Ok so I'm doing a valve adjustment on a Gs I have here.... (after test riding it and it being low on power with no carb issues etc..). Three of the 4 were tight.

I ordered the tool last Friday and got it Tuesday (Through my local dealer...cheaper than on Ebay too.....Good to be on the A list I guess..Heheh)...

FAST service...I'm psyched... I also got a 2.10 shim from the techs (free) .....I get my measurements then go back today and get the shims..... (also free for me..).

The gave me Yamaha shims or something...29 mm...not 29.5 mm diameter ... So I guess I get to make one more trip...(Half my fault as I didn't take my calipers...and the size is so close it can fool you by eye I guess....). I'll take my calipers next time.

They still rock. I do like my local dealer...

well make sure you bite them like pirates gold coins, they might be fakin ya!

Quote from: 94suzuki500 on December 13, 2006, 10:34:29 PM
well make sure you bite them like pirates gold coins, they might be fakin ya!

Well why not give a plug to a 'good' dealer so other locals near you know a place they can trust.

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR They be the wrong shims there matey !

Heh....

Dealer Plug:

Cycle World --  brooklyn park MD. I've been  a frequent flyer there for years.

one question about shims.  if the shims are all sized from the factory, what would cause the clearances to change?  i'm confused as to why a piece of metal is used to measure valve travel and not the lobes themselves.  if the cams were designed properly, wouldn't they no longer need shims?

also, Temecula only carries .215 to .255 shims.  how do i know ahead of time the sizes i need before taking the whole shebang apart?  can i get a set of shims in various sizes?  what's the diameter?

Search on google for 29.5mm valve shims.

Kinda like these
http://www.cyclepages.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=4023759

you can find them many places. Best price I have found is about 5 bucks a piece. local deler charges 10 a piece for OEM. Ronayers ells them 8 apiece but you have to pay shipping. be aware of that kits found cheaply run from $108 or so up to around $220 for an oem kit. If you can you will be better off just buying what you need because as the engine ages you will need thinner shims and will have no need for the thicker shims in a kit. Just my .02

As the valve beats against the valve seat in the combustion chamber it tulips and pulls further up into the head reducing the clearence between the cam lobes in the fully closed position. This can lead to a valve that never completely closes causing loss of compression and increased wear on the cam.

ah!  ok.  that makes sense. 
so i really do have to take the bike apart, check the clearances, get 3-4 shims in the ranges closest to what i need, and then put it all together again...

so, this ain't a quick fix.

[4

i have watched the video, but what i'm saying is there's no way to get an accurate measurement of the existing condition unless i rip the bike apart.

i guess my question is, are there any "typical" values that people like to stock up on before starting?  2.50, 2.45, 2.40??

250-275 are common sizes.
Cool.
Srinath.

Unless you "have to" ride your bike to pick them up, there is no reason you couldn't pop the tank and valve cover off, real quick like and check your clearances, note the shims needed, then run to the shop to pick them up.

Even if you HAD to ride you bike to pick them up, you could take it all apart and put it all back together with relative ease.

you watched the video. Kerry kept track of how long it took him from start to finish.

I don't mean to lecture, I actually hope I am of help.  I picked up six shims over lunch. 2.70mm, 2.50mm, 2.60mm, 2.75mm, 2.80mm, 2.70mm
Then engine I am working on has 15Kmi+. so I may need the 2.75mm, 2.80mm.

If you take anyones advice, I would go with Srinath's, He's the Man

ditto on Srinath.  actually, all you guys are very helpful.  i hope to one day be able to contribute as much.

my problem (and it really is my problem) is that i can really on work on the bike on weeknights and Sundays and no shops are open on Sundays.  my next Saturday off is the 17th, so maybe i'll have some luck then...

and there are no bike shops or machine shops in downtown Boston for me to do anything during the day...only SBUX and day spas.

Quote from: 3imo on March 01, 2007, 12:53:50 PM
Unless you "have to" ride your bike to pick them up, there is no reason you couldn't pop the tank and valve cover off, real quick like and check your clearances, note the shims needed, then run to the shop to pick them up.

Even if you HAD to ride you bike to pick them up, you could take it all apart and put it all back together with relative ease.

you watched the video. Kerry kept track of how long it took him from start to finish.

I don't mean to lecture, I actually hope I am of help.  I picked up six shims over lunch. 2.70mm, 2.50mm, 2.60mm, 2.75mm, 2.80mm, 2.70mm
Then engine I am working on has 15Kmi+. so I may need the 2.75mm, 2.80mm.

If you take anyones advice, I would go with Srinath's, He's the Man

The necessary shims will get thinner as your valve seats wear, not thicker.   

THANKS for pointing it out for all to see, Egaeus.  Don't you have some teeth to pull? She's dead now, you know?

You're welcome.  Hey, pointing out errors before you tear into your engine and start replacing shims only to end up with burnt valves is better than the alternative.   I have been arguing against the GS Factory Service Manual in my carb thread, so don't feel bad.

And those teeth?  Yeah, they're in a box.