Seems much safer, but are there any issues with doing this off the engine? Do you need to redo this after installation? Is setting timing an issues with getting things TDC etc. Thanks
No you will not have any issues doing the shim job off the engine, and no you should not need to redo it after the install. As long as you make sure the cams are positioned where TDC is when performing this off the engine. On most bikes there are marks on the gears and the head so you may know where TDC is. If you’re unsure before you take it off the bike use a sharpie to mark TDC on your cams in correlation with your head so you have a reference point. Ensure you tighten down the bolts holding your cams in place to proper spec and in proper order, if you do that you should be good to go. The reason why this works is because the whole purpose of doing a shimming job is to ensure your bike has the right gap between the valve buckets and your cam lobes. When the head is hooked up to the engine and the timing chain is connected it has no effect on that clearance. what does affect that clearance is making sure the cams are at TDC and that it is tighten to spec.
Great job dude
Seems much safer, but are there any issues with doing this off the engine? Do you need to redo this after installation? Is setting timing an issues with getting things TDC etc. Thanks
No you will not have any issues doing the shim job off the engine, and no you should not need to redo it after the install. As long as you make sure the cams are positioned where TDC is when performing this off the engine. On most bikes there are marks on the gears and the head so you may know where TDC is. If you’re unsure before you take it off the bike use a sharpie to mark TDC on your cams in correlation with your head so you have a reference point. Ensure you tighten down the bolts holding your cams in place to proper spec and in proper order, if you do that you should be good to go.
The reason why this works is because the whole purpose of doing a shimming job is to ensure your bike has the right gap between the valve buckets and your cam lobes. When the head is hooked up to the engine and the timing chain is connected it has no effect on that clearance. what does affect that clearance is making sure the cams are at TDC and that it is tighten to spec.