adjusting valve clearances m88/3

[wolfbmw]

hi everyone,
i've been trying to redo the valve clearances on my m88/3. i've succeeded in doing seven and there are still 17 to go!

the problem i'm encountering is that i can't get the shim to pop up even with a squirt of compressed air.
the shim turns freely in the cup but the engine oil is holding it down.

would someone have some idea on how i should continue?

[tschultz]

Something I recently read on Bringatrailer:

Get a rag and cover the offending shim. Use break cleaner with a spray tube on it, rotate the shim where you can spray the cleaner into the notch. This will break the oil seal between the shim and the bucket. Then use compressed air and a air nozzle. I use one with a long narrow tube. When you complete the job, pour some oil over the area to remove the break cleaner and then change the oil.

[wolfbmw]

thanks for the great idea.
i'll give it a try this weekend and hoping I can finish the started job.

[brickwhite]

I thought you could use a magnet?

[hornhospital]

You can, but...the oil between the shims/lifter sometimes has such a grip a magnet can't pull the shim out. It's like wringing two gage blocks together (for you machinists out there).

[wolfbmw]

today I tried out the brake cleaner and I got two shims out without any difficulty. I protected the area around the two valves with paper towel to absorb the excess cleaner. I used an aerosol air can for cleaning photo negatives to release the shim and a magnet to pull it out from under the cam lobe!
after using brake cleaner I suppose I have to use plenty of engine oil on the cams and shims and buckets.

[wolfbmw]

today,
between bending over, checking clearances, removing shims, shim thickness, installing shims, rechecking clearnaces, I finally finished 18 valves.
the brake cleaner worked miracles.
sometime the shim just popped out when using the valve bucket 'tool'.
6 more to go on the intake side!

is the m88/3 valve clearance value .30mm for both exhaust and intake on a cold engine?

thanks for the confirmation

[wolfbmw]

update
put back the air box/afm
turned over the engine a couple of time to make the oil circulate around the cam shafts.
then started the engine and it ran no problem
I warmed it up and noticed the smoothness of its running.
i'll be taking it for a cleaning and a drive this weekend

i'm happy bmw owner

[raykoke]

Great! :)

Change the oil please.

Cheers,

[wolfbmw]

oil change is the next item on my list.