ebay side racks

[Cris]

Hello, New to the group...just bought a '05 A-19 KLR. After reading as much as I can find, regarding valve clearance adjusting, I'm wondering if anyone on the list has taken their shims and reduced there thickness to increase clearance? From what I've read, clearance usually tightens up as the valves wear into their seats; I have a B&S surface grinder with flood coolant, and can simply grind each shim (on its underside) and reuse them rather than having to purchase new shims(mail order of from dealer). I'm guessing the shims used have some substance to them (not paper thin), when the engine is assembled at the factory; any thoughts? Last, can anyone suggest a source for a quality 1/4" torque wrench? Thanks, Chris

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 12:21 AM +0000 3/25/05, Cris wrote:

>Hello, >New to the group...just bought a '05 A-19 KLR. After reading as much >as I can find, regarding valve clearance adjusting, I'm wondering if >anyone on the list has taken their shims and reduced there thickness >to increase clearance? From what I've read, clearance usually tightens >up as the valves wear into their seats; I have a B&S surface grinder >with flood coolant, and can simply grind each shim (on its underside) >and reuse them rather than having to purchase new shims(mail order of >from dealer). I'm guessing the shims used have some substance to them >(not paper thin), when the engine is assembled at the factory; any >thoughts?

I thinned a shim once 'cuz I needed it right at that moment. It's hard to get shims on a Sunday and I needed the bike on Monday. Otherwise, you're just better off buying shims or swapping with someone on this list, unless that grinder of yours will make quick work of it. I still would only thin a shim once and then toss it when I didn't need it anymore. Mark

[Randy Shultz]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Cris" wrote:

> > > Last, can anyone suggest a source for a quality 1/4" torque wrench? >

--- I bought a Proto 1/4" drive torque wrench in inch-pounds at Grainger. I have also purchased S-K torque wrenches mail order (online) at arizonatools.com. To save money, I sometimes buy quality brand used tools (snap-on, mac, etc.) on ebay. Randy

[Bogdan Swider]

> Last, can anyone suggest a source for a quality 1/4" torque wrench? > > Thanks, > Chris

I couldn't justify laying out big bucks for something like a Snap-On since I only would use the tool once in a while. Craftsman stuff is usually just about right for me but at the time I looked they didn't offer a 1/4". I usually avoid Chinese stuff but I decided to take a chance on a Harbor Freight clicker for only $22. It's turned out to be accurate and fine for occasional use. Bogdan

[rsanders30117]

The top & bottom of the shims need to be flat & parallel. Without a surface grinder, it would be nearly impossible to do this properly by hand. Certainly more trouble than a new shim cost. If you really can justify it, such as requiring a thickness that isn't available, then have a machine shop do it. With a surface grinder, it won't take them but a jiffy (in other words, not much $) to trim a bit off a shim.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Cris" wrote: > > Hello, > New to the group...just bought a '05 A-19 KLR. After reading as much > as I can find, regarding valve clearance adjusting, I'm wondering if > anyone on the list has taken their shims and reduced there thickness > to increase clearance? From what I've read, clearance usually tightens > up as the valves wear into their seats; I have a B&S surface grinder > with flood coolant, and can simply grind each shim (on its underside) > and reuse them rather than having to purchase new shims(mail order of > from dealer). I'm guessing the shims used have some substance to them > (not paper thin), when the engine is assembled at the factory; any > thoughts? > > Last, can anyone suggest a source for a quality 1/4" torque wrench? > > Thanks, > Chris

[Randy Shultz]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bogdan Swider wrote:

> I couldn't justify laying out big bucks for something like a Snap-

On since I only would use the tool once in a while. --- Since we're talking about an inch-pound wrench, I think the key is that you only need one. The 1/4 inch drive can handle anything in the typical inch-pound range, IMO, which is typically limited to 200 inch pounds. So if you buy a 1/4 inch drive instead of a 3/8, then you only need one inch-pound torque wrench. Unfortunately, many of us bought a 3/8 inch first, then realized we needed a smaller wrench for places like valve covers. Buy one wrench: get the 1/4 inch. Good used snap-on 1/4 inch drive torque wrenches can be found on ebay for less than $50, in my experience. I'd much rather own a quality used torque wrench, as long as it is calibrated, than a new one of low quality. The $20 difference is well worth the money in my opinion. And if you do your own work, and own a couple of bikes or cars, and use a torque wrench when you're supposed to, you'll wind up using it quite a bit. I probably use mine a couple dozen times per year. Randy

[Scott]

Posted a pic of one side of my racks, due to popular demand. Thanks for all the interest and emails. Scotty

> > Can u post a pic of the rack to the group photo section. $75 seems > reasonable. > > J > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Scott" wrote: > > > > I actually make these racks, and have made about 10 sets so far. > The > > reason for them being different is I build them by hand, one set

at

> a >