Basic tool advice

[Jamegumb]

I need to replace the shims on a 96' gsx 600f. I need to purchase a micrometer whilst on a budget. What would be the correct micrometer? 0-1 cm or 0-1" ? I realise the shims are in mm ( 0.100 - 0.250 or this bike) but will i be able to measure and convert anyway? Also, would a 0-25mm micrometer allow me to measure 0.100 accurately.  Having to buy online and can't afford to waste the money. Hope that makes sense. Many Thanks

[billy sugger]

Buy metric so no messing with conversions. Get a digital one if possible, I'm sure the dreaded fleabay will have a few listed,and if they couldn't measure  .100 accurately they were no good in the first place 

Edited October 19, 2023 by billy sugger
Extra word

[RideWithStyles]

Mititoyo, this vernier had it 26 years many of them as engineer and outside the work place, still works now.

the other micrometer is somewhere upstairs in a box but I haven't needed it for years.

Edited October 20, 2023 by RideWithStyles

[fredc]

are the shims not marked with their thickness to make it easier

[Jamegumb]

Hi, to replace them, the old ones must be measured in the process. There a basic formula to follow where the new (and marked) shims of the correct size can be replaced for the old worn ones, thus correcting the gap between the cam and the valve. Its actually a fairly simple process. I was trying to find out which micrometer is best, scale wise for the job.

[husoi]

You can find a decent external micrometer in either AliExpress or dhgate websites.

Digital calliper can be temperamental and return very different measurements one after the other as it rely on movement of the little wheel.

Micrometer is far more complex and accurate.

Play attention because you have 2 types.

Internal and external micrometer.

Edited October 20, 2023 by husoi

[Guest]

4 hours ago, fredc said:

are the shims not marked with their thickness to make it easier

What are shims?  Is that part of the brakes?

[husoi]

7 hours ago, janinej said:

What are shims?  Is that part of the brakes?

Shims are like spacing disks applied in the valves to adjust the gap. 

The valves are in the piston head and they regulate the mix intake and exhaust fumes outlet

[husoi]

That's a valve shim

 

[Guest]

so nothing to do with brakes but engine?

[husoi]

 

20 minutes ago, janinej said:

so nothing to do with brakes but engine?

Correct

[Stu]

I have a set of Clarke micrometers 

 

Recommended by my brother who is a CNC machinist and he gets them calibrated for me if I need to through his work 

 

surprisingly very accurate for the price! 

 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cm180-micrometer/ 

[Guest]

I don't think my bike has valves, why do some have valves and some don't?

[husoi]

2 minutes ago, janinej said:

I don't think my bike has valves, why do some have valves and some don't?

2 stroke engines don't need valves because they work differently from 4 stroke engines.

2 stroke are much easier and cheaper to maintain although they don't have the same power as the 4 stroke ones.

The number of strokes are the piston's movements during a combustion cycle.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, husoi said:

2 stroke engines don't need valves because they work differently from 4 stroke engines.

2 stroke are much easier and cheaper to maintain although they don't have the same power as the 4 stroke ones.

The number of strokes are the piston's movements during a combustion cycle.

 

I think I get it now I youtubed it, I see people talk about pistons and always wondered what it was lol

[husoi]

Guys, I think soon we all going to get instructions from @janinej

[Guest]

[Bianco2564]

7 hours ago, husoi said:

2 stroke engines don't need valves because they work differently from 4 stroke engines.

2 stroke are much easier and cheaper to maintain although they don't have the same power as the 4 stroke ones.

The number of strokes are the piston's movements during a combustion cycle.

Just to add to this.

2 strokes can have valves, just different sorts.

On the inlet it can be a reed valve or disc valve. This controls the inflow of air and fuel into the crankcase.

The exhaust can have a movable valve to influence the port timing, different manufacturers have their own ideas. Yamaha famously the YPVS, a rotating barrel. Suzuki had one which had sliding blades as on my RGV.

 

2strokes can easily make much more power than an equivalant cc 4 stroke.

My RGV250 makes around 60hp at 11500rpm, my Ninja 250 makes around 30hp at a similar speed.

RGV can do this with quite radical port tuning only made ride able on the road with the inlet and exhaust valves and exhaust expansion chambers. Downside is it uses twice as much fuel to do this. And they burn expensive oil. And they wear out quicker.

[skyrider]

9 hours ago, husoi said:

2 stroke engines don't need valves because they work differently from 4 stroke engines.

2 stroke are much easier and cheaper to maintain although they don't have the same power as the 4 stroke ones.

The number of strokes are the piston's movements during a combustion cycle.

some tractor units (wagons) are 2 strokes with valves but they do very little to the gallon 

[fredc]

12 hours ago, husoi said:

2 stroke engines don't need valves because they work differently from 4 stroke engines.

2 stroke are much easier and cheaper to maintain although they don't have the same power as the 4 stroke ones.

The number of strokes are the piston's movements during a combustion cycle.

I was under the impression that 2 strokes were more powerful because they have a power stroke every 2 strokes rather than every 4

 

[Tinkicker]

To answer the OP question.  If you are looking for a micrometer to measure the shims, you need the 0 to 25mm size.