Hi,
Does anyone know where I might get hold of a shim removal tool for a 1.9 JTD either to buy, hire or copy?
I understand that people don't really lend or hire their tools but I'd be happy to pay for one to be machined if that was an option.
They seem impossible to get, the closest I've got is finding one in the Ukraine using google translate on a website (with no picture) and £85 postage! Not sure I'm ready to for that leap of faith.
I've been advised that the Fiat part number is 1860724001.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, my beloved Multi has been sitting in a mechanics yard for 6 months!
Thanks in advance

Jimi

http://phoenixmotorsport.co.uk/services/Rentals/tool_rentals.php rent small tools

welcome to the forum

Thanks for that Dave, no luck unfortunately.

I have tried buying directly from Fiat, they don't sell tools as policy apparently and they say that this tool is not available anyway.

Apparently my mechanic went to the fiat dealership to get the car done there, they don't have this ....ing tool themselves!

Is this relevant?:

https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/307950-shim-replacement.html

I found a photo of what could be the tool on the web. If I had a template for a profile, it wouldn't be difficult to get one laser cut from 3mm steel and folded up.

There's nothing special about the Fiat hold down tool. It's just a piece of metal the right thickness to hold the bucket down while you remove the shim. The tool has grooves in it, but they're not functional, and not necessary.

Before I bought the tool, I used the edges of a flat bladed screwdriver to hold the bucket down. Just need to make sure whatever you use is the right thickness, and doesn't slip off the lip of the bucket.

If your mechanic is doing the job for you, he should be able to make or find something to hold the buckets down with.
.

Damn!
Having never seen tappets mentioned on here (until today), I'd assumed the JTD engine had hydraulic tappets (c'mon FIAT, this is the 21st Cetury for ****'s sake ).
Another job to add to my long list...

BikeDoc said:

Damn!
Having never seen tappets mentioned on here (until today), I'd assumed the JTD engine had hydraulic tappets (c'mon FIAT, this is the 21st Cetury for ****'s sake ).
Another job to add to my long list...

Click to expand...

Only the 8 valve JTDs have shim adjustment for the valve clearances. All the rest are hydraulic.
.

"There's nothing special about the Fiat hold down tool. It's just a piece of metal the right thickness to hold the bucket down while you remove the shim. The tool has grooves in it, but they're not functional, and not necessary.

Before I bought the tool, I used the edges of a flat bladed screwdriver to hold the bucket down. Just need to make sure whatever you use is the right thickness, and doesn't slip off the lip of the bucket.

If your mechanic is doing the job for you, he should be able to make or find something to hold the buckets down with."

Interesting, he's made it out to be absolutely essential, I've spent about a week looking for it! He's normally pretty good, I think this may be a weak area for him.

In the end I've had to buy him the tensioning pry from laser tools (even though it seems to be nothing more than a bent screwdriver) and he's going to have a go with that alone.

Thank you for your advice Davren, as an after thought, in terms of labour costs, including fitting the camshaft and oil feed pipe, how long do you think a job like this might take?

Also, could anyone recommend a multipla/fiat mechanic in the Surrey Hampshire area? (For the future)

Best
Jimi

Mr Selvis said:

fitting the camshaft and oil feed pipe

Click to expand...

If your mechanic is fitting a new camshaft, he doesn't need the hold down tool or the wedge shaped lever. The tools are only needed for adjusting the valve clearances when the engine is fully assembled.

1. Before fitting the camshaft and timing belt, turn the crankshaft so that all 4 pistons are about half way down the bores.
2. Fit the camshaft with the original shims and tighten the oiled bearing caps to torque.
3. Turn the camshaft until 2 lobes are pointing about 180º away from the shims.
4. Measure and record the clearances for the heel of those 2 lobes.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the remaining 6 lobes.
6. Remove the camshaft.
7. Remove all 8 shims from their buckets, recording which individual lobes they came from.
8. Measure the thickness of each of the 8 shims.
9. Calculate the thicknesses of the new shims by adding or subtracting the differences between the required and actual clearances, to or from the thicknesses of the existing shims.
10. Get 8 new shims of the required thicknesses. (Some of the existing shims may be suitable).
11. Fit the 8 shims in their correct buckets.
12. Refit the camshaft.

.

Hi, new member here with x 1/9 from across the pond. I am not sure if my tool (1500 cc 8 valves) will work for you? If yes there is a guy at xwebforums.org that copied that tool, improved it and manufactured lot of 50. There are still available from him. Check it out (not connected with the vendor).
Best,

Davren said:

Only the 8 valve JTDs have shim adjustment for the valve clearances. All the rest are hydraulic.
.

Click to expand...

Oh well...
I actually really enjoy jobs like this, and am quite looking forward to 'lifting the lid' on it.
What I'm not looking forward to is paying for the Shims

Might take a look at the EGR valve and leaky Turbo (oil) while I'm under there as well...

BikeDoc said:

What I'm not looking forward to is paying for the Shims

Click to expand...

Someone on ebay is selling new ones in a good range of thicknesses for £3.90 each. Postage is £2.80 but only an extra 10p for each additional one.

Hi Davren,
The reason he says he needs the tool is there is zero clearance, he plans to fit with the smallest possible shims and work it out from there.
I have been assuming not but do you think a tool for an x19 would be useful?

Thanks for that x19art.

Jimi

Mr Selvis said:

Hi Davren,
The reason he says he needs the tool is there is zero clearance, he plans to fit with the smallest possible shims and work it out from there.
I have been assuming not but do you think a tool for an x19 would be useful?

Thanks for that x19art.

Jimi

Click to expand...

If there's zero clearance with the smallest possible shims, then there's never going to be any clearance. Something's wrong.

Many years since I worked on X1/9 engines, but I think the hold down tool for them was a two pronged "C" shaped tool. Unlikely to fit under a JTD camshaft.
.

sounds like new mechanic is needed, has he reground valves in?

There is zero clearance at present - his response is to fit small shims and measure from there. Thus need to remove existing shims - fit smaller - measure - fit hopefully the right size ones, if not measure, etc.

buy why is there zero clearance? is it on all valves?

Mr Selvis said:

There is zero clearance at present - his response is to fit small shims and measure from there. Thus need to remove existing shims - fit smaller - measure - fit hopefully the right size ones, if not measure, etc.

Click to expand...

So why doesn't he remove the camshaft to fit the smaller shims?

Sounds like whoever is doing this job is trying to make it more complicated than necessary.
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