Manual says to use a magnet on valve shims?

So, I've been getting ready to clearance the valves on my 650 and have been researching how to go about it. Every post I've seen on this site about it says to not get anything even remotely magnetized near the shims. However, I was reading my Yamaha factory service manual last night, and it said to use a telescoping magnet to get them out. pygmy_goat brought this up in an old thread, but it wasn't really discussed. I am just curious if anyone else has noticed this in the manual and if it's really that bad to use a magnet?

full thread: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=1 ... anual.html

 

Oh, it's been discussed-- to death.

Me and a like-minded pack of stubborn old farts insist it's a bad practice for the following reason: Any contact with a magnet transfers a bit of magnetism. A magnetized shim or bucket will thus attract minute particles of metal or other ferrous debris thereby increasing the chances for premature wear. One of my 550 books (I don't remember which one) says don't do it.

Others insist it's perfectly OK.

 

I have a pair of surgical forceps / tweezers that I use for extracting shims.

Makes it feel more like surgery....LOL..

 

+1 on the forceps

 

I fought with mine with forcepts and the like-nothing
worked.
Used the forbidden pen magnet and the damn shim SHOT
out of the bucket! No time for anything to get magnitized.
Here's the rub.you can chance a little magnitizement collecting
microscopic bits of stuff...or you can fight with a pair of what-
ever impliment you want and spend a half hour breaking off
microscopic bits of stuff to make sure you get some in there.
Your choice.

 

Would it have killed them (Yamaha) to make the little relief slot bigger??

The AMOUNT of magnetism isn't enough to pick up a nail, but to hold minute filings in place that are suspended in oil.

Throw a few button magnets on your filter during your next oil change.

 

It sounds like it would be wise to degausse the shims prior to installation. Anyone still got one of those things?

 

I used forcepts as well, (mother-in-law is an RN) worked like a charm!