of feelers

SHIMS should be marked on back/bottom

KD Tools 2274 feelers. order at any parts store

specs
intake
0.11mm to 0.15 mm (0.004 to 0.006 inches)
exhaust
0.16 mm to 0.20 mm (0.006 to 0.008 inches)


0.001=0.0254MM 280 GO TO 270 THEN REMEASURE #1 intake

 

Thanks xjh, I’ll buy a set of metrics. And I’ll look to buy some new shims.

 

Before you buy a new shims, verify what you need and check with the shim pool.