Valve check and leaf gauge shenanigans

Alright first time poster long time forum stalker (never had a situation come up that I couldn't find a thread for!)

Anyways I decided this weekend to go ahead and do the valve check on my 5th gen, along with changing some spark plugs, bleeding brakes..etc. First time checking the valves on this bike or ANY bike for that matter. I was under the impression that the leaf gauge goes COMPLETELY between the cam and lifter and its driving me nuts. Is that incorrect? I hope it is or everything is ridiculously out of spec! Say for instance cylinder #3. Set TDC, check gear position, and a .152 gauge will go under the intake cam fairly easy, and then it just stops. I attached a picture below



So as you can see, the leaf gauge is definitely between the cam and lifter, but it still has about 1/8 of an inch maybe before it would be completely through (from one side of the lifter to the other).

So my question is, if it IS only supposed to go in that far, then how do you know which gauge actually "fits". Just by friction/feel? Hope someone can clear this up for me. I'm gonna go get some brew and tackle it again later haha

 

It looks like the cam isn't in the correct position and the feeler gauge is coming into contact with the lobe of the cam. The high point of the lobe of the cam should be pretty much opposite the cam bucket. Yours looks like the cam lobe is just off the cam bucket, i.e. not rotated far enough around.

You should be able to slide the feeler gauge completely through between the cam lobe and the valve bucket.

Double check to make sure you have your timing correct and the piston is fully at TDC on the compression stroke and not the exhaust stroke.

 

Haha wow I am retarded. Thanks man. #3 checked out. #1 has an exhaust valve a little tight at .254. Beer, then #2 and #4. Go get some shims tomorrow!

 

Cool, glad it worked out.

 

well, shims went well but snapped a flange bolt! Wasn't even close to torque specs just snapped. About had a heart attack but luckily it didnt break off completely and I was able to get it out. Decided to put the reassembly on hold and order all new flange bolts. Thanks for the help

 

The timing marks aren't so important when doing clearance if you always measure when the lobe is opposite to the valve, pointing away. The backside of the cam is very wide, and exact rotational position isn't that critical.