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    Shim now or shim later

    If you have determined what size shims you need then what? Where do you get them and what do you do with your bike while you are waiting for them. Do you guys order a set of shims first then check clearance?

    #2
    To measure is to know. Pop the valve cover, measure away, replace said valve cover (after all is perfectly clean with a new gasket, dry) and ride. Wait until the shims come in, remeasure and install where needed. Keep old shims in a freezer bag of 80w gear oil (labled for the bike, of course) and put things all back together. Resync carbs. Ride.

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      #3
      Originally posted by cadmandu View Post
      If you have determined what size shims you need then what? Where do you get them and what do you do with your bike while you are waiting for them. Do you guys order a set of shims first then check clearance?
      I allow a few days to a week of down time and pull the valve cover off first to check the clearances. You can then play shim shuffle and probably move a few around to get some right. Then you order them from Z1, or check your local dealer, or post here with sizes needed and what you have for trade to see if you can swap some. If this is your first valve adjustment on a GS then you probably don't have at least one spare to play the shim shuffle, so get your hands on one extra shim. Do NOT rotate the cam without a shim as this may cause scoring of the cam lobe and present a bigger problem.
      It's expensive to order a whole set of various size shims(whatever that is?) and in my experience, I've only needed 2 - 4 new sized shims on different 650G, 850G, and 1100G 8 valve bikes that I've done. If you have the 16 valve engine then this is a moot point, as they have adjuster screws and locknuts!

      EDIT: as Dave8338 noted you can do it that way, but usually you will need a new gasket, as the old one will probably come apart in pieces and you'll spend more time cleaning that up...and if you don't apply a little grease to both surfaces of the gasket, and are not carfeful upon removing the cover the second time with a new gasket, you may bugger up your new $20-25 valve cover gasket doing it twice. They are thin in parts and when you slide the cover out, make sure the gasket is either stuck to the head or to the valve cover as you slide it out. There really isn't a lot of room to lift it up and slide it out without hanging up on the cam chain area...and normally you'll have to remove the breather cover first (which also may require a new gasket)!
      Last edited by Guest; 07-23-2009, 12:14 PM.

      Comment


        #4
        Thanks for the feedback Larry and Mike

        I have a 82 GS650GL are their any particular sizes that I would need. I remember reading on one of these threads that you guys use 2.6o and 2.65 mm shims very often.
        Thanks

        I mean lurch and Dave it defaulted to Larry and Mike and I fell for it. Sorry
        Last edited by Guest; 07-23-2009, 12:06 PM.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by cadmandu View Post
          I have a 82 GS650GL are their any particular sizes that I would need. I remember reading on one of these threads that you guys use 2.6o and 2.65 mm shims very often.
          Thanks

          I mean lurch and Dave it defaulted to Larry and Mike and I fell for it. Sorry
          I wouldn't guess at what you'll need, but if you got a spare shim or 2, then I would get a 2.50 and a 2.55 shim, and probably get "lucky". If you're not lucky, and these are slightly small, then during your next adjustment 4-6k miles from now, you'll probably need them.

          Comment


            #6
            2.60 and 2.65 might be the most-used shims, but I would not order them just to be ready.

            With your luck your bike might need 2.75 or 2.50, so it would be wasted money. Better to do it as Dave suggested, measure, order, change.

            There are a couple of options for obtaining shims, as Lurch mentioned. There is a "shim swap club" on the board, I have no details on how that works (or how well it works). They are available at most dealers, but some dealers don't maintain a stock and will have to order them. Some dealers are nice enough to let you exchange with their used shims, maybe free, maybe for a nominal charge, but new shims from a dealer are usually $10-12. Since I have several GSs that I work on, either in my garage or not far away, I have decided to maintain my own supply. I have purchased a few from Z1, I have purchased a few from eBay, I have gotten some with a replacement head, and I have received a few donations. If you only have one bike to maintain (so far), you might not want or need such a supply, but definitely don't order any shims before you see what you need.

            May I also suggest that you look at the last line in my sig?

            .
            sigpic
            mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
            hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
            #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
            #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
            Family Portrait
            Siblings and Spouses
            Mom's first ride
            Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
            (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

            Comment


              #7
              I'd plan on the wait for them to arrive from Z1. Local dealer told me they had a good stock ready and waiting right until I turned up at their counter. First they pulled out 29.0mm shims so I rejected those. Then all of a sudden they were difficult to find, finally the chap admitted their systems said the last one they actually sold was 19 years ago! Having data that old in their new computerised systems is questionable anyway, but that's what he said.

              Beyond that the prices ranged from $6.50 to close to $20 per shim. Z1 is $5.28 across the board. I needed 7, for that money, I can wait!
              It's smoke that make electronic components work.
              Every time I've let the smoke out by mistake, they never work again.
              '80 GS250T... long gone... And back!
              '86 Honda Bol D'Or... very sadly long gone
              '82 GS1000SZ
              '82 GS1100GL
              '01 Honda CBR1100XX BlackBird

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Wallowgreen View Post
                .... I needed 7, for that money, I can wait!
                My local dealer has a box of these shims, not always the sizes I need, but great to deal with and swap with. Of course I buy other old GS stuff from them regurlarly and have gotten to know them.
                Are you sure you need to do 7 of the 8 valve with new shims? Maybe you can do the calculations again or use Steve's spreadsheet and whittle that down. As stated earlier, I've never needed to get more than 4 "new" shims on 3 different bikes, even with some dropping 2 sizes!....$6 per shim plus shipping x ? shims = $$$$

