I did mine, first timer, took me less than an hour. Most of the time was spent getting other stuff out of the way so I could get at the plug. I did mine through the side. VERY easy. Not at all as bad as it seemed from the pictures and warnings. Just have a good pencil magnet handy. Everything lifts out simple.

 

I haven't heard where there wasn't any shims but I know myself and others have found that there was one side that had less than the other side. Freaked me out when I seen this, I thought had dropped a shim. Found out I wasn't the first one this happened to.

 

If the shims could be from anything, to mismatched, to none.... what are they for? And if it's done for balance. Wouldn't the kit make things unbalanced, which would eventually cause some sort of problem in the long run?

 

The way I understand it is the idle springs is for idle and low rpm range. I have not heard of anyone seeing an unbalance of shims with the idle spring. The other shims are for balancing the springs, the smaller springs, that are used in governing the high rpm spectrum. The shims are for balancing I believe the height of the springs and not so much the spring rate therefore when the height is matched there is a balance when they start compressing due to the increasing centrifugal force caused by engine rpm. The higher staring torque single phase electric motors use the same principle to open the start winding circuit when the motor reaches approx. 75% of rpm.

I believe most governor spring kits will have better matching springs most of the time. I know of one diesel shop that measures spring height to get the springs as closely matched before installing. Only real world driving will let you know how close the spring are matched.

If I am thinking wrong here some one please chime in.

 

i never seen one with out shims either, nor have i ever seen any issues after changing the govern spring,

well i take that back, after i changed the govern springs, sometimes i do have to bump up the idle 200rpms or so. but as far as that, nothing else.

 

My truck idles fine but the issue that I have been dealing with is governor bounce while pulling a heavy trailer. It can cause a jerking similar to a weak throttle return spring.

 

bump it up? every set I have put in I have to set the idel down a little

 

yes bump it up, idle would be down to about 500rpm

 

sure you gave the springs enough clicks?

 

I had to adjust the idle down as well.