Rod shims - O.K. I give up!!!

[Marshall V. Daut]

How in the Sam Hill are you supposed to separate new "best" rod shim packs between layers? 20-30 years ago I used to be able to do it easily with a box cutter blade or even a pen knife blade. But these newer shims must be held together with a space age adhesive that would hold a rocket ship glued together sent to the sun! I have tried various blades and a Bic lighter flame, but still I cannot even get an edge to begin peeling. I'd hate to use an acetylene torch because last time I tried that, I ended up with crispy critters all curled up and useless. Oddly enough, I had no problem peeling shim layers from a new main bearing stack ordered at the same time from the same source.

What's the secret no one is letting me in on???

Marshall

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Suspend them from a tag wire and hold over a candle flame. It burns away the parafin(?) that binds them together. Heat gun might work too...

[1925 Touring]

A trick I picked up a few days ago was to heat them on a burner until the light smoke stops (the 'glue' burning off) in the shim and then set them in water and they should fall apart. I haven't personally tried this yet, but I'm sure it would work.