First valve adjustment..Thanks everyone!, but a question....

[RCannon]

I searched "valve adjustment" and found plenty of information about aqdjusting them. Thanks to all of you.

The job was very easy...that is until I attempted to find a valve shim.

My local shop, PLAZA CYCLE http://www.plazacycle.com/ (not that I would mention their name) does not bother to stock valve shims! Sure their service department has them, but they are off limits to a regular cuatomer.

I ended up getting the two shims I needed from the Honda dealer. He siad, "Well, I have most in sizes in stock. If I dont stock it, we'll get them from the service department." He laughed at me (or with me I should say) when I told him my shim story. He charged me nothing for the two shims I needed.

How can dealers keep selling machines they dont stock parts for? Valve shims sound like a pretty basic maintenance item. I can undestand not stocking forks, swingarms and shocks, but a dammed valve shim?

I have several Yamaha's and like them very much. The bikes have never let me down. Their delership network has.

I believe my next bike will be a Honda or Suzuki just so I can get parts from a decent shop (Honda-Suzuki of Salt Lake). I just cannot see supporting a dealership that refuses to support the items I buy from them.

Do you guys have problems with your Yamaha dealers or is it just a Salt Lake thing?

[sully16]

I am all the way away in BC, Canada and I have the exact same problem with my local Yamaha dealer, I currently own 3 Yamaha bikes and am now looking at buying either an 03 KLX400 or an 02 CRF450 and a big reason why is because the local Yamaha dealer sucks. I can't believe how inept they have been with me, I won't go into details but they have let me down 2 times in the last month alone, similar things such as your shim story. It also irritates me that the Yamaha dealers are not linked together to provide a more available parts inventory, it is up to the customer to phone each dealer separately to find if they have a part in stock. The local guy should be able to say, 'no I don't have it but the computer shows that Jim Smith Yamaha down the way has it so I will get it from him for you for tomorrow' there is none of that up here. I have had nothing but good service from my local Honda dealer even ordering Yamaha parts through him because I am so fed up with my local Yamaha dealer. It sucks to say because I do lean towards the blue & white but I will not be buying another. Time to try something else.

[grayracer513]

I haven't worked in a Yamaha dealer, but I spent over 20 years at Ford and GM dealers. Parts are ordered by the parts department, not the technicians. The way they decide which parts to stock is sometimes initially dictated by the manufacturer at the time of a new model release, but after that, it's based sales records. If you don't sell two of a given part in a certain amount of time, it doesn't get re-ordered. These days, most of the stuff is done by computers, so nobody ever looks at it or thinks about it much.

This causes enough trouble with most parts, but with something like selective shims, it's even worse, because even if you sold a valve shim every other week, it probably wouldn't be the same size. The computer would see 8 or nine valve shims sold in 60 days, but they would all be different part numbers, so not one of them would be considered stockable. Worse yet, the other 9 sizes would be pulled out of inventory and sent back to the factory because they weren't sold soon enough. Automation.

While I was a service manager, I got our parts department to take all the selective shims, etc., for things like transmissions off the automatic review, and put them in as items requiring a minimum stock level of one, so the techs wouldn't have jobs hung up waiting for a shim after it already waited for new gear parts, or whatever. Unless the dealer service department does something like this, the parts departments won't, because they either don't understand the problem, or don't care.

[BeauGt]

My local Yami dealer sucks also. Had a 250 top end rebuild, they didn't fully connect the wrist pin. First time I got on it boom, dealer said wasnt there fault. Honda does all my bike fix's that i cant do now.

[RCannon]

This makes some sence. At least maybe there is a reason for them being so lame. Thank you. I blamed heavy drinking and drug use!

[revolucien]

My local dealer does not stock for any make. It's hard enough just to get a generic brake lever. Most of my shopping is done through the internet. If you are going to do your own valve adjustments you may want to look into a Shim Kit It will be a great time saver to already have the shims on hand and have another shim size readily available in case you guessed the wrong size

Besides at 49 cents a shim that's probably a better deal than you're getting right now.

[MotoGoalie]

I hear you about crap dealers but be sensible people. Most all of you sound like you can work on your bikes, we have the knowledge of all these people on Algores internet here to help us through any mechanical problem and you can order ANYTHING on the internet these days.

Why would you buy inferior or problematic machinery for the actions of a few individual dealers? Sure Honda dealer is cool, but he AINT selling YZF450 durability, dependability and easy of maintenance. I'd rather have my Yammie and go it alone with you guys on the net, and net dealers all day long than ride a stinkin CRF or RMZ.

