Valve shim is smaller diameter

[Guest]

No dealer had the 2.60 valve shim I needed. So I ended up using an after market shim. It is noticeably smaller in diameter. I'm guessing about 1mm. I measured my factory shim, and it was 29.47. When I pointed out the difference to the guy, he said all they sell is 20mm,,,I think.

So to the point. I now have a pretty good rattle there. Could the smaller shim be the cause, slopping around in the bucket. Or do I just have a loose clearance. Is it worth tearing back into. Thanks.

[tkent02]

It's a smaller diameter shim for the Kawasaki engines. Get it out of your engine before very expensive things get broken.

[Quick Cal]

It's a smaller diameter shim for the Kawasaki engines. Get it out of your engine before very expensive things get broken.

Thank you Sir. I thought something wasn't right with that much noise. I rode it about 5 mile's. I hope I didn't hurt anything.

[tkent02]

If it didn't go, "Snap, Crackle and POP" followed by a very loud silence you probably got away with it.

[Guy]

That's a kawasaki shim, and it's 29mm diameter as opposed to the 29.5mm suzuki ones.
I rode with one of them for about 6000 miles and it didn't hurt anything, maybe I was lucky.
It'd probly be better to swap it out rather than risk it being spat out and causing extensive damage.

[Jonzilla]

Same thing happened to me but the other way around. Cursing and wondering why this shim just would not fit in my Kawisaki.

[Quick Cal]

Well I just pulled it all back apart. The Suzuki dealer also gave me some that was smaller. I have a total of 3 that I'm going to change. Now I just have to drive a hour to get them.

[Nessism]

Yet another reason to never trust a dealer.

[Quick Cal]

Well I went after a 2.60 shim. The dealer says he has one. I get there, and it's a 2.60x,,,meaning it's bigger. It measures out at 2.63. I can't get my .04mm gauge in there, but the shim spins. I had a 2.60 that was the too small in diameter in there, and had .06mm clearance. Perfect. So I figure I have .03 now. But this is kinda guessing. Also, this is an exhaust valve, which I've read is better to run loose than tight. And all the rest of my valve's are in the .06-.08 range.

Is it worth the effort to drive 60 miles to get the right shim. What I'm worried about is that one valve needing adjusted before all the rest.

[hampshirehog]

In theory if everything has been measured accurately you should have .03mm clearance - but you can't check it as the thinnest feeler gauge you have is .04mm.

Up to you - but do you want to risk running with what is theoretically a safe clearance or an actually measured safe clearance. I would do the latter. You could buy a .03mm feeler gauge of course.

[apopleptic]

join the shim club.
I just sent him two 2.60 shims. (one was 2.58 maybe) and I know they work in a Suzuki cause I just pulled them out of one

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=122394&highlight=shim+club

[Quick Cal]

I knew the not knowing exactly what I had in there would drive me nuts. So I took the drive.

[earlfor]

I knew the not knowing exactly what I had in there would drive me nuts. So I took the drive.

Good decision. Its always better to do what ever it takes to do it right, because if you don't, you will never rest easy.

Earl