Valve shim kit

[racerrad8]

Randy, ...what is your opinion on this ? ok as long as not the lobe side?

Bad idea...With the exclusion of Monkey Mark who has access to a surface grinder they is no way to get them ground parallel.

Can it be done, sure but only with the correct tools. I have seen a shim holding tool that will allow you to use a valve grinding machine to surface the shim, but I have never seen one in person.

I would never do it, it is not worth it when a new replacement shim is under $7.00.

Randy - RPM

[Mark Olson]

I think Mark was suggesting the use of a surface grinder, very accurate and flat. If the shims are hardened the same all the way through then you might get away with it. If they are surface or case hardened (softer in the middle) then they might warp from uneven stresses. With the low cost of the shims and infrequent need to change them I would not risk it. Out of curiosity (assuming I had access to a surface grinder) I might try it to see what the shim does after grinding, then tossing it.

Hey monkey Mark,  there is a machine that resurfaces lifters that I used to use back in my engine machinist days and upon occasion I would have to make up a jig to resurface hardened shims. after the grinding the shim had to be annealed. the cost to the customer was absurd so it only happened for rare hard to get shims.

I agree that a bench grinder is not a precision tool and is a weak ass solution to a simple problem of just getting the right shim.

I was just wondering if Randy had seen or heard of this in his fj travels.

[Mark Olson]

whoops , posting at the same time.

thanks for the input Randy.

[tmkaos]

 I'll have to go find my old info on how to make up a diy Holder-Downer Tool (tm).   I think if we do it, it should have an 'owner' of the kit and not a forward it on so it is a little bit more traceable.   I might even suggest we put a 'rally attendee' requirement on it. 

If you can get me the info on how to DIY one, I have a CNC mill sitting here. I can make up one to go with in the kit with my shims to pass on. I can make it out of something suitably durable so it won't just shit itself after a few uses.

Maybe if we get enough of those un-usable size shims Randy was talking about we can parcel them out around the various dealers willing to exchange and get a bunch of usable ones. Make the (st)dealers work for us for once.

James

Here's the shim kit I've got my hands on.. like I said it's up for donation once I've finished with it. If anybody is keen to go ahead with this then get in touch with me and we'll work something out regarding ownership.


James