Shim Sizes?!

[CWhalenSHO]

Just finished the top 60K. Using the Valve Clearance Worksheet, I have 2 valves that are out of spec. Rear Bank Exhaust Primary is currently at .38mm when checked.


Using the worksheet, I need to get a hold of a 3200 Shim?!
.3800[gap as found]-3000 [nominal]+2400[old shim]=3200[required Shim]

I also need a 3250
.2700[gap as found]-2000 [nominal]+2550[old shim]=3250[required Shim]

Were these sizes even made? I think these would be extremely large for shim sizes.

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[itwonder]

The decimal points are messing with you. You measured 0.380mm gap. Nominal exhaust valve is 0.300 mm. The difference is:

0.380
-0.300
------
0.080 mm

The existing shim is a 2400 which is 2.400 mm thick. So to close the gap by 0.080 mm, you need a thicker shim by:

2.400
+0.080
-------
2.480 mm

Since there is no 2480 shim, you round down to a 2475. A 2500 would be close enough too.

For the second one, a 2625 will do nicely.

Hint: I've found that it's atypical to require a new shim more than 100 thicker than the old one (e.g. 2400 to 2500). If you encounter that, double check your measurements and math before proceeding. It does happen, just not routinely.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

For future reference - shims were made ranging in size from 2.000mm to 3.275mm, in 0.025mm steps.

 

[SHOtime2511]

dont forget that shims for a V8 SHO will work in the V6 motors.

 

[itwonder]

And 29mm diameter motorcycle shims are fine too. Some local cycle shops stock them, and two online sources are:

http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Brand/Kawasaki/klr 650 valve shims.htm

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/valve_shims.htm

They come in 0.050mm increments rather than 0.025mm, but 0.050 is usually fine to get you well within the allowable range.

It does basically take double the time and effort to do a valve adjustment if you don't have a shim kit on hand when you begin.