Not really any help to you as the shim is already down the motor but to anyone reading this the way to work is with a pair of mag tools, one holds the new shim ready to be fitted and the other is used to remove the old shim, if you work this way you will never have a problem.
Hope you sort it out.

you beauty!


got it. gave the bike a shake and a bit more rummaging around with the mag tool and hey presto. found it!!!


MAGIC.

now back to the job of measuring all the other shims...with better rag placement this time!


phew.

Well done

I used plastic shopping bags and shoved it down the holes...they are easier to get into tiny areas where cloths usually cannot, and they are usually also lint free . Might help a little and good luck with the rest of then.

The shims on the front are a complete c**t to get to especially the exhasut ones. really struggling with these...

jetblack wrote:you beauty!


got it. gave the bike a shake and a bit more rummaging around with the mag tool and hey presto. found it!!!


MAGIC.

now back to the job of measuring all the other shims...with better rag placement this time!


phew.

and you laughed when i said shake it, well done in getting it out.

jetblack wrote:The shims on the front are a complete c**t to get to especially the exhaust ones. really struggling with these...

Keep up the effort! They're a b*stard to reach, but you'll get them all done, eventually.

Best advice, use a magnetic stick to pick up the old shims, and fingers & contortion, a torch, and a dab of oil to install the new shims. I found a blob of oil would help stick the new shim close to the shim recess, and then it was a matter of pushing it into place with a finger or wood dowel. All while holding back the rocker against it's spring (use a screw driver for more leverage & a comfortable hold).

Oh, remember to crank over the engine a couple of times before re-measuring the gaps.

Good luck. It's satisfying once they're all done.

tanto wrote:

jetblack wrote:The shims on the front are a complete c**t to get to especially the exhaust ones. really struggling with these...

Keep up the effort! They're a b*stard to reach, but you'll get them all done, eventually.

Best advice, use a magnetic stick to pick up the old shims, and fingers & contortion, a torch, and a dab of oil to install the new shims. I found a blob of oil would help stick the new shim close to the shim recess, and then it was a matter of pushing it into place with a finger or wood dowel. All while holding back the rocker against it's spring (use a screw driver for more leverage & a comfortable hold).

Oh, remember to crank over the engine a couple of times before re-measuring the gaps.

Good luck. It's satisfying once they're all done.

I would like to add...if you have a strong magnet lying around and a spare flat head...leave the magnet attached to the screw driver for a day or so. After a while the screw driver becomes slightly magnetised and you can use it to put the new shim into place. If you can't wait, sticky tape the magnet close to the handle end and the tip should have enough magnetism to hold a shim...this of course depends on strength of magnet and length of screw driver...

I just magnetised a screwdriver by dragging a maget along it in the same direction a few times.