Need a cheap valve shim tool. alternatives?

[Dark Jedi]

Just to be clear, when you use a magnet on the shims it magnetizes them, and as has been stated this is not a good thing. It's a good idea to test any metal tool to make sure it hasn't picked up magnetism anywhere (see if it picks up metal filings or not). If you bike is currently running with magnetized shims, you might want to replace them, but then the cams may have picked some up too. I'm betting you could demagnetize the whole shootin' match with a degaussing tool, as used in recording studios. You should be able to pick one up in a decent music store, I forget what I payed for mine but probably under $50. Just go over any metel parts the magnet may have gotten close to, you don't have to worry about damaging fragile recording heads . Just make sure the unit is well away from anything you don't want magnetized when you turn it off. Just my $.02.

But watch what tool you have...

We had two tools in the Cal lab. A degausser and and inductive heater.

They looked identical. One demagnetized items, one caused items to heat up very hot very quickly.

Lets just say the wrench I was demagentizing left a heck of a burn.

[10yeareer]

After I posted the post with the excerpt from my DRZ manual, I got on bike bandit and looked at the parts diagram to see if the design is different. It appears that the DRZ is "shim under bucket" where as the GS is "bucket under shim" maybe thats why it is ok to use a magnet with the DRZ.

[Hotblack]

Hey that sounds like a neat tool, the inductive heater. Won't find too many of those in a recording studio.... I think I see a great opportunity for a practical joke! They look -identical- you say?

Shim under Bucket could account for the difference. I guess the shim is thoroughly tucked away in that case.

[Dark Jedi]

Hey that sounds like a neat tool, the inductive heater. Won't find too many of those in a recording studio.... I think I see a great opportunity for a practical joke! They look -identical- you say?

Shim under Bucket could account for the difference. I guess the shim is thoroughly tucked away in that case.

Homemeade ones look identical.

Unless there is ferrous metal in whatever you put in the inductor, you get nothing. (Maybe some of the other magnetic metals, like nickel?)

If there is magnetic metal, be prepared for a meltdown of any plastics!

[KennyJ]

Just ordered on from the local Yamaha dealer for the FJ. It is aftermarket and is to be used on many bikes, but the picture is identical to the Yamaha tool, $14.95 plus tax (8.1% in Spokane). Should be here tomorrow.

As for the magnet, that is what the Yamaha FJ1100/1200 manual call for to remove the shims.

Kenny

[Hotblack]

Oh recording heads have ferrous metal in them, and some have plastic too. Ahhhh I could never pull such a joke, the heads are so expensive. I did put a teacher's piano on its side once, I think he's still getting over that one.

[Anonymous]

The shims are made of tool steel and highly susceptable to magnetizm. Magnetizm is bad in a motor. Just look at your magnetized oil drain plug after one oil change. Not to mention loosing the shim at high rpm! I would want to de-magnetize them quickly. Any place that grinds tools would have a de-magnetizer.