[grayracer513]

I blamed heavy drinking and drug use!

Of course, nothing I said rules that out, either.

[RCannon]

Your point is a good one. I dont think the other brands are inferior. I have owned bikes from the major companies and had no real issues with any of them. I just cannot stand supporting a dealer that is so lame.

Their standard answer is ""WE CAN ORDER IT"

You know what??? SO CAN I! Ans when I order, I save 25%.

[Wayward Son]

my bet is the service dept didnt even have the shims.

[probracing1]

RCcannon--

I can speak to this Plaza Cycle thing with first hand knowledge....the are know throughout the motorcycle world(in SLC) to be the biggest D*#$%@!!!

I actually bought my YZF from Plaza over 3 years ago. I have learned, the hard way, that they are not the dealer to go to for ANYTHING! In fact, Plaza is located 2 miles from my office and I drive all the way to Draper(25 minutes) to South Valley to buy anything I need.

This is sad but, I just got fed up with their piss-poor customer sercvice. I have found the South Valley employees to be eager to help, friendly etc...

The shim issue is always going to be an issue---no dealer has an unlimited supply of shims. However, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, all maintain shims that will work in each manufacturers bikes.

my 2 cents--

[squidracer]

The dealers should carry most of the common sizes. Even though they are very selective in purcahse, how much are the shims? A few dollar each at dealer cost? The same shims are used by many different makes.

Luckily my dealer had the shims in stock. They are generic shims not the factory ones. Still charged factory prices.

I haven't worked in a Yamaha dealer, but I spent over 20 years at Ford and GM dealers. Parts are ordered by the parts department, not the technicians. The way they decide which parts to stock is sometimes initially dictated by the manufacturer at the time of a new model release, but after that, it's based sales records. If you don't sell two of a given part in a certain amount of time, it doesn't get re-ordered. These days, most of the stuff is done by computers, so nobody ever looks at it or thinks about it much.

This causes enough trouble with most parts, but with something like selective shims, it's even worse, because even if you sold a valve shim every other week, it probably wouldn't be the same size. The computer would see 8 or nine valve shims sold in 60 days, but they would all be different part numbers, so not one of them would be considered stockable. Worse yet, the other 9 sizes would be pulled out of inventory and sent back to the factory because they weren't sold soon enough. Automation.

While I was a service manager, I got our parts department to take all the selective shims, etc., for things like transmissions off the automatic review, and put them in as items requiring a minimum stock level of one, so the techs wouldn't have jobs hung up waiting for a shim after it already waited for new gear parts, or whatever. Unless the dealer service department does something like this, the parts departments won't, because they either don't understand the problem, or don't care.

[offrodeo]

Good ole Plaza cycle. They sell more yamaha's in the nation than anyone. They are a really busy business, Their salesmen are perverts, and they dont stock many parts. I would rather go to south valley as well, i like it better but plaza cycle is only 5 minutes away from my house. For dealer parts only i would hit either of those. But for the small stuff like oil filters and handles go to wrights motorcycle acceseries. They are right by harbor frieight on state street. Shims should be a part that they should always have, but remember they are always busy.

what kinda riding do you do? have you hit deseret peaks track in tooele? (SP?)

or the dunes?

kevan

[Edge316]

I woudn't get down on yamaha for your local dealerships not stocking the parts you need.In my area the local honda dealership is far worse than the yamaha shop.When one of the bolts that holds the shroud on fell out on my honda I actually had to order it .On top of them not stocking very many parts they charge over suggested retail on the parts.I paid 6.00 dollars for two small bolts.

[RCannon]

I do like south valley a lot. The people there are cool. I buy a lot of accessories from Wrights. I have dealt with them since I was a kid...they were "Wrights Hodaka" after being "Wrights Tote-Goat" seriously true. For fun, ask Tim if he stilll has Hodaka parts and throw a fit when he does not.

I love riding at Deseret Peak. The track there is good.

I just finished building a house so I have little riding time. The jordan river track is ok this year. They groom it weekly, if not more. I wonder if it has anything to do with Governor Huntsman riding there every Saturday? LOL

[DoctorRzed]

I never knew yamahas needed valve adjustment

[grayracer513]

I never knew yamahas needed valve adjustment

That's why the shims don't sell very fast.

[offrodeo]

where is the jordan river track?

kevan

(taylorsville)