Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hey all

I'm considering doin the valve shimming in my 1100 just wondering if others have done this,
how big a job is It?(I relise it isn't a 20min job and that ot takes several hrs) is there any traps?
Should I buy a shim kit or just individuals?

Or should I just take it to some one and if so can any1 recommend some 1 in Newcastle

Cheers

I did mine myself (ZX6RR); if you have a a spare $500 odd, no spare time, and dont want to get your hands dirty, pay Newcastle Kawasaki to do it, otherwise ....

Don't buy a shim kit, they are too expensive, but make sure you have a decent set of micrometres (I borrowed a set).

I pulled mine down on a Friday night, chased around between shops for the shims on Saturday, and took most of Sunday reassemble (with a hangover)!

It is an interesting job, as long as you have half a mechanical mind, not too difficult. The hardest part I found was realigning the cams - make sure you transcribe the timing marks on to the back of the cams as trying to tighten and align everything while trying to look at the front is nigh on impossible.

The other important part is getting the shim table which will allow for a much easier calculation as to what shims you will need to buy.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions. bfolbigg@gmail.com (I am not a mechanic though)

Cheers mate I might give it a whirl I.have a mechanical mind I'm a fitter machienist tradesmen might give it a go.over Aussie day long weekend since they gave is.Friday.off as well

first thing i did to mine were the valve clearances, pretty easy job, tank off, side fairing off, airbox and carbs off, rocker cover off.
don't buy a shim kit as you might not even have to change any. a workshop manual is a good idea as it has the clearance table in it.

i pulled mine down friday night and was back together the same night as i didn't need to change any shims, i just checked them all for piece of mind.

The best thing about the 11 motor is the way the valves are set up. They run a cam follower which is spring loaded and slides across to allow shim removal, without having to remove the cams. It makes shim changes a very simple and a very quick job.

Strika wrote:The best thing about the 11 motor is the way the valves are set up. They run a cam follower which is spring loaded and slides across to allow shim removal, without having to remove the cams. It makes shim changes a very simple and a very quick job.

well that's a good trick to know because it doesn't tell you that in my manual and i think it says (don't quote me ) to remove cam you have to remove engine or something along those lines as it fouls on the frame. so that's handy info i will use in the future thanks

Don't suppose that is basically the same engine as the ZX6 as that would be unreal, Id even think of checking mine again soon!!

Might even get keen this arvo n start pulling bike apart thanks for the good info there strika

how did you go???? did it need any shims.

yeaaaa kinda havent done it yet lol i will do it over aussie day weekend as i have 4 day weekend, well i gana go shopping in paramatta for some new bike gear as well decided my old gears getting a bit ratty

take it for a good high rev blast before letting it cool off for the shimming

i keep a pulse cover gasket handy in case i drop anything...LOL

Cheers ill keep that in mind