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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Clutchup210 on February 17, 2015, 04:25:57 PM

Title: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Clutchup210 on February 17, 2015, 04:25:57 PM
2-3 weeks ago, did valve clearance check...

Lost where I recorded the actual clearances, but I know I need 2.40 2.50 & 2.55 shims.

I've called every shop in the state of Texas, and eventually ordered them online, only to be called back 2 weeks later to be told they're on backorder for 2 years...  :bs:

Can someone shed some light on how I obtain these apparently unicorn/Sasquatch hybrid of a metal disk?
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Iarn on February 17, 2015, 04:40:34 PM
Which site have you ordered them online from? I just ordered two size 250 shims for my GS500 off Bikebandit.com. Also, most motorcycle dealers that have a parts department can order them for you. I know a local place here in Louisiana that can get them no problem. You could give them a call and see if they'd mail them to your place.

If you're interested in that I'll give you their contact information.
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Clutchup210 on February 17, 2015, 04:52:06 PM
it was through a shop, so their supplier.. I want to say KTR(?)

Through Bikebandit, if I'm looking at http://www.bikebandit.com/oem-parts/2006-suzuki-gs500f-camshaft-valve/o/m9752sch510169 (http://www.bikebandit.com/oem-parts/2006-suzuki-gs500f-camshaft-valve/o/m9752sch510169) then its 22-6, 22-8, 22-9... are those the prices per shim?  :sad:

~$40 for 3 shims seems a bit insane, but I suppose its better than the $200 job...
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Iarn on February 17, 2015, 05:00:58 PM
Yeah, shims for this bike are pretty pricey as far as shims go, in my experience. They are Suzuki shims, though. I'm pretty sure using any other brand isn't a good idea. They'll last a long time before you have to adjust again, if ever. for $40, not so shabby, imo.
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: rg500gamma on February 17, 2015, 06:41:10 PM
Hi all ,  repeat  do not use aftermarket shims , only genuine suzuki shims ,  bikebandit  excellect  parts service , I use them all the time , kind regards  rg500gamma
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Old Mechanic on February 17, 2015, 07:04:01 PM
Use cheap Chinese made shims and you will need a motor when they break.

regards
mech
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Soloratov on February 17, 2015, 07:08:25 PM
Call these guys. It's my local shop, they have shims or can get them. ALWAYS been very, very good to me. Ask for Andy. Pretty sure they would ship them.

http://www.canandaiguamotorsports.com/
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: J_Walker on February 17, 2015, 07:17:30 PM
don't buy the K&N shims!! there's a few guys on here that have had them CRACK and go flying off into the engine... one of them had mentioned a lawsuit of some sort.. but I don't know if that went anywhere.
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Snake2715 on February 20, 2015, 05:48:49 AM
I may have them sitting here. I can check this weekend. Pm me if interested.
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: The_Paragon on February 20, 2015, 08:28:12 AM
Yeah, I'm still waiting on K&L shims, I filed a warranty claim with them, send them a bill for $1300 and some dollars for repair costs of replacing my engine after 2 valve shims broke up raised heck with the internals.

Its been a 6+ month process so far. And it isnt getting anywhere.

Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: J_Walker on February 20, 2015, 08:51:53 AM
I just checked, I have a 2.55..
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: MeeLee on March 01, 2015, 08:16:37 PM
How many miles you got on yours, that you feel the need to replace them?
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Janx101 on March 02, 2015, 12:48:53 AM
Miles/kilometres makes a difference?..  I thought the valve clearance check that was done might just provide the info needed to require change?
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: mennobike on March 02, 2015, 07:20:37 AM
No no no, janx, come on! Clearances aren't the issue, shims age like everything else, and are a periodic change. Personally, just to be safe, I change them each time I change my oil.   :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: gsJack on March 02, 2015, 07:52:57 AM
I've changed 10 shims doing 22 valve checks putting 180k miles on 2 GSs and measured each shim that was removed with a quality micrometer and have not found any shim wear yet.  Exhaust valves wear into their seats decreasing their gaps due to the excessive heat and tight Suzuki setting specs they are subjected to.

The 97 with 80k miles and the 02 with 100k miles on them still had the same intake valve shims that they came from the factory with, no shim changes required on the intakes.  After the exhaust valve gaps were set to the wider .003-.005" (.08-.13 mm)gaps at about 30k mileage on the 02 the exhaust valves went 10's of thousands of miles without shim changes.

