Valve shim tool

[the mole]

Just found that Bikebandit doesn't stock them any more, so I'm going to make my own.
Could someone please post/link to/email me a picture of one, or even better could you trace around one and send a picture of that. The pic needs to include a measurement of the length so I can scale it correctly.
email: david.julian57@yahoo.com.au

Thanks!

[black and silver twin]

Kawasaki KZ1000 shim tools work great on the gs, ive used them twice now and have had no problems at all. tweezers help alot too.

[Asym]

Got mine off ebay a while ago, works fine and was around $20 shipped. Just searched and the seller still has them http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Valve-Shim-Tool-Suzuki-GS550-GS750-GS850-GS1100-XJ600-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ390023688560QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[twocool]

I just bought one from dennis kirk........was like $15 plus shipping..........

For me it would not be worth making one.......

Cookie

[the mole]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'd still like to make one though as it would be quicker and I've got more time than money at the moment!

[twocool]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'd still like to make one though as it would be quicker and I've got more time than money at the moment!

If you search the internet you will find a pretty detailed photo of the tool.  Try "Motion pro"

For scale.....The tool is 4-1/2 inches long, from the tip of the handle to the tip of the business end.........measured diagonally.

The tool is 1/4 inch in thickness at the handle

You're goning to have to get the "details" of the business end from the photo and / or trial and error.

Even when you use the "factory" tool, it sometimes slips off the valve........search the video made by the guy in Utah.....google videos.....

The tool seems to be made from a sand casting......

I could make you an accurate CAD drawing..........but I would charge about 10x the cost of the tool....LOL

If you have no $$$  ......You can adjust the valves without any tool at all...many guys do it this way......just loosen the cam shaft.....I think some also just use a screwdriver to push down the valve....eeeech!

More time than money?....been there....always there....but....If you don't have $15 for the tool, how are you gonna buy the shims?   


Cookie

[Pigeonroost]

If you search the internet you will find a pretty detailed photo of the tool.  Try "Motion pro"
For scale.....The tool is 4-1/2 inches long, from the tip of the handle to the tip of the business end.........measured diagonally.
The tool is 1/4 inch in thickness at the handle
You're goning to have to get the "details" of the business end from the photo and / or trial and error.
Even when you use the "factory" tool, it sometimes slips off the valve........search the video made by the guy in Utah.....google videos.....

Cookie

I think my copy came form Dennis Kirk, too.  Its not rocket science and when you study how it works/fits it would not be hard to improvise.  In Kerry's video, he had trouble with it slipping off a lot, but I was lucky and it worked just like it should have.

prs

[the mole]

If you have no $$$  ......You can adjust the valves without any tool at all...many guys do it this way......just loosen the cam shaft.....I think some also just use a screwdriver to push down the valve....eeeech!

More time than money?....been there....always there....but....If you don't have $15 for the tool, how are you gonna buy the shims?   
Cookie

Yeah, I'm planning on grinding a bit off the shim if I need to, or just adding a bit of alfoil under it if the gap's too big.










Actually, I'm not that broke but it would be quicker to make one than wait for postage from the USA. I can swap shims at the local shop. Last time I did it with two screwdrivers, but its very fiddly and would be easy to damage something.
Thanks for your help!

[epoxy.guy]

Does anyone know where I can get one shipped to Canada?  The one noted above only shipped within the USA.

[twocool]

Does anyone know where I can get one shipped to Canada?  The one noted above only shipped within the USA.

I know why..........I manufacture a small part used on airplanes.....sells for $40.........Got an order form canada.....

Got a check for $40 Canadian.........my bank hit me with a heafty fee, and the customer's bank did the same, then there was and exchange fee, and then the exchange rate.............So I lost money in the transaction, and the customer won't pick up the difference........customer ended up paying like $68 for the $40 part..........both me and my customer are now really pissed off at each other..............I will never ship anything to Canada again!

Cookie

[johnny ro]

I have bike bandit one and its inferior "in use" to a tie wrap inserted into spark plug hole to hold valve open after rotating crank. Using tie wrap you have complete lack of items up top where you are trying to take measurements and remove/replace shims. I would not stick metal down in there, being somewhat clumsy and well I have lots of tie wraps.

Why not switch your machining attention to handle bar risers or ignition advance kits or some other thing thats useful and not made redundant by $0.02 cent item? 

[ameen]

I used to use the tie wrap method on my old gs550, but it didnt work so well for me on the 500.  What i did was rotate the cam so it pushed the valve down, put an allen key underneath so that it only contantec the bucket and then rotated the cam so that the lobe lifted off the shim.  This wokred great for me; no wedging and slipping.

BUT>>>>you must be carful on the order that you do this so that the you dont open the other valve while having one wegded open. They will hit and they will get bent!!! so use at your own peril.

[Nuss]

BUT>>>>you must be carful on the order that you do this so that the you dont open the other valve while having one wegded open. They will hit and they will get bent!!! so use at your own peril.

I can vouch for that haha...i love 8+ hr valve adjustments jobs.  Took me forever just to realize i bent the valve...

[moosehead28]

I can also vouch for that, only my valve broke right off, 20 min job turned into a head off, replacement valve and about 200 dollars worth of parts

[the mole]

Makes a valve tool look cheap eh?

[viggen]

I was able to do a shim change pretty handily with a pair of screwdrivers (thanks GSjack!)  One to lever the bucket down, the other between the camshaft and the bucket to hold it open.  Tweezers are the most important part.  It's tough to grab those exhaust valves!

Good luck!  I searched this site and got a suggestion for a place that sells cheap valve shims. 
I might be able to find that later.  A search might find it..

[gsJack]

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