dealer and shims

[gilbert]

Well, its been a coupl'a days now since rolling up my sleeves and getting into the valve adjustment. Every thing went fine, and thanks to those who posted suggestions concerning the procedure! I have installed shims that place the valves at the looser end of spec's. The bike seems to run cooler, but of course, this is a very subjective feeling...give me a few more days of summer heat to make up my mind. As the bike came from the dealer/factory, intake shims were #255's and the exhaust shims were #265. The right exhaust was right-on at .23mm, all others were (very) tight. I placed shim's #245 at both intake valves and a #255 at the left exhaust. Now the complaint dept....Why don't dealers stock these shims??!! After calling 5 different Kaw dealers here in the greater Seattle area, I ended up "trading" shims with a service guy who worked at one of these dealerships...All the parts guys told me they could order the parts and arrival would only take a week to 10 days...?!!! I've heard that Fred @ Arrowhead knows what shims you may expect to need...and speaking of Fred... Hey Fred! Got the 5-Star racks that you sent, bolted right on! And I was able, with a little fussing, to use the stock turn-indicators, in the stock location ('course, that may change, when I acutally mount some bags on them..) Thanks!! Anyway, keep workin' on your KLR's, it's a good excuse to buy new tools!! Gilbert

[Devon Jarvis]

I bought the shim pack from Fred before I took the bike apart. It wasn't a lot of money, certainly less than the aggravation, time and gas driving to 5 different dealers. If they don't stock shims, how do they adjust valves? Never mind, I don't want to know. I owned a DOHC bike once before and kind of knew what to expect. Heard you can use BMW K-bike shims, they are supposedly the same size. Devon gilbert wrote:

>

snip

> > Now the complaint dept....Why don't dealers stock these shims??!! > After calling 5 different Kaw dealers here in the greater Seattle > area,

snip

> > I've heard that Fred @ Arrowhead knows what shims you may expect to > need...and speaking of Fred... >

snip

> > > Gilbert > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Support Dual Sport News by subscribing at: > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Andrus Chesley]

Something to think about. I called a local dealer when doing my valve adjustment at 8K miles and the parts person I talked to said they would have to order shims. I asked him to talk to the owner or his son to be sure of them not having shims. He did and the owner said Yes we have them. So I went down there and got them at 10 bucks apiece. Had the same problem when I wanted some wheel weights. Dealer's son told me that it's hard to get a knowing parts person at what they pay them and can't afford a high pay man just for parts in their small shop. Andy Chesley Jennings, La. KLR & R11RA