The 97 bought new required it's first shim change at 39k miles and the 02 bought with about 4k miles on it required it's first shim change at 31k miles.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GSvalvelogs_zps55f27f5e.jpg
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: mennobike on March 02, 2015, 04:20:03 PM
Oh sorry Jack, I was being sarcastic... I've actually been doing research into and following threads on shim changes, I absolutely believe you that shims don't wear.
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: MeeLee on March 02, 2015, 06:44:04 PM
Actually, when you wait too long between valve adjustments, you can wear out the shims. Usually not from a single valve adjustment interval, but let's say you got 50k miles on your bike, and only done two or three valve adjustments, or an incorrect adjustment (too tight/loose) you might get some wear on them.
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Janx101 on March 02, 2015, 08:03:10 PM
Wish there was an icon for wry smile!
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: mennobike on March 02, 2015, 09:18:20 PM
+1 janx, I couldn't figure out which one to use  :technical:
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: gsJack on March 02, 2015, 10:30:45 PM
 :bs:
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: sledge on March 02, 2015, 11:34:07 PM
 :D :D :D......you would have to go some to see any significant wear on a shim
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Janx101 on March 03, 2015, 12:55:14 AM
Must be different for hypermiling folk who seek high end horsepower? !
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: MeeLee on March 03, 2015, 03:11:08 PM
Actually, it happens a lot on Chinese engines, sometimes after only 20k km (or about 13k miles).
Some users on this forum have experience with the lower quality shims. They do note that the Suzuki factory shims are noticeably of much higher quality though...
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Janx101 on March 03, 2015, 06:02:37 PM
Buy the Chinese cheap stuff and pay the extra dollars later eh?!
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: rg500gamma on March 03, 2015, 07:36:29 PM
Hi all , did you try  bikebandit  ?   bikebandit  can even get some  new  gas tanks  for much older bikes   :thumb: 
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: rg500gamma on March 03, 2015, 07:41:06 PM
Hi  all  ,  +1  Iarn on bikebandit  for parts   , bikebandit   got me rare  oem  ( I wanted only oem )  turn signal  stalks  for my  1990  ZX-7  kawasaki  ninja
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: mennobike on March 04, 2015, 02:57:06 AM
Bike bandit is good but sometimes expensive. Also janx you're forgetting the sarcasm indicator!  :bs:
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Janx101 on March 04, 2015, 03:09:06 AM
Oh... my bad! .. reckoned it was implied by content ... sorry... lol
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: sledge on March 04, 2015, 11:18:59 AM
Bikebandit will be using outfits like CMSNL to source old parts and then adding their cut onto the price.

Go direct  cut out the middleman and save some dosh.  :thumb:

http://www.cmsnl.com/ (http://www.cmsnl.com/)
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: rg500gamma on March 04, 2015, 06:31:05 PM
Hi all ,  yes  again to Sledge  +1   :thumb:  ,   the place he said  got me new genuine suzuki pistons and rings for my 1985 RG400 gamma ( stock bore  50mm) , and got me  new genuine suzuki  first over pistons and rings for my 1985 RG500 gamma . A  guy named Ralph got me  some new old stock of  genuine suzuki first oversize pistons and rings for RG400 gamma  from www.wemoto.com  note :  I bought up the rest of the pistons in 1st  &  2nd  oversize  for my RG400 gamma  , Ralph  at wemoto  is a fantastic person to deal with helping me get everything I wanted ,  I  say  "cheers Ralph"  come to california  "the drinks are on me "
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: spareparts329 on March 05, 2015, 03:25:46 PM
I use shims from JetsRUs. Those guys are great! I don't know who makes them, but they have the correct thickness and I haven't had any problems with them. I believe they were $7 per piece?
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: Malfruen on March 05, 2015, 05:33:19 PM
After reading all the horror stories online, I'll only use OEM shims bought from my dealer. I am the opitomy of spirited riding.
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: rg500gamma on March 17, 2015, 04:51:24 PM
Quote from: The_Paragon on February 20, 2015, 08:28:12 AM
Yeah, I'm still waiting on K&L shims, I filed a warranty claim with them, send them a bill for $1300 and some dollars for repair costs of replacing my engine after 2 valve shims broke up raised heck with the internals.

Its been a 6+ month process so far. And it isnt getting anywhere.
better  use  GENUINE  SUZUKI  SHIMS  !!!!
Title: Re: Can't find valve shims anywhere!
Post by: rg500gamma on March 17, 2015, 04:55:19 PM
Quote from: The_Paragon on February 20, 2015, 08:28:12 AM
Yeah, I'm still waiting on K&L shims, I filed a warranty claim with them, send them a bill for $1300 and some dollars for repair costs of replacing my engine after 2 valve shims broke up raised heck with the internals.

Its been a 6+ month process so far. And it isnt getting anywhere.
any questions on not using Genuine Suzuki Shims ?
Title: use genuine suzuki shims
Post by: rg500gamma on March 17, 2015, 05:01:57 PM
Quote from: The_Paragon on February 20, 2015, 08:28:12 AM
Yeah, I'm still waiting on K&L shims, I filed a warranty claim with them, send them a bill for $1300 and some dollars for repair costs of replacing my engine after 2 valve shims broke up raised heck with the internals.

Its been a 6+ month process so far. And it isnt getting anywhere.