cam shims

[esprit910]

hi all

is it acceptable practice to simply turn a worn shim the other way up? i.e. to bring the shim back to its original thickness where a valve has hammered an indent into the shim, so the indent now faces the cam follower which has a wider 'footprint'.

cheers Steve

[Esprit2]

You can do that. However, it makes measuring the effective thickness more susceptable to errors.

The flat pad inside the tappet will bridge across the depression. So using a micrometer with a round anvil to measure in the center of the shim will give an incorrect indication of it's effective thickness. Measure off center where the tappet touches.

If there's a dimple on both sides, then it's going to be tough to get a measurment. You would need to measure from the center were the valve stem touchs to the side where the tappet touches.

If you use dimpled shim, pay close attention to what you are measuring and to which way you install the shim. For get and flip it over and it will give a different clearance.

Regards,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North