Valve Adjust: How do I get the Shims out?

[Dougieb]

Adjusting the valves on a 1972 Spider.
Everything was going well.....

I am able to turn the motor with no problems.
I bought a valve adjust tool and can get it in position with no problems.

The problem I am having is prying the valve shims out.
A couple have just popped out easily.
Most do not want to come out.
I am using my air compressor to spray in the slot to relieve the hydrolic tension.
I can get something in there to pry the shim up, but they seem to want to get crooked in the cups and will not budge.
I can get one edge up but not pull up the shim evenly.
I am resistant to put much force on them. (not sure if I could even if I wanted to)

Any suggestions?
Hints?
Should I stand on the other foot?
Please let me "in the club" and tell me what I need to do.

Thanks,
Dougieb

[So Cal Mark]

I use a pick to pry them up, then needle nose pliers to pull them out

[Dougieb]

I've tried that.
But some of them are soooooo tight that I am afraid that the pick might break.
But I guess what you are telling me is that there is no secret.
Just pry them out any way I can.

OK.
Will try to pry.

[focodave]

You've got to make absolutely sure that the valve adjustment tool is sitting on the tappet in just the right position. It is easy to have the tool positioned so that one of the sides of the tool is too far over to one side or another, blocking the shim from being able to come out.
It only takes a very, very slight off-alignment, side to side, to have an interference issue between the tool and the shim.

[narfire]

All the above are true.
I use an awl or pick as mentioned with an extendable magnet attached to the shim. The shim can, and for me have, slid back under the cam and are a bit of a pain to remove. It the pick is not sharp enough, a few seconds on a grinder to get it sharp helps with a VERY light tap to help get under it.
Have fun with #4 exhaust

[Dougieb]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I have a pick that works fine.
Just need to put enough muscle behind it.

One more question.....
How in the heck do you get the #4 exhaust shim out?
You were right, Narfire.
I can not even get my tool up in there.
The distributor is cam driven (I believe) and will not let me get up in there.
Fortunately, that valve is adjusted correctly, so I am just asking for future reference.

Thanks again.

[narfire]

It's been a while, gut I think I have the shim tool on edge and get one fork down then rotate and then the other fork.
regardless it is a pain.