BMW R1200RS / R1250RS Forum Community
Valve Adjusting Plates a.k.a. "shims" - Printable Version

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RE: Valve Adjusting Plates a.k.a. "shims" - Lee - 05-28-2019

(05-28-2019, 11:06 AM)Grumpy Goat Wrote: Actually that appears to be for the 8 shims in the "Qty" column so it would make it $1 each, even for BMW shims ... Big Grin

At the top right on the fiche above the price it shows Each.
If you click on the cart and check, it will show $63.28 Total for 8 shims.


RE: Valve Adjusting Plates a.k.a. "shims" - mspratz - 09-15-2019

I saw a post on some other forum that said that these shims will fit the R1200 water cooled engines: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GH5KZUG/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_NVLFDb9BJYB42
Although they are listed as being for a KTM dirt bike, they are the right sizes for the R1200 LC engines, 8.85mm diameter, and ranging from 1.72mm to 2.60mm thick. They only come in 0.04mm increments as opposed to 0.02mm increments for the BMW shims. You get a full set of 69 shims, consisting of 3 of each size, for only $40.00, which is very cheap, and you have wonder at the quality.
I eventually decided not to risk having cheap shims disintegrate inside my engine, and went with BMW shims.
The problem then is, that if you want to buy the shims online, you have to take off the valve covers, remove the camshafts, work out what you need in terms of new shims, put it all back together, order the new shims, wait for them to arrive, and do it all again to install the new shims.
An alternative is to do the job starting early on Saturday, and hope the local dealer has the shims you need in stock when you get there.
I only needed one shim at 12,000 miles, so it cost me $8.00, and the above mentioned "do the job twice" pain.


RE: Valve Adjusting Plates a.k.a. "shims" - Grumpy Goat - 09-15-2019

Michael - you hit the nail right on the head with the post. I was initially looking for a set of shims that I could have on hand so that I don't have to do the disassembly twice, given that the bike is my daily rider / main means of transport. I don't mind paying for a full set of sizes even if I do not use 90% of them ever. At $40 it is worth it in terms of saving my time. Smile

I have not had to do any adjustments yet, but I can see adjustments in my future since a couple reading (IIRC) were at the lower end of the range. OTOH, knowing what I know now I can just go ahead and get the right shims from now. It is not like they wear down overnight so the trick is checking them regularly, and then buying the expected shims while the valves are still in spec.


RE: Valve Adjusting Plates a.k.a. "shims" - mspratz - 09-15-2019

After posting that those AHL shims are the right size, I decided I'd better check before I lead you astray. I measured the diameter of the BMW shim I took out of the bike. My digital micrometer puts it at 8.854mm diameter, which means the quoted diameter of 8.85 of the AHL shims is spot on.


RE: Valve Adjusting Plates a.k.a. "shims" - Grumpy Goat - 09-15-2019

Thanks Mike.