Shims / genuine or...?

[Adam Ef]

Has anybody used or got opinions on aftermarket valve shims? Looking at genuine ones from Fowlers and they're £9.50 each. Aftermarket from Wemoto are £5.50 each.


I've seen loads of suggestions to go with genuine, mainly from the manufacturer. What sort of issues would there be with aftermarket? I'd imagine Wemoto were selling something decent.


If Fowlers had them all in stock I'd just bite the bullet and visit this afternoon to get them and pay extra for convenience of having them quickly, but they have to order a couple of sizes anyway, so wait time is similar if I get them from Wemoto and save about £50 for the amount I need.


I don't want to be doing this again any time soon though, so if aftermarket cause problems then I'll just pay the extra.

[Craig380]

I would think Wemoto stuff is fine, their aftermarket stuff is decent quality. It's not like getting them from an unknown eBay seller.

[Bibio]

depending on how decent your local stealer is they might have a trade/swap scheme.


lets face it, genuine ones will be £160 if you need to do all 16? so a bloody bargain considering how long they will be in the engine for. most bikes never need a second valve shim replacement.


buy genuine.

[punyXpress]

Just a ( probably silly ) thought, but are any of the ones being discarded usable in other positions?

[Adam Ef]

Originally Posted by punyXpress

Just a ( probably silly ) thought, but are any of the ones being discarded usable in other positions?

Funny you should mention that. I've just spent an hour working out what can be shuffled around where. I can reuse 7. Just ordered 9 new ones and a couple of cam chain tensioner bolts from Fowlers. Annoying they only have 3 in stock of one that I ordered 4 of, so there will be a delay until they get that one in stock on back order.

[gadget]

Without knowing the 'exact' metals used in oem or aftermarket it will be impossible to tell if there would be any difference in the wear rate even before fitting, only time and mileage would tell if you went for the after market jobbies. Having said that ... Fowler's do have a good reputation for their after market parts so I shouldn't think they would use a company that supplies substandard materials.
And at half the price of oem ... tempting indeed but tbh I will be going the oem route when the time comes, i certainly don't mind buying after market parts for use in certain areas but when it comes to engine internals i prefer the oem peace of mind they give me.

[Adam Ef]

I've ordered OEM via Fowlers. Double the price, but as I workd out I can re-use 7 it brings the price down a bit.

[gadget]

Originally Posted by Adam Ef

I've ordered OEM via Fowlers. Double the price, but as I workd out I can re-use 7 it brings the price down a bit.

Makes sense especially as you can reuse a few of the originals.

[Adam Ef]

Originally Posted by Adam Ef

I've ordered OEM via Fowlers. Double the price...

Still waiting on the shims. Hadn't heard a thing since ordering so called them yesterday. Customer service got really arsey with me saying "you only ordered them six days ago!". I pointed out I had no communication from them since the order and she said "well we do say to expect it to be ten to fourteen days". ! I had to ask who they say that to as no one had said anything to me and there's nothing on the website or when you order that states that. She got more and more ****y with me. They won't know anything until sometime next week.. maybe.


Wish I'd ordered from Wemoto now.

[gadget]

Customer service at it's very best eh!