Feeler Gauges ???

HI, well the season is over for me for 2010. I got the bike cleaned and ready to do some work on it. I want to do the valve shims this winter but not sure what feeler gauges I should buy.

Can anyone tell me what gauges I will need to buy from Z1.

www.z1enterprises.com/default.aspx

Thanks

You can get feeler gauges anywhere they sell most automotive tools.
Look for a small set.

I have one that is .001 thru .012.

Thin, smaller to handle than a bigger set.

Do yourself a favor and if possible order the set where both Metric and Standard sizes are marked on each blade.... Makes it easier and less likely to screw up in ordering shims...

Shims are sold in metric units thus no conversions...

Also as in mine set, .o5mm is the smallest size but have found where I wish I had some thinner such as .01 - .04mm... This way I can measure to the thinnest/thickest degree of accuracies by doubling up different blades...

Also, a digital caliper comes in handy as well....

Example, if I go to the next shim size places me at .15/.16mm... Close to maximum but in measuring some older shims that are marked as the next size but actually measure in slightly thinner due to old age/wear... golden!

.03/.04 to .15mm should cover the full range required...

I have a "full" set that goes down to about .0015" and a smaller lower range set that goes down to .001".

Conversions are easy if you remember that 1mm is about .040", so:

0.050mm is .002"

0.1mm is .004"

0.15mm is .006"

0.2mm is .008"

etc

You'll need the shim removal tool. Get that at Z1. For feeler gauges all you need is .05,.10,.15,.20mm. No need to waste time and effort on gauges that aren't in .05mm increments. This I've said many times over the years and most guys still prefer to measure with 600 different feelers. Yes I have .05235mm clearance using 600 feelers? Does you absolutely no good as shims come in .05mm increments, so measure in .05mm increments.

I like having a set with .001", .0015", .002", .0025" because it lets me measure gaps more accurately. On the 750 twin, the original factory clearance spec is .002" - .004". With a gauge set that has:

.001"
.0015"
.002"
.0025"

I can measure all gaps to an accuracy of ONE HALF thousandth between .001" and .0045" by combining two gauges.

RonKZ650 wrote:

You'll need the shim removal tool. Get that at Z1. For feeler gauges all you need is .05,.10,.15,.20mm. No need to waste time and effort on gauges that aren't in .05mm increments. This I've said many times over the years and most guys still prefer to measure with 600 different feelers. Yes I have .05235mm clearance using 600 feelers? Does you absolutely no good as shims come in .05mm increments, so measure in .05mm increments.

I already have the removal tool, was not sure on the gauges to get.

Thanks to all for the help.

check ur local NAPA I ordered some online and found the same thing cheaper there.

I just have a set from advance auto parts and I bought a digital thickness gauge to measure shims with but that isn't required. I just like to see the actual thickness of the shim for my self and sometimes the stamping on them is hard to read when used.

Technically a feeler gauge is a round wire. People commonly use the term for a thickness or gap gauge, which is the flat kind. They come in straight and offset (bent). Also in diffrent sizes. You have to decide which to use for the application.
Any brand of thickness gauge will work just fine. I like the craftsman (also should be the same for HD Husky) ones, cause when they get rusty, just take it back for a free replacement. They are supposed to be rust proof after all.
I like the round wire ones, they make a more accurate reading, but can be easily bent and require a large-ish size surface to work with. Not very good for screw/locknut type of adjustable rocker arms.