Yamaha Dirt Bikes Forum

Not the cheapest way to go but I got the shim kit because we have 3 4-strokes and not always enough time to be running back an forth to the dealer.

After a few checks I will have saved money in gas juat driveing up there.  
I love this dirt stuff.

3-4strokes? Nice, yeah I'd buy the kit 2. Isn't amazing though how little u actually have 2 re-shim?
Or is that just my experience?  

I have the HotRods shim kit too - cost me under $70.  Buying the shims individually cost me $10 apiece.  I have 3 4T's, like Pop, to maintain.  I've re-shimmed my CRF - it took 2 shims (that's $20) and my YZ250F - it also took 2 shims (Now we're at $40).  Three more shims, and I've covered the cost of the kit. I think it's a bargain!  
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ML - when someone tells me they have to re-shim very little, and it's someone i KNOW is bothering to check their clearnaces regularly (like you), that tells me they know how to maintain a bike properly!  #1 eater of valve seats?  Dust from a poorly serviced and sealed air filter.  #2 - dirty oil.  #3 bouncing the motor off the rev limiter all the time.  
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If you don't hear the rev limiter how do you know when to shift? JK  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

We dont have to change shims much eather.

But like skip said, $10 each and it adds up fast.  
I love this dirt stuff.

Skip, I feel the same way. This past weekend I helped a friend of mine put in a HRC hop up kit (stage 1,I think)into his 06 trx450r. I've been riding with him 4 a year and a half and he always has that the throttle 2 the stop. But, after every ride he services it and checks his valves regularly . I was reluctant 2 put the kit in, noting that he has close to 100 hours on it but when I looked inside, you could eat off the cam-no bluing or scolloping -no pitting it was almost a shame 2 take the cam out.
He bought the hot cams shim kit 2 and the bike went back toghether with out us opening the box!! next week he wants to but in a new piston and rings ( finnally    ) I cant wait 2 see the cylinder.  

U know Bill its funny u say that but when I ride with my Honda buddies they are bounicing of the limiter almost every gear and Yamaha i think is set much higher i have never heard my limiter. (I'm probably not riding hard enough   )  

I bet it's picture perfect - and I wager so will be the rings and piston!  If the valvetrain is that good, then the rest of the motor will be too!  Gotta love Japanese engineering  
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skipkh:
I bet it's picture perfect - and I wager so will be the rings and piston!  If the valvetrain is that good, then the rest of the motor will be too!  Gotta love Japanese engineering

Thats why i'm  a firm believer in oil change every ride. imagine all the moving parts in a four stroke and all lubed by a single quart of oil!!  (Yamies have more). He uses synthetic.  

I'm on the fence with oil changes.  One thing I NEVER do is to change the oil without changing the filter too.  I use hour meters on all my bikes.  I change the oil and filter after break-in, and then subsequently every 10 hours.  The oil is still clean when it comes out, but then again I don't ride my bikes very hard.  I've run lots of oils over the years, but lately I've settled on Mobil One 4-stroke racing oil for my thumpers and Gear Saver / Yamalube 2R for my ring-dingers...  I've never burned a tranny bearing, my cylinders last and last, my cranks stay within spec, my rings and pistons are like new, and my cams are perfect.  I'm a HUGE believer in Mobil 1 and GearSaver, and 2R for the premix..the only thing I service every day of riding is my air filter.  I've personally witnessed a Honda CRF250 valve clearance move .003" in one afternoon on the track!  I showed a buddy how to shim his valves on the Unicam - had the clearances perfect.  I tried to show him how to service his air filter (it was filthy) and he was in a hurry to get home and said he'd do it in the morning before riding. At the end of the day we went back to my house and I was going to swap my filter and since he was already grilling, I was going to service his at the same time.  Still filthy.  So I pulled his valve cover and checked the clearances again - they tightend up in ONE day! I am convinced it was the dirty filter because he doesn't ride hard enough to be on the limiter.  
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It takes me 2 days to do an air filter. First i wash it in the solvent tank and then ring it out. Then i take it to the kitchen
(when the GF isn't looking  :smirk and wash it in hot water with Dawn dish soap. Then I blow it out with compressed air, but i never can seem to get out all the water, so I let it air dry for at least 24hrs before i will oil it. (I used 2 use Belray in a bottle , now I use PJ1 Spray on)If i don't i will surely trap water in the fibers. it takes longer but the added time is worth it, my Ring ding has a dual stage filter and i have never seen a spec of dirt on the inner stage    

I follow the exact same procedure as you ML!  Only difference is that I have 3 filters for each bike, and do them all at once (and rotate them, so it's less time consuming) and I still use Bel Ray Foam Filter oil - I guess I'm old school  I use Twin-Air filters and love 'em!  
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skipkh:
I follow the exact same procedure as you ML!  Only difference is that I have 3 filters for each bike, and do them all at once (and rotate them, so it's less time consuming) and I still use Bel Ray Foam Filter oil - I guess I'm old school  I use Twin-Air filters and love 'em!

Do u vary the amount of oil on the inner stage or do u keep it dry?  

I run an even coat of oil on both stages. Once the filter is dry I put it in a ziploc baggie and add about 1/4 cup of oil.  Half to the outside, the other half to the inside.  I then close the baggie and massage the filter until the oil is evenly ditributed.  I have it so that I know how much oil it will take without being oversaturated - if anything I might need to add a teaspoon..  
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