What the deal with valve shims?!

[twr1776]

Today, 03:08 PM bwringer Eh, it only takes about 10 years of rabid riding to accumulate enough shims to deal with most possible shim situations...

Or you could move to Indiana, between Indy (BWringer) and NW Indiana (Me) we probably have 100 various shims.

Seriously though I have seen OEM shim kits mis-listed on e-bay go for $ 35.00 and once you know what sizes you have in each bucket and current clearance size you can pretty much guess what you will need the next time you adjust them. They also tend to change less as your mileage goes up on the motor.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I like my little shim collection. Lynn has a huge collection. All the "2-valvers" local to me trade shims like we used to trade baseball cards when we were kids. It's fun. It's part of the "community" feeling.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[ddaniels]

And get yourself a good set of calipers to measure the thicknessess of the shims. They are supposed to be marked on the back side what thickness they are in millimeters. But sometimes that gets worn off. Sometimes they've been worn down so that the marked thickness is no longer correct. Or, they may have been mismarked.

The pounding is most severe where the edge of the valves hits the seat of the head. After time, either the valve or the valve seat wears causing the distance between there and where the rocker contacts the shim to change. This causes the valve to not seat all the way over time. Not only will this burn the valve, but it will also decrease compression, lowering your power ouput. So, don't ovelook the needed periodical check/adjustment if you want your engine to last and last and last. It's really not hard to do if you follow the tutorial.

[mike10]

Ok

The shim and bucket GS valve train is supremely durable. One of the best characteristics of the engines in my opinion. Unfortunately, some owners can't be bothered with doing maintenance, particularly valve adjustments, so my supposition is that lots of GS's die a horrible death with burnt valves. Darn shame really since a properly cared for GS will run 100,000+ miles, but without valve adjustments the engine will die in just a fraction of that.

Now I feel guilty, I need to check the valves on my gs500f. Its been done twice in 15,000 miles.

[recycled64]

[QUOTE=Adler;1243250]The PO mentioned that the head gasket had recently been replaced, Im hoping that means the valves were adjusted also, but I'm waiting on his reply to my recent email to see about whether this needs to be done or not... might just do it anyways.

PO's frequently confuse or misrepresent valve cover gaskets for head gaskets.

[tkent02]

Just about every bike I buy, the valves are too tight. Neglect. Mostly the owner quit riding it when it lost compression, some mechanic told him X amount of dollars to rebuild the engine, and it sits. Years. I buy it, adjust the valves, the compression comes up, ride it a week or so, the compression is normal. Once in a while I get one with a burnt valve.

They will all be burnt if they are neglected long enough.

Spend an hour or two checking the valves once in a while. Good stuff.

[Steve]

If you get a 16 valve model, you don't have to deal with shims...just lock nuts and adjusting screws...

But you STILL have to adjust the valves, ...

and you have twice as many.

.

[motorcyclebaby]

I got a bruise on my shim! Oh wait, i mean shin.

So, i have an 83 550e.

My bike is guzzling gas

Oh... Z1 ENTERPRISES! Not motorsports. www.z1enterprises.com

There they are. Hmm. The set is still a lot.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

You don't need to buy a whole set. The larger ones you can't use anyway. I just keep track of my shims and clearances and then order ahead the two or three shims I might need for my next adjustment.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[bwringer]

I got a bruise on my shim! Oh wait, i mean shin.

So, i have an 83 550e.

My bike is guzzling gas

Oh... Z1 ENTERPRISES! Not motorsports. www.z1enterprises.com

There they are. Hmm. The set is still a lot.

Ummm... your bike doesn't use valve shims.

You have screw-and-locknut valve adjusters. 16 of 'em.

[Adler]

Also, why did you revive a VERY old thread to talk about something that is off topic...???

[Allie]

Shimto, 'the way of eight valves', is the ancient Japanese religion of valve maintenance. Learn it. Practice it. Love it.

[motorcyclebaby]

Ummm... your bike doesn't use valve shims.

You have screw-and-locknut valve adjusters. 16 of 'em.

That's what i thought from reading this thread, but the haynes manual is telling me to use shims!

grrr.

[motorcyclebaby]

Also, why did you revive a VERY old thread to talk about something that is off topic...???

Valve shims are off topic? Because I have to adjust my valves. And because I followed newbie suggestions and searched for answers before starting a new thread. Old information isn't old when your bike is older.

[BassCliff]

Originally Posted by motorcyclebaby
I got a bruise on my shim! Oh wait, i mean shin.

So, i have an 83 550e.

My bike is guzzling gas

Oh... Z1 ENTERPRISES! Not motorsports. www.z1enterprises.com

There they are. Hmm. The set is still a lot.

Ummm... your bike doesn't use valve shims.

You have screw-and-locknut valve adjusters. 16 of 'em.

Hence the value of starting your own thread rather than hijacking someone else's thread. It can lead to confusion. Especially mine.

In the later years, the 550 went to 16 valve TSCC engines like the rest of the GS line.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff