Need valve shims

Dudes
What it is.
Sorry I went away and have not contributed in such a long time. I also have never put my scooter back together, well, not to ride, least wise. I started it a few months ago just to lube it up. I am just covered up both at work and after work. That is a life style I need to get a grip on and fix, post haste starting with riding my scoot. To that end, I went to Z1Ent to order a shim kit and found I am too strapped to invest mucho denero just for a few shims. I tried moving them around but can not get the right combinations and I prefer not to just order individual ones hoping I can get it right. My gap measurements do not yield rock solid, consistent results. I don't know if it is my technique or what. Maybe I am just expecting too much precision, and do not need to worry so much. What do you advanced wrench turners suggest. I have read and thought I was adhering to the KZinfo write-up.
Jonathan, I am going to PM you next.

Well it is either technique or tools...your motor valve tolerances ain't gonna change rapidly. You must get your valve specs within Kawasaki tolerances as the bike just won't run right. Why don't you get as many valves to within spec as possible and then post the shim sizes you need for the remainder? Remember, the shop manual will tell you what shim sizes you need (if you know what shim is installed and the measured gap). It is getting close to Christmas, you know.

You could always join the UK Z1 club who offer a free shim exchange service to members if you know the Sizes you need.

I am in NZ a whole half a world away and exchanged 5 for free last time. That more than paid for a year's membership

Post edited by: Kiwiz, at: 2007/10/07 05:33

Mcdroid wrote:

Well it is either technique or tools...

Thanks for the advice, Michael Mcdroid. I had such a big/severe problem with the plugs fouling, that I guess it's possible the valves may be settling down on some nice cushy soot. Possibly even soot on the guides hindering their proper operation? I will let youse guys comment on that if necessary. Does slight temp. fluctuations from one check to another have any effect?
Off to the chamber now; morning just gets here too early to suite me.
Jim@MilkyWay

Jim you want to check the gap with the engine cold,, as in room temperature, after it has sat for quite a while after being run.
As mentioned, figure out what sizes you need and I'm sure someone here will help you with them.

And, welcome home,,,
Ride safe

Kiwiz wrote:

You could always join the UK Z1 club who offer a free shim exchange service to members if you know the Sizes you need.

I am in NZ a whole half a world away and exchanged 5 for free last time. That more than paid for a year's membership<br><br>Post edited by: Kiwiz, at: 2007/10/07 05:33

Man, if you ever need some one to ride with over there, just find me something to ride upon arrival and send me a ticket. Keeping you company would be the least I could do. My Dad told about his brief stay in New Zealand and I am consistently captivated by it's majestic beauty and bazaar wildlife.

I would have never thought about something like joining the UK group. Who ever heard of swim shops,,,err,,,I mean, shim swaps or anything else for free. I will check it out this week, as that is the best potential offer I have gotten thus far.
Also, the one I found on Z1Ent stated they were 29mm shims. It has been a while since I measured,but I was thinking mine were 28.5mm. Just thinking out loud. Will try and check that out this week as well.
Jim@MilkyWay

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Thanks MilkyMan
We'll do'er.
Jim@MilkyWay

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Post edited by: JimatMilkyWay, at: 2007/10/08 00:31

JimatMilkyWay wrote:

Thanks for the advice, Michael Mcdroid. I had such a big/severe problem with the plugs fouling, that I guess it's possible the valves may be settling down on some nice cushy soot. Possibly even soot on the guides hindering their proper operation?

An interesting point that I haven't seen brought up on this site. When I first got one of my KZ1000's, I checked shim specs, and most had to be changed...so I did. The bike still ran crappy so I ended up pulling the head, replaced valve stem seals and lapped the valves (bad carbon buildup). I reinstalled the head and measured shim tolerances and the shims were all again out of spec (not a surprize) but what was a surprize, was that they all had to be returned to the shim sizes I started with. What this states is that sometimes, when an owner needs to change shims, it may not be due to head wear, but rather carbon buildup...which suggests seals as a problem or perhaps carburation. It all has to do with the history of the bike which we don't always know).

Post edited by: Mcdroid, at: 2007/10/08 05:34

Post edited by: Mcdroid, at: 2007/10/08 05:35

Jimatmilkyway

The good news is that you get the free exchange service which includes post anywhere in world, the bad news is that you have to pay annual membership. Part of the membership is a quarterly news letter for Z heads which is small but professionally done. They have supplier discounts for members and I find the expertise available on line is very good.

www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/index.php

If you are thinking of comming to NZ summer is best (Jan thru March) with South island best scenery fewer people and best roads. Zs are quite rare here now but there are bike hire companies who specialise in tourists with the usual harleys BMs Dukes etc.

I used a good set of feeler gauges, it had like 30 or 40 feelers. Bought it at the auto store for $7.
With the small increments in my feeler gauges, I was able to zero right in, and only had to buy 3 shims.

Mcdroid wrote:

JimatMilkyWay wrote:

Thanks for the advice, Michael Mcdroid. I had such a big/severe problem with the plugs fouling, that I guess it's possible the valves may be settling down on some nice cushy soot. Possibly even soot on the guides hindering their proper operation?

An interesting point that I haven't seen brought up on this site.

Thanks Mcdroid
Here is the plan. Get a few shims that will put the engine back in the ride,,, err, I mean back on the rode,,, err I mean road, run through one tank of fuel with some seafoam and see if I can tell anything more specific. If I still have to stop every 50 ft and change plugs, not much of an exaggeration, then I will call in a local hero which you guys suggest. They should confirm that, at worst I will need top end rework. Agreed?

Kiwiz wrote:

Jimatmilkyway

The good news is that you get the free exchange service which includes post anywhere in world, the bad news is that you have to pay annual membership. Part of the membership is a quarterly news letter for Z heads which is small but professionally done. They have supplier discounts for members and I find the expertise available on line is very good.

www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/index.php

If you are thinking of comming to NZ summer is best (Jan thru March) with South island best scenery fewer people and best roads. Zs are quite rare here now but there are bike hire companies who specialise in tourists with the usual harleys BMs Dukes etc.

Thanks for the link. I'll PM you when I get a chance to glance at the site tonight. I can _not_, however imagine any better service, different maybe, than you and everyone else here, (with few exceptions) has to offer.