Valve adjustment, and shims BMW K75C

[foliver]

Hi, again!
Today i'm working on the valves clearance. First time for me.
I've used a screwdriver and compressed air to take off the shims.
The Intake shims are easier to remove than the exhaust ones, at least for me.
I asked my son to help with 1 shim, doing the air blast, cause the position, tension and steadiness of the srewdriver was critical and i was more precise with 2 hands.
Here some pics.

I've found 3 valves out of range.

On intake ive had: 0,15-0,15-0,12
On Exhaust: 0,20-0,18-0,28

So i need to change or adjust 3 shims, 1 intake 2 exhausts.
My question is:
Can i bring the shims to a precision turner to polish to the needed value?
I guess the best side to do it is the one that sits into the valve.

This is going to be way faster than bring shims from USA ( 1.5 weeks).

Any contradiction about this procedure?

Thansk for your opinions!

[Laitch]

Hi, again!
Today i'm working on the valves clearance. First time for me.
I've used a screwdriver and compressed air to take off the shims.
The Intake shims are easier to remove than the exhaust ones, at least for me.
I asked my son to help with 1 shim, doing the air blast, cause the position, tension and steadiness of the srewdriver was critical and i was more precise with 2 hands.
Here some pics.

I've found 3 valves out of range.

On intake ive had: 0,15-0,15-0,12
On Exhaust: 0,20-0,18-0,28

So i need to change or adjust 3 shims, 1 intake 2 exhausts.
My question is:
Can i bring the shims to a precision turner to polish to the needed value?
I guess the best side to do it is the one that sits into the valve.

This is going to be way faster than bring shims from USA ( 1.5 weeks).

Any contradiction about this procedure?

Thansk for your opinions!

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I have heard of people grinding shims to get the gaps in spec.  I would think it would work if you can't get shims.

You are correct to grind the side facing the valve, you don't want to grind the hardened surface the cam works on.  As long as you are grinding them, Take some careful measurements and see if you can have the shims ground to make all the gaps the same.  That will help make the engine run as smooth as possible. 

The only thing I would do is record the valve gaps and check them in a year to see if there is any wear.  If you are easy on the engine, and not spending a lot of time at the red line, the valve gaps should hold for a long time once you dial them in.

If you can't find a machine shop that will grind them, you should be able to get shims at a Kawasaki dealer.  I think they were used in the KLR 650 among other models.  I think Yamaha and Suzuki used the same size shims as well.

[Laitch]

You seem to have correctly determined what you need.

29mm Kawasaki shims have been used successfully by several owners on this and other forums. As Gryph has indicated, contact this dealer to learn if they have the sizes you need.
You can get them sanded—others have—but a faulty job on them could result in future engine damage.

[foliver]

Thaks both for your answers, i'll try to find kawasaki or suzuki before grinding.
I keep posting resuts

[foliver]

You seem to have correctly determined what you need.

29mm Kawasaki shims have been used successfully by several owners on this and other forums. As Gryph has indicated, contact this dealer to learn if they have the sizes you need.
You can get them sanded—others have—but a faulty job on them could result in future engine damage.

Laitch, thanks for the dealer info, they have shims!!!!!
I've just called, tomorrow i'll buy a micrometer to measure mines, and do the math, and then i go to kawasaki, 25 USS each. not cheap, but close!
Thanks!

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Check the thickness of your shims.  Sometimes you can shuffle them around so you only need one or two to get everything in spec.  Just make sure you keep track of what you have, what you need, and where they go.

Don't hesitate to ask if you can swap your old shim for the one you need.  Some shops will let you do that for a little bit lower price.

[foliver]

Thanks for your idea Mighty, i'll let him know!
Tomorrow will be a good day!

[foliver]

Hi, i've the shims that i needed.
I've bought 2, cause one of the exhaust side goes perfect in measure for the intake valve that needed a different shim.
The only different thing is that the new shims doesn't seems to have hardened surfaces ( or are 100% hardened? ) just looking at the pictures there's a difference.
The 2 of the same tonality in his thikness are the new, the other is the one that was on the bike.
Any comments about that?

This afternoon, i install them.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I think that Kawasaki shims are as good as BMW.

Many have used Kawasaki shims, and so far I've never heard of any problems.

[foliver]

Hi Mighty.
I suppose it should be more than fine and will last
Txs!

[Laitch]

The only different thing is that the new shims doesn't seems to have hardened surfaces ( or are 100% hardened? ) just looking at the pictures there's a difference.

Any comments about that?

Do they measure exactly 29mm not 29.5mm?

You cannot tell whether they are hardened; you're a sound specialist. How do they sound?  Pretty good?

[foliver]

Hi Laitch, they seemed exacly as the originals in diameter.
I doesn't measure them, and i doesn't drop in another metal surface to listen, jajajajaja!!
but i can tell, that in one of the buckets, the 1 Admission, the shim enters really just in size, maybe it was me messing with the screwdriver, but i thought: F&%G!, this one is larger! but, it enters well at the end.
I was happy cause all the final measures went ok, in the correct ranges, so no problems with mats and organisation!

[The Mighty Gryphon]