Valve Shim Kit ?

[Locky]

Where can I get one from ? In the UK .

[WeeStromer]

this company seem to have them.

http://www.zoomfactory.co.uk/valve-shimming-info.asp

they do have an evil bay shop.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VALVE-SHIM-KIT-7-48mm-Honda-Yamaha-Suzuki-Kawasaki-/330841023544?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item4d07a96438

Mine need checking, but I keep putting it off. I'll have to them before ST6.

What are you using to measure your sims?
I've seen this, what do you think?

http://www.louis.de/_10bac3ee61ab6a0507324853c15e1ad891/index.php?topic=artnr&artnr=10003844

[greywolf]

Look for a refill kit rather than a standard shim kit. A standard kit will contain 1.20mm to 3.50mm and only three of each size. A refill kit with 1.50mm to 1.75mm shims will probably cover all your needs for less money and have more of each size you'll actually need. Any 7.48mm shim set is all you'll need and many bikes use them, including many Hondas.

[hookie]

There's loads on Ebay, either full kits or individual sizes so you could make up a specific kit for your own bike if you know what shims are already in it. You'll probably need a micrometer to measure them as you remove and replace them. They should have sizes on them but don't always. It's probably better to buy a good quality used one such as a Moore & Wright rather than a cheap new one made in someone's garden shed in China. Make sure you get a Metric one and not an Imperial one!

[Locky]

Not sure on the quality of that micrometer Weestrommer !
I think I'm going to make my own shim kit up , it looks the cheaper option .
Ill be asking more questions before I start doing them ..

[greywolf]

If you want to go the cheap route, get some fine grit wet or dry sandpaper and a small piece of plate glass. When valve clearances get out of spec, they close up. Wet sand the shim needing to be thinned by running it it a figure eight pattern over the paper on glass with your finger tip. There have been warnings about compromising the case hardening of the shim that way but I've only read about successes using the method, never a failure.

[Locky]

If you want to go the cheap route, get some fine grit wet or dry sandpaper and a small piece of plate glass. When valve clearances get out of spec, they close up. Wet sand the shim needing to be thinned by running it it a figure eight pattern over the paper on glass with your finger tip. There have been warnings about compromising the case hardening of the shim that way but I've only read about successes using the method, never a failure.

Yes I've already thought of this method , but its to much faff for me . Juvecu done his this way and said he'd renew shims next time due to the time it takes .

[greywolf]

I have the same opinion. Making your own shims sounds like a lot more work though.

[Locky]

Is it OK to re-use the cam cover gaskets ?

[greywolf]

Reuse is typical unless you get really clumsy and tear the old one. A very small amount non hardening sealer on the half moon section, especially where it joins the straight section, is advised. Use some solvent on the head in that area to allow the sealant to stick.

[Andy M]

Case hardening to the full spec is usually only tens of microns thick but the first mm or so where the case meets the base material usually gets harder too. I have no plans to open a Wee motor, but on the Bonneville where the shim sat on a cup that rotated I'd see no issues so long as the ground surface sat on the fixed joint.

I'd get a digital display micrometer BTW, seen loads of mistakes where the Vernier scale got too much hassle to read after a few readings and if you don't use one every day...... The Chinese ones are IMHO OK. We use them at work on the basis that when they arrive they are fine and they stay in calibration for 6 months. They then go off, but it's cheaper and easier to bin one than get someone to calibrate Japanese or European kit and have it out of the building for weeks. Any micrometer you'll only use for valve shims wants storing c00l (as in 20 degrees C), dry and part open otherwise after a year it's just a weak G-clamp.

Andy

[Locky]

Well just took delivery of a complete shim kit , I couldn't get a refill kit in the UK .

[WeeStromer]

where did you get the kit from locksmith? mine are due to be checked, but I keep putting it off. TIA

[Greggio]

I would just check the gaps on the valves first. on all the Suzuki lt and ltr quads I've owned and re-shimmed myself which are pretty much the same I've found that exhaust shim 1 might replace exhaust shim 2 therefore you only need to get one shim etc you might only need 3 shims to do them all or you might need all 8 but its worth stripping down and checking first. Have fun  

[hookie]

When you've done the whole job once and kept a record of what shims are installed, the next time you do it it's easy to work out exactly what shims you will need just by measuring the clearances before taking the cams out.