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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: red_phil on July 04, 2006, 03:34:58 AM

Title: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: red_phil on July 04, 2006, 03:34:58 AM
Hi All.
My local Suzuki Stealership has gone fun bags up earlier this year.
I now need to get some valve shims.

Question is; Do I need specific Suzuki GS500 shims or are they a standard size?
I have a few local bike garages, but none of them are suzuki dealers and hence they don't carry a stock of Suzuki parts.

I was hoping that some other bikes out there use the same size shims so I could get those.
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: jsamaniego on July 04, 2006, 05:36:50 AM
I heard that Triumph bikes use the same diameter shims (29,5 mm).
Never checked it personally, so take it as a MAY BE...

my 2 cents ...
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: MarkusN on July 04, 2006, 06:20:45 AM
According to this page: http://www.procycle-online.com/hotcams/valve_shims.htm

29.5 are pretty generic for suzukis, but not for other brands.
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: The Buddha on July 04, 2006, 06:47:09 AM
Get the kit, It has plenty of shims ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: red_phil on July 04, 2006, 08:17:37 AM
Thanks.
I guess I'll ask the local garages if they'll order them in, even though the aren't a Suzuki specialist.

The kit might be a problem as I'm in Scotland, I don't believe there is a UK kit.
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: scratch on July 04, 2006, 10:08:35 AM
The kits should be useable internationally.  29.5mm is indigineous to Suzuki, no other maker uses them.
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: corndog67 on July 04, 2006, 12:04:22 PM
Personally, I would use stock Suzuki shims.  There's no telling what kind of material the others are made of, especially if they are cheap chinese copies.  You wouldn't want those things getting soft on you at 8,000 rpm, things could get real expensive. 
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: sledge on July 04, 2006, 03:49:23 PM
Phil?
Give these people a call, they are regarded by many as the best place in the UK to source `difficult` Suzuki spares. I have used them many times never had a problem. About 5yrs ago they had no problems finding parts for my then 20 yrs old GT250 Ramair. Downside is you have to pay carriage. If its any consolation my local Suzuki dealer also went `Pop` late last year, nearest is now 32 miles away so I buy the majority of my spares on-line now
http://www.suzuki-spares.co.uk/start.htm
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: rangerbrown on July 04, 2006, 08:13:40 PM
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on July 04, 2006, 06:47:09 AM
Get the kit, It has plenty of shims ...
Cool.
Srinath.

100$ for 18 shims what is a f%$king rip off
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: veeref on July 04, 2006, 09:42:46 PM
Quote from: rangerbrown on July 04, 2006, 08:13:40 PM
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on July 04, 2006, 06:47:09 AM
Get the kit, It has plenty of shims ...
Cool.
Srinath.

100$ for 18 shims what is a f%$king rip off

That's like $5.55 a piece.. that's about average what the dealers here charge per shim.
Title: Re: How 'Generic' are our valve shims?
Post by: tealetm on July 05, 2006, 04:57:48 PM
The shims in my triumph are 25mm- which reversely were the equivalent of "old suzuki shims".  Not sure which type of suzuki though.

A shim is a shim- they shouldn't wear faster than you check it anyway.