Valve shim removal tool

A fellow on this site wanted the dimensions of my shim tool so I thought I would share it with the gang.

This is how it works.


Here are the dimensions.



Here are some actual pictures so you can see what it looks like. I made a little steel brace to run across the top for more strength.



Getting the angle of the bend correct takes some patience. You have catch the edge of the cam follower without trapping the shim.



Pick a valve that needs adjustment. Turn the engine until the cam lobe faces away from that valve. Use a pick to turn the cam follower until the notch pictured above is facing a convenient direction to blow air into it. Turn the engine until the valve is all the way down. Remove the nearest screw on the cam ladder and put the tool in place. Insert the screw through the 1/4" hole and tighten. Slowly turn the engine (I take one spark plug out of each cylinder so it turns easier) until the cam follower is near the tool. Adjust the bend until you can just catch the edge of the follower. I had to slot the 1/4" hole a little to get the right angle. Blow compressed air into the notch and use a pick on the opposite side to tiddly wink the shim out. They have to come straight up or they bind. The oil sticktion doesn't help either. Not a bad idea to stuff something in the cam chain tunnel in case one goes flying. Do the valves ONE AT A TIME. Do not allow the cam to run on a follower without a shim on it. Don't ask !



This is what you don't want to happen.

It takes a little farting around but is still way easier than removing the cams. Good luck ! Fred

Can I just come to Meeechigan when I need mine done Fred?

Thanks for the great write-up! Can you use one of the universal valve shim kits with the Rocket? If you need to adjust multiple valves one at a time, it sounds like you'd have to make several trips to the dealer unless you have a full assortment of shims on hand.

Outstanding, will be making one soon to have in the tool box , it appears the shims are the same as in the old 955's of which I have jars full.

I apologize for the blurry pictures. It looks like someone "thumb rubbed" my camera.

when I done my valve chech half were out and I found too it difficult to remove shims with this technique so I just remove the cams

I have under bucket sims - so no good for me. Great idea tho

FYI I can't take credit for this clever device. A fellow from Poland (can't remember his name, might have been on .com) posted the first two pictures in my post above. He didn't include any dimensions so I had to wing it. It does work well. If I had to do a lot of them, removing the cams would be quicker, though not necessarily easier. Even with the cam holder tool it's still a ***** getting them lined up.

Looks like a similar design to the gen Yam FJ1100 shim tool. Funny thing is those shims will fit a Rocket.......

Mittzy said:

I have under bucket sims - so no good for me. Great idea tho

Click to expand...

does that mean you can rev it harder than mine now, mine is set at 7100 and it go's there in top with out the need for full throttle, did you say you can go to 7400 with stock valves ?