Is the shim exchange dead?

[Rusty Studebaker]

I'm doing my valves and came across posts on the shim exchange. The guy who was in charge, Ghostgs1, seems not to have posted since July of 2022. Did someone take over?

[steve murdoch]

A long shot but try sending him a pm.

[unfocused]

Depending on what you need, I might be able to help out.
I only have x1 8V left, I have the needed shims for this and I'll be done with them.

[Nessism]

I've got a few. What sizes do you need?

[Rusty Studebaker]

It depends. I took all my measurements, and cylinders 2 and 3 are the only ones out of spec. However, I have the bevel gears out (yeah, it's a shaftie) and I need to start it up and see if engine oil is coming through the trans output shaft seal into the bevel gear housing. That was my suspicion earlier. If it does, then I guess I'm splitting the crankcase and replacing the internal oil seals, which would negate any valve measurements. If not, then I will do the happy dance and deal with the shims on cylinders 2 and 3. The shims I need are 2.50, 2.55 and 2.60, which are Suzuki parts 12892-45007, 12892-45008, and 12892-45009, respectively. I have two 2.70's and a 2.65 to trade. I am waiting for a cam chain tensioner gasket which should arrive tomorrow. After I put that on, I'll put the carbs on and start her up, and see if she leaks into the bevel gear housing. Should have results by the end of the week. Thanks very much for the offer, I will get back with you with the results.

[Rusty Studebaker]

Depending on what you need, I might be able to help out.
I only have x1 8V left, I have the needed shims for this and I'll be done with them.

Thanks, see above message to Nessism.

[salty_monk]

Yeah Ray retired & perhaps slipped into ill health, it's been a long time since I exchanged some messages with him. The beauty of what he did for us was that he was able to use a piece of equipment he has for accurately reducing the thickness.. nobody else has that. He even used to do special sizing on request with a bit of leadtime. Let you set them exactly top tolerance. It certainly helped a lot....

[oldGSfan]

I looked at my spare shims and they are all 2.75, 2.80 and 2.85, about 3 each. So no help to you. But if this message gets some eyeballs that need those sizes, I'll be glad to send them out.

[unfocused]

If needed, I have the sizes you've mentioned except the 2.60's. Those are what I needed for my 8V

[Grimly]

Stupid question but are the shims hardened? I've wondered about coming up with a method of taking a thou or so off of thick ones.

Through-hardened, as evinced by the shattering of one of Steve's.
I've had to take a grinder to more than one in the past, with careful attention to detail.

[Nessism]

Shims are $5.25 each at Z1. Break out the piggy bank!

[chuck hahn]

FYI for anyone with a surface grinder or access to one. every .002 equals one shim size. And yes they are hardened all the way through so surface grinding hurts nothing.

[Rusty Studebaker]

If needed, I have the sizes you've mentioned except the 2.60's. Those are what I needed for my 8V

Awesome. I should know whether I need them by the end of the week.

[Rusty Studebaker]

Shims are $5.25 each at Z1. Break out the piggy bank!

Ha! Crap, I forgot about Z1. I was just looking at Suzuki and Ebay. Thanks for the reminder.

[MaxPete]

When I had my '79 850G back in the 1980s, I religiously checked the valve clearances and over of the first 50K km (I am Canadian) all of the shims were changed.

After that, the dealer told me that the clearances were unlikely to change and so I could safely just forget about it unless the bike started running poorly in which case, bring it back. I eventually sold the bike with more than 100K km (about 63,000 miles) on it - and the last check I did showed no change in clearances since the 50K km check.

Has that been anyone else's experience or do the clearances continue to open or close-up over time?