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What the deal with valve shims?!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Adler
  • Start date Start date
Just about every bike I buy, the valves are too tight. Neglect. Mostly the owner quit riding it when it lost compression, some mechanic told him X amount of dollars to rebuild the engine, and it sits. Years. I buy it, adjust the valves, the compression comes up, ride it a week or so, the compression is normal. Once in a while I get one with a burnt valve.

They will all be burnt if they are neglected long enough.

Spend an hour or two checking the valves once in a while. Good stuff.
 
I got a bruise on my shim! Oh wait, i mean shin. :rolleyes:

So, i have an 83 550e.

My bike is guzzling gas :(

Oh... Z1 ENTERPRISES! Not motorsports. www.z1enterprises.com

There they are. Hmm. The set is still a lot.
 
Last edited:
Hi,

You don't need to buy a whole set. The larger ones you can't use anyway. I just keep track of my shims and clearances and then order ahead the two or three shims I might need for my next adjustment.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
motorcyclebaby said:
I got a bruise on my shim! Oh wait, i mean shin. :rolleyes:

So, i have an 83 550e.

My bike is guzzling gas :(

Oh... Z1 ENTERPRISES! Not motorsports. www.z1enterprises.com

There they are. Hmm. The set is still a lot.
Click to expand...



Ummm... your bike doesn't use valve shims.

You have screw-and-locknut valve adjusters. 16 of 'em.
 
Also, why did you revive a VERY old thread to talk about something that is off topic...???
 
Shimto, 'the way of eight valves', is the ancient Japanese religion of valve maintenance. Learn it. Practice it. Love it.
 
bwringer said:
Ummm... your bike doesn't use valve shims.

You have screw-and-locknut valve adjusters. 16 of 'em.
Click to expand...

That's what i thought from reading this thread, but the haynes manual is telling me to use shims!

grrr. :mad:
 
Last edited:
Adler said:
Also, why did you revive a VERY old thread to talk about something that is off topic...???
Click to expand...

Valve shims are off topic? Because I have to adjust my valves. And because I followed newbie suggestions and searched for answers before starting a new thread. Old information isn't old when your bike is older.
 
Originally Posted by motorcyclebaby
I got a bruise on my shim! Oh wait, i mean shin. :rolleyes:

So, i have an 83 550e.

My bike is guzzling gas :(

Oh... Z1 ENTERPRISES! Not motorsports. www.z1enterprises.com

There they are. Hmm. The set is still a lot.
Click to expand...
bwringer said:
Ummm... your bike doesn't use valve shims.

You have screw-and-locknut valve adjusters. 16 of 'em.
Click to expand...

Hence the value of starting your own thread rather than hijacking someone else's thread. It can lead to confusion. Especially mine. :p

In the later years, the 550 went to 16 valve TSCC engines like the rest of the GS line.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Last edited:
motorcyclebaby said:
Valve shims are off topic? Because I have to adjust my valves. And because I followed newbie suggestions and searched for answers before starting a new thread. Old information isn't old when your bike is older.
Click to expand...

I applaud your attempt to use the search function, but the purpose of doing so is not to find an old thread to ask your question on, its to find your answer so there is no need to duplicate information. In addition, the topic of this thread was on the purpose of valve shims, not the steps to adjust them (or anything to do with gas guzzling).

In this situation, if you cannot find the information you seek, you are encouraged to start your own thread with all the specific information pertaining to your problem.
 
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