Jinksy4

Appreciate the advice. I now have a choice as to what "best practice" is - kinda. Theoretically, the orings are shot - realistically, there is data that suggests they last a good long time and can take much abuse. Since I've ordered replacements, because I assumed everybody would say "change'em out you moron", I'm going to replace them. It just proves that learning requires humility - and humility equals gathering information. In the future, if I need to work on the carbs, you can bet I won't replace the orings. Another problem solved:beer:.

Is it best practice to change out the float bowl gaskets when doing a carb float adjustment? My Venture is a 2000 and as far as I can tell, never been disassembled.

Thanks folks for the help. I found it down by the radiator held vertically by its oil film - no way to see it without bore scope. What a relief!! Ready to put it back together and ride - as soon as the rain stops. Thanks again!

I found it!!! The shim was stuck in a bracket next to the radiator guard. The oil film on the shim had positioned it vertical to line of sight. Noway to see it without a bore scope. Thanks to everyone for the guidance and the HF scope works really well for the money. Also found a metal clip which I have no idea where that came from. Look forward to getting it put back together. Thanks again folks.

Thanks - if I find it is in the engine I will keep that in mind.

Picked one up today - $68 with discount coupon. Really works good. Tomorrow will see if it finds the elusive shim.

I agree - just need a beer day to quit feeling sorry for myself. Getting a borescope today.

Appreciate the reply - I'm going to try and get a scope and hopefully not have to pull the cam.

Thanks - I did hear a pop. I'm thinking it did a belly flop down the timing chain void.

Thanks for the info - if it did end up down the the timing chain void where would it end up? That's what I don't know for sure. I could take the bottom cover off and retrieve it if there was a chance it went all the way down.

Thanks - it sounded like it was falling, bouncing on metal, but I didn't hear it hit the floor and my hearing is not that good. It may be laughing but I'm not.

Thanks folks - I'm going to get a borescope and keep trying.

In a previous thread, I mentioned launching a valve shim from #3 inside exhaust bucket. My fear is that it made its way down the void under the cam gear since I can't find it anywhere else. Is it possible that the shim made its way to the bottom of the engine where I could retrieve it by dropping bottom engine cover? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I have fished a magnet around the inside under cam gears and am snagging nothing. Looked everywhere I can see and not coming up with it. It seems there is a lot of space under the cam gear and I tried to get a magnet down as far as I could - 4 or 5 inches - and got nothing. I'm going to let it go thinking it is somewhere in the garage. New issue - a small corner on top of a shim prying slot in the bucket broke off on #1 inside exhaust. I found the piece with a magnet in the oil next to the bucket. It is a clean break with no cracks and functions fine when cycling the crankshaft. Think there is a problem with letting this go? Thanks for all the input - this has been interesting so far.

During the process of adjusting the valve clearance, a shim that was not seated properly popped out of the inside bucket on cylinder #4 exhaust when I gently rotated the crank. I felt the resistance and was in the process of reversing the crank to investigate when it popped out. I heard it rattle down as if it fell to the floor, but can't find it anywhere. So, I have to think it went inside the engine. Question - is there an oil galley that goes to the bottom of the engine under the cam gear? I think it is the only place the shim could have gone if so. Any help would be appreciated.