Valve shims

[CA.XSer]

Just checked the valve clearances this morning and need some shims. The local dealer wants $11.00 apiece and Zanottis doesn’t have the sizes I need. I am not able to move any around to help out. Any other sources anyone knows of? I need 2-285 1-260 and 3-265 shims.

Thanks

[Ken Talbot]

Bike Bandit's on-line listing still shows stock available, but not for much less than the price you've already got. There is a link to them on the links page.

Another thought is to check around for an independent m/c repair shop (non-brand name
dealer) and have a chat directly with the mechanics. (Actually, this same
strategy might work at a dealership too if you can get past the parts
counter.) Usually, you'll find them willing to swap used shims from the
stock in their toolbox for what you need to replace. Cost often runs only
a couple of bucks each this way. You already know exactly which shims you need, so take the traders with you when you go to the shop.

[CA.XSer]

Thanks Ken
Will check out some shops around here. I think I will start a supply of my own shims if I can find some cheap enough!!

[xjguy]

YOU COULD ALWAYS TRY MY "BUSTED FLAT IN BATON ROUGE METHOD" IF WHEN YOU HAD MONEY YOU BOUGHT A MICROMETER.
MEASURE THE SHIM THICKNESS- THEN SET UP A SHEET OF SANDPAPER TAPED TO A THICK SHEET OF GLASS OR PLEXIGLASS.WORK THE SHIM BACK AND FORTH-CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE "MILLING " IT EVENLY.START WITH 200 PAPER AND WORK UP TO 1000. THIS WILL WORK IF YOU ONLY NEED TO INCREASE YOUR CLEARNCE .001" TO .002".- TAKES TIME AND NEED TO MEASURE AS YOU GO-I'M JUST GLAD I BOUGHT A MICROMETER 30 YEARS AGO AND KEPT UP WITH IT. OPINIONA ARE WELCOME. -HELPS TO USE WET PAPER.

[CA.XSer]

Does anyone know the dia. of the valve shims?

[xjguy]

DIAMETER

GARY' THEY ARE SMALLER AND THINNER THAN VW SHIMS-CAUSE I HAVE A WHOLE BOX OF THEM

[skids]

I think kawasaki shims are the correct diameter also, if you take them to a neighborhood shop to trade.

[REFFI]

An auotomotive (or other) machine shop may have various thicknesses of shim stock, should be able to measure your shim diameters and reproduce what you need. Cost? I don't know. My dad was a machinist/fittermillwright and worked with shim stock all the time. Used it to precisely level machinery.

Worth a shot.

[xssiveone]

Originally posted by CA.XSer
Does anyone know the dia. of the valve shims?

Just trying out my fancy new digital caliper and it says 29mm. If you are thinking of making your own, bear in mind that the originals are hardened. No idea what degree of hardness is used, but I would imagine that they are just surface hardened.

[Dennyz]

An option I have used on valves that where on the loose side, is to cut out round shims out of thin shim stock and place it between the lifter cap and harden shim.

Shim stock can be purchased in various thicknesses at NAPA.

I used this method to fine tune my valve adjustment.

[CA.XSer]

xssiveone

Thanks for the info. Just what I was looking for. I didn't want to take my valve cover off again to find out what dia. they were. I am not going to make my own. Found some places on the internet that sell shims but needed the dia.

Thanks again

[xssiveone]

You're welcome. And, please share the wealth about your source. I can get shims here for about $5Cdn each used, but another source is always good.

[CA.XSer]

Take a look at these sites. I haven't checked them out yet, only glanced at them.

http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Bran...ve%20shims.htm

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/valve_shims.htm

http://www.cyclewareables.com/pages/...valveshims.htm

http://www.justatv.com/pages/atv%20v...valveshims.htm

[Dennis Hansen]

Valve Shims

My locale Yamaha dealer here in town is more than willing to trade used valve shims with me. I take him my used shims, and the shim numbers that I need, and they trade me straight across. They say the shims don't wear, so keep your old ones for trading. I have parted out two xs750's, and they use the same shims as the xs1100's use. So the xs850 would also use the same shims. Another source for extra shims if you come across a 750/850 engine.