Valve Adjusting Plates a.k.a. "shims"

[Grumpy Goat]

In the picture below, the "adjusting plates" or "shims" are Item #7.



AS Cycles (a BMW dealership) apparently sells these in quantities of 8 for $8.20, for each given thickness.

My question is this - is there a set of shims I can buy of assorted thicknesses that will fit our engine? Chances are if i need to change any shims, I will NOT need one size.

Bike Bandit (nice reputable name!) claims to sell BMW R1200 shims here, but each and every kit says "Universal fit" and there is a BS note at the top that states "... are universal/custom fit components, and are not a direct fitment for your machine." That alone gives me pause when dealing with these people.

As we all know our boxers are from a different "universe" so these likely won't work ... or would they? Anyone with direct experience?

[Rotorwrench]

Don't waste your money on a set. If you have some that are out of spec, just figure out what you need and order the OEM shims that you need. Chances are, you won't need to re-shim your Wethead.

[darrell]

I had my valves checked at 76,000 miles today by my dealers master mechanic (one of 3 masters they have in the shop) He has never had to adjust one valve since the bike was new. They were all in spec again.

[Lee]

On our Brick K bikes when I needed to change a shim, I would mic the old shim, call the dealer and ask them to mail me what I needed.
Since you have several dealers close by, you don't even have to wait on the mail if you need a shim.

[Grumpy Goat]

Good advice all around. I guess I just have to see what measurements I come up with and then decide. Based on what mike is saying and Darrell's experience thus far having put 75k miles on the bike, it may well be most cost effective to but as needed, even if they come in lots of eight per thickness.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Have I missed something? Did you check the valves and find them out of spec? On my Yamaha FJ-09, I had to change out shims. They are really not expensive at all. There are a couple of vendors. One good and one not, but I don’t remember the names. What I did was order the one’s I needed plus a couple of extras. Worked out well. Buying from the dealer is probably safest and easiest for you.

[Lee]

it may well be most cost effective to buy as needed, even if they come in lots of eight per thickness.

You should be able to buy one at a time from a dealer.

[Grumpy Goat]

You should be able to buy one at a time from a dealer.

I guess I will have to ask the local parts guys. I just assumed that if AS Cycles had them in lots of 8 then they must be packaged that way and all dealers would be selling them like that.

[Grumpy Goat]

Have I missed something? Did you check the valves and find them out of spec? On my Yamaha FJ-09, I had to change out shims. They are really not expensive at all. There are a couple of vendors. One good and one not, but I don’t remember the names. What I did was order the one’s I needed plus a couple of extras. Worked out well. Buying from the dealer is probably safest and easiest for you.

No I have not checked them yet. Plan on perhaps doing that tomorrow. Hopefully they are in spec.

My issue is not the expense of single ones, but is in being able to buy them singly and if not then a nice assortment would make sense.

I will find out from the local dealership what they typically do and if they sell them singly.

[Lee]

You should be able to buy one at a time from a dealer.

I guess I will have to ask the local parts guys. I just assumed that if AS Cycles had them in lots of 8 then they must be packaged that way and all dealers would be selling them like that.

When a dealer replaces a shim they only charge for one.
There's no reason the dealer would charge you for 8 when you only need one.
Spark plugs probably come in boxes of 10 or twelve and it's possible to only buy one.

[Grumpy Goat]

When a dealer replaces a shim they only charge for one.
There's no reason the dealer would charge you for 8 when you only need one.
Spark plugs probably come in boxes of 10 or twelve and it's possible to only buy one.

Lee I agree, but i was going by the parts fiche at AS Cycles, the link to which I provided. In it, it shows for each thickness a price and an unchangeable quantity of 8 pieces. I can only assume that is how they sell them since that is how they are added to the shopping cart. OTOH, they sell the drain plug washers one a piece and I was able to up the quantity and buy 6.

BTW - the valve check video should be up today or tomorrow. Results in the video.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

GG. Just looked at the max Bmw parts page. They show the qty 8 thing also. This is the number of shims that the engine uses (8 valves total). If you put the part in the shopping cart you can change the quantity to whatever you need.

[Lee]

GG. Just looked at the max Bmw parts page. They show the qty 8 thing also. This is the number of shims that the engine uses (8 valves total). If you put the part in the shopping cart you can change the quantity to whatever you need.

That's how I read it also.
I don't think ordering a shim online is the way to go because I don't see a way to order the shim you need.

[Grumpy Goat]

GG. Just looked at the max Bmw parts page. They show the qty 8 thing also. This is the number of shims that the engine uses (8 valves total). If you put the part in the shopping cart you can change the quantity to whatever you need.

Ahhh ... I did not go to that extent as I was not buying. I just assumed the quantity was an unchangeable set.

Having done the valve clearance check, the chances that one would need 8 of a certain thickness is most unlikely so listing them as a set of 8 is dumb, IMO. But since one can change them after putting in the cart, then at least one is not forced to keep 7 aside.

[Lee]

, the chances that one would need 8 of a certain thickness is most unlikely so listing them as a set of 8 is dumb, IMO.

At least that's how a BMW parts fiche works.
It always shows how items are needed.
If you look up coils it shows two, on a 4 cylinder it will show 4.
Look up valves and it shows 4 intake valves and 4 exhaust. Double that on the 4 cylinder bikes.
I had taken for granted all parts fiches are setup this way.

[Grumpy Goat]

At least that's how a BMW parts fiche works.
It always shows how items are needed.
If you look up coils it shows two, on a 4 cylinder it will show 4.
Look up valves and it shows 4 intake valves and 4 exhaust. Double that on the 4 cylinder bikes.
I had taken for granted all parts fiches are setup this way.

Well I must say thanks to you guys I learned something new today. Hehe ... their fiche is just like their bikes ... weird.

[Duccrazydave]

Since I started doing the maintenance on my '92 Ducati (as soon as the warranty ran out), I've always purchased my shims straight from the dealer. While I have them on the phone, they're able to verify I'm getting the correct size that I'm asking for. If the LC "stays in spec" as well as I've read, there's certainly no need to purchase a full set of shims.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Just one more note on this subject. It's best to take your micrometer to the dealer and measure the shim you are buying. Your mike might not match the one the manufacturer used to label the shim.

Also, it's not unusual to have the clearance not come out to what you expected when you install a shim. Assembly slop etc can leave you with a different clearance then you calculated. So best is to have a couple of shims extra on hand. The Bmw price of about $8 for a shim is pretty high compared to what I paid when doing the Yamaha.

[Grumpy Goat]

Just one more note on this subject. It's best to take your micrometer to the dealer and measure the shim you are buying. Your mike might not match the one the manufacturer used to label the shim.

Good idea, given the precision that one is trying to achieve.

... The Bmw price of about $8 for a shim is pretty high compared to what I paid when doing the Yamaha.

Actually that appears to be for the 8 shims in the "Qty" column so it would make it $1 each, even for BMW shims ...

[Lee]

Just one more note on this subject. It's best to take your micrometer to the dealer and measure the shim you are buying. Your mike might not match the one the manufacturer used to label the shim.

Also, it's not unusual to have the clearance not come out to what you expected when you install a shim. Assembly slop etc can leave you with a different clearance then you calculated. So best is to have a couple of shims extra on hand. The Bmw price of about $8 for a shim is pretty high compared to what I paid when doing the Yamaha.

Good advice. When I would receive mine in the mail I would double check it with a micrometer. After rubbing a film of oil on the shim and installing it, I would rotate the engine several times and check to clearance with a feeler gauge.