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by lurch12_2000 View Post
                  My local dealer has a box of these shims, not always the sizes I need, but great to deal with and swap with. Of course I buy other old GS stuff from them regurlarly and have gotten to know them.
                  Are you sure you need to do 7 of the 8 valve with new shims? Maybe you can do the calculations again or use Steve's spreadsheet and whittle that down. As stated earlier, I've never needed to get more than 4 "new" shims on 3 different bikes, even with some dropping 2 sizes!....$6 per shim plus shipping x ? shims = $$$$
                  Info posted in another thread but the dreaded PO fitted 29.0mm diameter shims in place of 29.5mm so the thickness was pretty inconsequential. Would have only needed 2 (if I remember right) based on clearance if not for that.
                  It's smoke that make electronic components work.
                  Every time I've let the smoke out by mistake, they never work again.
                  '80 GS250T... long gone... And back!
                  '86 Honda Bol D'Or... very sadly long gone
                  '82 GS1000SZ
                  '82 GS1100GL
                  '01 Honda CBR1100XX BlackBird

                  Comment


                    #10
                    There's just GOT to be a grubby old-school independent cycle shoppe somewhere around Pittsburgh that will stock these shims.

                    Maybe even a grubby, old-school GS rider who has accumulated a decent collection of shims.

                    Suzuki dealers are worse than useless, shim-wise. Even though there's a current model (GS500) that uses these shims, they never have them around.

                    "We kin order 'em!" Well, so can I, and for a lot less money.
                    1983 GS850G, Cosmos Blue.
                    2005 KLR685, Aztec Pink - Turd II.3, the ReReReTurdening
                    2015 Yamaha FJ-09, Magma Red Power Corrupts...
                    Eat more venison.

                    Please provide details. The GSR Hive Mind is nearly omniscient, but not yet clairvoyant.

                    Celeriter equita, converteque saepe.

                    SUPPORT THIS SITE! DONATE TODAY!

                    Co-host of "The Riding Obsession" sport-touring motorcycling podcast at tro.bike!

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by bwringer View Post
                      There's just GOT to be a grubby old-school independent cycle shoppe somewhere around Pittsburgh that will stock these shims.

                      Maybe even a grubby, old-school GS rider who has accumulated a decent collection of shims.

                      Suzuki dealers are worse than useless, shim-wise. Even though there's a current model (GS500) that uses these shims, they never have them around.

                      "We kin order 'em!" Well, so can I, and for a lot less money.
                      Now, now, there are beacons of light in the dealer world for these old GSes!...as I said before, I'm fortunate to deal with a dealer that is friendly, helpful, and more often than not, have what I need at equal to or less than on-line + shipping folks....have you considered moving to NH?
                      What's more important, family or GS parts?
                      ...and they even ordered after market replacement clutch springs for my Venture at much less than on-line , e-bay or the Venture forum!
                      And NO I don't work for them.

                      ...oh yeah, GS bikes fall from the sky like "manna from heaven" around here....just go outside and pick one up off the ground, and give it some love and care! In the winter, I look for big mounds under 3 ft of snow and dig them out to find them when I'm bored!
                      Last edited by Guest; 07-23-2009, 01:57 PM.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by cadmandu View Post
                        If you have determined what size shims you need then what? Where do you get them and what do you do with your bike while you are waiting for them. Do you guys order a set of shims first then check clearance?
                        Hi Mr. cadmandu,

                        The first time is a little less convenient (take measurements, order, wait, etc). But if you keep track of your clearances and shim sizes, the next time you can "guesstimate" the shims you'll need and order them ahead of time. On a "stable" engine you may need to change only one or two at a time. At my last valve check I didn't have to change any.

                        Thank you for your indulgence,

                        BassCliff

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by lurch12_2000 View Post
                          Now, now, there are beacons of light in the dealer world for these old GSes!...
                          You're lucky then. Round here the dealers have gotten to know me well. At least enough to shoot me that look like I'm something the cat dragged in. You can just see them thinking "here he comes again with some obscure question about obsolete junk"

                          One of them is kind of ok, tries to help, but always seems to come up short (or expensive). It's as much as I can do to walk through the door of the other (much closer) one to have a tire fitted to a wheel I've already removed.
                          It's smoke that make electronic components work.
                          Every time I've let the smoke out by mistake, they never work again.
                          '80 GS250T... long gone... And back!
                          '86 Honda Bol D'Or... very sadly long gone
                          '82 GS1000SZ
                          '82 GS1100GL
                          '01 Honda CBR1100XX BlackBird

                          Comment


                            #14
                            valve shims available

                            I have two sources for you. The first one is in the Minneapolis area. You can email him at lloydrivers1964@yahoo.com he claims to have thousands of them at $2.50 each. Just be sure to let him know they need to measure 29.5mm.

                            My other source is Cycle Parts of Lubbock, Tx. (806) 745-4447. I bought from him and had them within the second day of ordering. I think I got them the next day in fact. I called in the a.m. and I believe they arrived the next day with regular postage. Good price and quick shipping.

                            Good luck
                            Larry

                            '79 GS 1000E
                            '93 Honda ST 1100 SOLD-- now residing in Arizona.
                            '18 Triumph Tiger 800 (gone too soon)
                            '19 Triumph Tiger 800 Christmas 2018 to me from me.
                            '01 BMW R1100RL project purchased from a friend, now for sale.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Dave8338 View Post
                              To measure is to know.

                              Hmmmm, where have I heard that before?

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