To shim check or not to shim check

[mattye]

Hi all and a happy new year,

I'm looking for some opinions on the shim check as part of the 26K service. I wondered if people who have had their shims checked needed to have them changed or not.

Money being tight as it is, i'm wondering if i can pass on the shim check as this is the only part of the service schedule that I'm not able to do myself.

Just wondered what the feelings were from you guys?

cheers all.

[doebag]

Personally I would get it checked, and adjusted if needed.

In my experience with other bikes, once the initial check/adjust is carried out, they never needed adjusting  again after checking.

[Winston Smith]

False economy skipping it.

Mine was running fine and it needed 3 changing.

[charlie mac]

Personally I would get it checked, and adjusted if needed.

[tommytool]

Previous experience - Yamaha R1' 28000 miles, took to my local mechanic, not the rip-off dealer in Exeter that charges menu price whether shims needed changing or not -  and measures show no change in clearances since it left factory. Piece of mind for £160 that was 2003 though!

Also shown rocker cover with date and dealer initials engraved on inside.

Now I don't know whether BK can give 2 quotes, one for the check only which won't require cam removal and another quote if the cams have to be lifted to replace shins. Seems stupid that most dealers quote one menu price for the valve clearance service regardless of whether the shims need changing or not.

I will ring BK closer to the time - maybe Debs had the shims checked at BK, what was the outcome cos I'd only go there when it's due and it's a long way from Exeter!

Simple fact is unless I see the work being done I won't trust anyone else especially the K dealer at Marsh Barton who has charged for the work which wasn't done!

[MGvalerio]

With scheduled maintenance done and will do great with engine oil the first check valve at 50,000 miles, now 34,000 miles.
As the spark plugs not before 25,000 miles.

MGvalerio.

[100milesaway]

Mattye, keep the oil+ filter clean, ride it properly, dont over rev it.             And it will go to the moon   and back.    Lots of folk have been brainwashed into thinking all sorts of stuff needs replacing/ checking. If it EVER needs the shims doing it will let you know,  by either not starting, or running like a pile of  .   Leave well alone it will be fine. 

[100milesaway]

Whilst on the subject,  service schedule will tell you to change the plugs at 7500 miles       When on a recent visit to the bike show I asked the NGK plug technicians if their plugs needed changing at that mileage, and they all fell about laughing. When pressed they said they wouldn't even look at them till 30000 and even then they would still be perfectly servicable.

[shaggs147]

 I guess in an ideal world you get it done, especially if you have the cash...... but
with 100 miles.
My bike is getting up to the time when shims should be checked, but would've thought they can't be that far out to warrant all that work. If the bike was running rough or sounded like a bag of spanners then I'd be having a look at it. I think I'll leave well alone until I feel the need, then do it myself as there's no way I'm going to lash out that sort of money for it.
Did anyone who had the shims done honestly feel any difference to the bike?
Keep on top of the oils n lube, check the brakes and wheel bearings, and the rest should look after itself - spark plugs as 100 miles says, should be good for 30k at least.

[tommytool]

I agree with the spark plug comments. Modern plugs are a lot different to the champions I used to replace on the LC regularly. No moving parts and the only factors affecting wear are temperature cycles, IR (insulation resistance) breakdown, electrode erosion.

Remember the generic picture of spark plug condition in all the early Haynes manuals?

[viper]

a gtr owner over on the us site has done 112k before he checked his !

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16175.0;topicseen

[trousersnake01]

My blackbird had 62k before I had them checked, it ran lovely, one needed adjusting slightly, I did however drop the oil with every back tyre change about every 5k

[O.C.]

My blackbird had 62k before I had them checked, it ran lovely, one needed adjusting slightly, I did however drop the oil with every back tyre change about every 5k

That's good biking practice .....look after your bike and it will look after you 

[BigAlan]

Agreed with comments above, I change the oil and filter along with the diff oil every 3k miles no matter what, I have (well not me exactly) changed the plugs at 10k but they won't be done again for ages.

As you have said, treat the bike right and it will be good to you.

Alan

[viper]

ditto on the oil, I have always done my bikes midway between the dealer services , so it works out at about every 2.5 - 3k . A bit OTT but my bikes dont really do a lot of miles and the oil can pick up a bit of condensation through the winter months . I also put a magnetic oil sump plug in as soon as i get the bike