[ST] Re: ST-triumphnet.com Digest, Vol 1, Issue 29

[David Earl <dlearl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>I did work at a Triumph dealership and I don't have the factory tool.
My experience is that it is a PITA to use, perhaps more trouble than
it's worth.   As a former VW tech, I'm used to having a tool which will
quickly compress the shim bucket and facilitate shim exchange.  These
days I use what I call a heel bar* to accomplish that.  It ain't
perfect, but it allows shim replacement without using the factory tool
or cam removal. 

My hat's off to ya if you can use that tool on you 955i and not make a mess of it.  BMW 4 cylinders use a similar tool, but there is a ridge cast into the head to pry against for leverage.  When I looked at using one to do my ST, the only place I found was the edge of the head, which seals the valve cover, or the cam itself. I knew that I would have trouble with that so I opted for the factory tool and find it works just fine.   My son is a Big4 mechanic and told me about a Honda tool that would almost work except there wasn't the clearance for the chain side pair of valves.  I was also very pricey, so I decided against it considering it would only do 2/3rds of the the ST and 1/2 of my BMW F650's Rotax single.  (FWIW, on the Rotax, it IS easier to remove the cams.  Actually, you don't even have to remove them, just loosen the chain tensioner to the point you can lift them up to get the shims out).

And please forgive me for the multiple posts on the same subject.  I get the list in digest form and I'm catching up after being out of town for several days.  Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Rupert, et al. for the "new" list.  Excellent work.  Tanks,

David
'99ST
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