Hello to those taking an interest.
Your comments and guidance is much appreciated. Please try and make sense of the below.
I have put some photographs on the followings site.
http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/johnmowcop/library/?view=recent&page=1Hopefully you will be able to gain access from the above address, I am not very good at this.
These photographs correspond to the following text but sorry about the need to figure what you are looking at from reading the text, I do not know how to cross reference text with Photographs.
Description of the work so far is:
Stage 1
Today I decided the best way to determine the actual internal dia of the valve guides was to try and measure them. I do not have the equipment to do this, as your typical Harley Dealer would!!!! Yea Right, as if he would. So I decided to make a selection of limit gauges.
As a reminder, the valve stem measures 0.3092 ins
First to be made was the long thin bar you see in the selection of limits phototograph. This was initially sized at 0.309 ins, then 0.310 to 0.322 ins dia in 0.002 ins increments. This was to see what area of guide diameter we were working with. I was surprised to find it only went in a single step on the exhaust and a second step on the inlet.
I then made the two double ended limit gauges shown, One limit: 0.3095 or thereabouts one end, then 0.310 the other end. Other limit: 0.311 one end, then 0.312 the other end.
0.3095 goes into both guides easy.
0.310 goes into both guides easy, but good fit, I can still feel some slight side to side but nothing really.
0.311 this will go into the inlet guide about 1 ins from each side. It will only go into the exhaust guide about 0.5 ins from each side. (note both guides are 2.25 ins long)
0.312 will not go into either guide.
From this I believe the internal dia's of the guides are as follows: Inlet slackish 0.310 (say 0.3105). Exhaust 0.310.
I would therefore say that the guides are as good as when they were first installed, giving 0.001 clearance to the exhaust valve and 0.0015 clearance to the inlet. I know this is the wrong way round but it is what it measures. I am aware these clearances are a trifle tight when compared to what we are used to, but, we are used to Bronze guides with a coefficient of expansion greater than what these guides are made of which is Cast Iron ( or so I believe from words spoken on the USA forums) Being cast Iron (a more stable material) I believe they can run tighter fits.
With respect to the Stem seals, these are after market ones Alex fitted. He claimed they were superior to the Harley standard ones but I have no proof of that. I shall investigate this further by asking for comments on the Harley Forum when I find out whose they are. Pliability! I can deflect what little of the plastic stuff I can see by relatively small amount of pressure from my thumb nail. It is not particularly resilient, in some much as it remains deflected, whether it returns to shape over a period of time I do not know
The above is for one head only, I want to work my way through one cylinder at a time. The next thing I shall do is lift off the barrel and see what there is to see.
Stage 2
Tonight I took the front head off. Essentially the same as the rear head. I can see nothing wrong.
Lifted barrels off. Visually they are both excellent as are the pistons.
I measured the barrels as follows. This using an internal micrometer, which is an acquired skill. I know what to do but the accuracy of the readings may be slightly awry because of my lack of "feel" however I feel confident I have acquitted myself with some degree of capability.
Rear Cyl.
Inline with frame at bottom of the barrel in the area not visited by the rings. 3.998ins dia.
Inline with frame at bottom of the barrel in the area that is visited by the rings. 3.9985ins dia.
Inline with frame at top of the barrel in the area that is visited by the rings. 3.999ins dia.
At right angles to the frame at bottom of the barrel in the area not visited by the rings. 4.001ins dia.
At right angles to the frame at bottom of the barrel in the area that is visited by the rings. 4.002ins dia.
At right angles to the frame at bottom of the barrel in the area that is visited by the rings. 4.001ins dia.
Front Cyl.
Inline with frame at bottom of the barrel in the area not visited by the rings. 4.0005ins dia.
Inline with frame at bottom of the barrel in the area that is visited by the rings. 3.999ins dia.
Inline with frame at top of the barrel in the area that is visited by the rings. 3.999ins dia.
At right angles to the frame at bottom of the barrel in the area not visited by the rings. 4.000ins dia.
At right angles to the frame at bottom of the barrel in the area that is visited by the rings. 4.0005ins dia.
At right angles to the frame at bottom of the barrel in the area that is visited by the rings. 4.000ins dia.
So far I cannot find what the cylinder dia and tolerance should be.
I think my next move is to take the rings off the pistons and gap them in the bores.
Probably I need to check the breather valve, but that looked in good condition also.
Any guidance will be acted upon.
Regards
John T
Author
Topic: Top End strip and check (Read 4765 times)