Hi from a Newby

[ReRide]

Hi, my son rides an FJ1100, and I ride a Honda VTX 1800 S (R with spokes).  I'm helping my son do some work on the FJ while he is in college.  I need to make some valve adjustments and about all I can say is I now understand the process, but i don't have the special tool to hold the valve down, nor do I have any shims.  The exhaust valves are too tight, and the intakes are pretty close to about right.  If you can point me to any posts on the site that would be most helpful.  I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but I'm asking, should I invest in the special tool and adjust the valves myself or take it to a dealer?  Plus if I do it myself, can you point me to a good place to get shims?  Thanks.  I will say I haven't ridden my son's FJ very much, but I have ridden enough to know it has wicked power and seems to handle really good.  Thanks in advance.

[FJmonkey]

Welcome Newby, are you gonna change your name when you are not so new anymore? Many on this sight will not let anyone they don't know (dealers and other shops) wrench on their bike. They get the tools and or have friends close enough and share. I got my tool from RPM Randy. As far as the shims go, call some local shops, some will swap shims for free. I swapped shims with Randy and another member on this site. Great bunch of people. You likely end up swapping shims between valves and (it is a slim chance) might not even need a different shim. Other makes of bikes use the same size shim so you are not limited to Yamaha. The shim diameter is 25MM I think, look it up, others will likely post as well. Happy wrenching.

[Harvy]

Other makes of bikes use the same size shim so you are not limited to Yamaha. The shim diameter is 25MM I think, look it up, others will likely post as well. Happy wrenching.

Honda and Triumph for instanace.

Harvy