Where to buy valve shims?

Need to replace some valve shims, only problem is that the ones I can find on the Internet go up in increments of 0.05mm and I'd like ones that go up in 0.01mm.
I know that they are out there as one of the shims I checked was a 172 (relates to a thickness of 1.72mm, but was actually 1.730mm).
Any thoughts?

[NedSVS]

What are you measuring the thickness with? Is it a calliper or a micrometer? Callipers aren't quite as accurate. Online parts fiches suggest the normal interval between shims is 0.05mm

http://www.ronayers.com/Fiche/TypeID...AM_SHAFT_VALVE

It may make some people cringe, but I use wet and dry paper with a drop of thin oil on it and rub them down as required - checking frequently with a micrometer that they are still parallel and if they start to go out of parallel I apply the pressure off centre to correct it. I rub the size markings off on purpose so if anyone other than me removes them, then they will have to measure them - a possible down side, but at least you don't have to order and wait for delivery.

[rictus01]

most good bike shops will have a box of exchange shims, you take yours down with the measurment of what you want, have a rummage; swap your old one and a couple of £'s and go home with right ones (make sure you measure them as the numbers on them were from new and most likely they have worn some).

Cheers Mark.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by NedSVS

What are you measuring the thickness with? Is it a calliper or a micrometer? Callipers aren't quite as accurate. Online parts fiches suggest the normal interval between shims is 0.05mm

http://www.ronayers.com/Fiche/TypeID...AM_SHAFT_VALVE

It may make some people cringe, but I use wet and dry paper with a drop of thin oil on it and rub them down as required - checking frequently with a micrometer that they are still parallel and if they start to go out of parallel I apply the pressure off centre to correct it. I rub the size markings off on purpose so if anyone other than me removes them, then they will have to measure them - a possible down side, but at least you don't have to order and wait for delivery.

wemoto/dealer/bike shop

I wouldn't rub them down, maybe give them a tickle with surface grinder if desperate but not many people have one...

Reason being it will end up curved, this allows the bucket to rock, not what you want.

They have been measured with a micrometer (that's why I could tell the 172 shim measured 1.730mm in thickness).
I'll give my local bike engineers a call. Don't want to try and change the thickness of the existing ones as I have no way of keeping them true and square.

So you can only get shims from Suzuki with intervals of 0.05mm. Erm, that's not quite good enough. Arrow do them at intervals of 0.025mm, but I'd like to find somewhere that does them at 0.01mm.
Watch this space I guess

[yorkie_chris]

It's good enough for everyone else...

[Sid Squid]

Why do you need them at those increments? There is a clearance range at which the valve is in correct adjustment, there's no requirement for it to be an exact, specific clearance, no more, no less.
If there's a choice of two shims that would put the clearance into the acceptable range, use the slimmer shim if available, (the wider of the clearances possible), - assuming normal wear, this means the longest period until the next adjustment will be required.

Call me daft, but I want a pair of valves to open at the same time. A difference of 0.05mm is quite a bit, and it will effect the burn pattern in the cylinder. If a bike can operate perfectly happily like this the. Why will Suzuki use shims in the factory that have a 5micron difference?

[yorkie_chris]

Have you checked the clearances on a 600 mile old bike with some 0.01 gauges before?

And, think about it, if you've got a 0.05 gap between valves, you could set those the same. Biggest gap you're going to have is 25 micron which is 3/5ths of c*ck all. And they're closed long before any burning starts.