Valve shim placeholder

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  • raygun
    • Jan 2026
    #1

    Valve shim placeholder

    I've searched this forum high and low and found some posts specifying that coins can be used as placeholders for shims while the engine is off. I need to remove 4 shims and exchange them with a local shop and move the other 4 to other locations. Can I really use a quarter in place of a shim while rotating the motor with a wrench? I'm not feeling great about trying without some reassurance. Thanks.

    1982 Suzuki gs1100gl for those who want to know.
    Tags: None
    • tkent02
      Forum LongTimer
      Past Site Supporter
      • Jan 2006
      • 35571
      • Near South Park
      #2
      It just keeps the edge of the cam lobe from scraping on the edge of the bucket. I haven't tried it because I have a huge selection of shims but people say it's fine.
      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

      Life is too short to ride an L.

        Comment

        • Tim Tom
          #3
          Probably easier just to buy the shims from the shop. They shouldn't be much more than $1-$2 per shim. Then you can start your own collection of them. You will need more in the future anyways. Hell the one time I had to get a shim (that I didn't already have in my drawer) from the bike shop, they just gave it to me for free. They had a giant box of em in their shop, and very few bikes that they work on use them anymore.

            Comment

            • raygun
              #4
              Good point. I'll try that first

                Comment

                • Guest
                  #5
                  Not sure where Tim Tom is finding shims that cheap, but I want to shop there.

                  Yes, you can use a quarter. Don't plan on dropping the coin into a machine any time in the future, but it will spend OK over the counter.
                  Yeah, they get messed up a bit, but it's better to mess up a coin than your cam.

                  Usually, the best deal on shims is about $6 each at Z1, unless you go for the virtually free shim swap at the GSR Shim Club.

                    Comment

                    • raygun
                      #6
                      The local guy here sold me 4 for 10 bucks after I was there for half an hour with a pair of calipers. Those numbers were rubbed off on most of them. But I'm glad I asked anyway, good to know I can use a quarter just in case.

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                        • tkent02
                          Forum LongTimer
                          Past Site Supporter
                          • Jan 2006
                          • 35571
                          • Near South Park
                          #7
                          Suzuki dealers used to swap them with you for free. Some still do, although others will try to charge $25 apiece for them.
                          http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

                          Life is too short to ride an L.

                            Comment

                            • seanarthurmachado
                              #8
                              When mine were done a quarter was used during the swap.

                              A couple minor scratches on the quarter but no issues. (I believe I used it a few days later in the soda machine at work.)

                              Sean

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