1st valve adjustment, the saga continues...

[Steven van Twuyver]

The valve adjustment procedure should be amended to include a line that says: plug the engine cavity around the cam chain with a clean rag. Do this immediately after removing the valve cover. I normally would have plugged the case, but I was going to be extra careful on my first valve adjustment. A freshly oiled screw slipped through my fingers and was sucked into a black hole. I spent 20 minutes fishing for the screw with a magnet. Just as it was about to lift out, it dropped even further, three hours later, I finally got it out. Regarding shim exchange: even with an accommodating dealer like yours doing a free exchange, it isn't worth the gas or time over what Fred sells them for. You can be sure Fred will send the right ones THE FIRST TIME. At $3.99 per shim, I would burn more fuel $$ driving to get the right shims. Measure and call Fred today, install shims the day after tomorrow. Clean, painless, delivered to your door, in your mailbox - like Santa Claus. -svt- 98 KLR