Has anybody else seen this before?

[Steve]

In my relatively few years of wrenching on bikes (both KZ and GS), I have never seen this before:




Yes, it's a 29.5 mm diameter, so it's a GS shim, and it's accurately marked, too.

I have always seen similarly-sized shims marked as 2.75x.


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[BassCliff]

Hi,

I've never seen one so marked. I wonder who the manufacturer was? With shims in .025 increments we could really dial in our valve clearances. Wouldn't that be cool?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[tkent02]

Hi,

With shims in .025 increments we could really dial in our valve clearances. Wouldn't that be cool?

Especially if the actual thickness matched what was marked on the shim.

[Steve]

I've never seen one so marked. I wonder who the manufacturer was?
With shims in .025 increments we could really dial in our valve clearances. Wouldn't that be cool?

Not sure who the manufacturer was, but it's the correct size.

Oh, we already have shims in .025 increments.

They are called "X" shims. The only problem is that you can't order them, you have to luck into them like I just did.
There is this one that is strangely marked, and a 2.60x that came in the head I just got from Dogma.

Especially if the actual thickness matched what was marked on the shim.

Yes, it does. Depending on how tightly I squeeze the caliper, I can get it to read from 2.77 to 2.78.

[TheCafeKid]

The shims in my ZRX come in increments as such. As do the ones for most of the Kaws based on that design (ZX11, ZZR, etc) I dunno for sure but I wonder if later models started using more exact shimming because the tolerances got tighter. Just a guess...

[tkent02]

Yes, it does. Depending on how tightly I squeeze the caliper, I can get it to read from 2.77 to 2.78.

And if you measured the other side it might be 2.78 to 2.79, and in the center you might come up with 2.75 or 2.76.

Good thing they don't need to be exactly right to run well.

The shims in my ZRX come in increments as such. As do the ones for most of the Kaws based on that design (ZX11, ZZR, etc) I dunno for sure but I wonder if later models started using more exact shimming because the tolerances got tighter. Just a guess...

That may be it, I may not have done valve clearances on any shim motors newer than 1981... At least not when I had a micrometer handy.

[Guest]

Hi guys, I have a number of shims with this type of designation, I believe Suzuki is using this instead of "x" these days. At least the first place I saw this was at a Suzuki Dealer, not that I go there that often. Regards, Ray

[Steve]

Hi guys, I have a number of shims with this type of designation, I believe Suzuki is using this instead of "x" these days. At least the first place I saw this was at a Suzuki Dealer, not that I go there that often. Regards, Ray

Well, this came out of an '83 engine, and with the condition of the gaskets, we had no reason to believe that it had ever been opened before.

I also found it interesting that it used the comma, instead of a period. That is more common in Europe, not here.

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[bwringer]

I've seen factory shims in newer bikes (just the GS500 these days) marked 2.78, 2.82, and so on, but I've never seen one marked to three digits. 1/1000mm is pretty dang small...

Some of the factory shims in my DL1000 are also marked in oddball increments like 2.89, 2.72, etc., but still only to two digits. Replacement and aftermarket shims are all in .05mm increments. (These are small 9.48mm diameter shims that ride under the buckets).

I've seen both commas and periods used as decimal points.

As noted, the oddball shims are only used at the factory, and are not sold. No reason not to keep using them, of course.

[Graham]

I?ve seen shims like that one with 4 digits and a period but not a comma.

[bwringer]

If it was 29.0mm in diameter, I'd think it was a BMW shim.

[Steve]

If it was 29.0mm in diameter, I'd think it was a BMW shim.

Nope, I measured it at 29.47.

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[TheCafeKid]

If it was 29.0mm in diameter, I'd think it was a BMW shim.

Or an old Kwacker or Yamma (or is it honduh?) shim

[GregT]

The Rotax singles in the BMW F650 use suzuki size shims...if it is continental in origin it could be from there.

[Steve]

All the speculation of different manufacturers is interesting, but I will repeat what I said in post #8:

Well, this came out of an '83 engine, and with the condition of the gaskets, we had no reason to believe that it had ever been opened before.

I just realized, though, that I never did specify that this is from a SUZUKI engine, and an 850 at that.

Just going on the premise that this is a Suzuki forum, you know.

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