08-24-2014, 09:54 AM
The Japanese have come to favor the shim under bucket over the last 30 years as being the most reliable form of valve adjustment. Not just Honda, but Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki as well. My Triumph Bonneville also used this system. Inspecting is different than adjusting. I have never had to have a shim under bucket valve adjusted, although I have had them inspected. My ST has close to 50,000, my Bonneville 30,000, my Yamaha FZ-1 over 30,000. Zero valve adjustments. To inspect the valves one needs to remove the valve cover and one of the engine covers so you can turn the engine over and change the rotation of the camshafts. There is an adjustment range ( just like there is a high and low level on brake master cylinders and oil crankcases) and any valve within that range is ok although most people want them adjusted so they are exactly in the middle of the range. Just as the oil doesn't have to be at the upper level in the site window, just between the high and low marks but again as anal as we've become lately every insists their oil be exactly at the upper level.