FA Head assembly and fitment guide

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Dkt26

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Alright folks
Got my beehive springs, head and assorted bits ready to go. Am going to reuse my rockers and spindles from the RH4.
Firs question, manual states heating the head to 150deg to fit rockers and spindles. Is there a way tis can be done prior to valves being fitted?
Also, any tricks I need to know about?

Cheers
DKT
 
Dkt26 said:
Alright folks
Got my beehive springs, head and assorted bits ready to go. Am going to reuse my rockers and spindles from the RH4.
Firs question, manual states heating the head to 150deg to fit rockers and spindles. Is there a way tis can be done prior to valves being fitted?
Also, any tricks I need to know about?

Cheers
DKT
Click to expand...

A heat gun will get it hot enough. I wouldn't put the spindles in until the valves and springs are fitted. Jim
 
Depends on how tight they are to get in. one of mine is an easy slide fit. The one time I got my pushrods wrong when I installed the head, I found the easiest way to fix the problem was to remove the spindles and the rockers. It was not hard at all, which makes me think that maybe the next time I fit this head back on, I will make sure the inlet valve cams are closed , and remove the rockers on the exhausts. Saves a lot of fiddling and sweat. btw, my tappets are not noisy and I don't need to adjust them very often. Not since I renewed the pistons a few years ago. I have checked the valves but my philosophy is if they are not noisy, but are slightly loose, I leave them alone. Note my comment about rocker spindle fix. We always found vehicles performed better with looser tappets.
Dereck
 
Dereck some are a real bugger even with head oil smoking hot. If push rod placement is a tedious obnoxious task and care to save the rocker spindle bores, next time rockers in hand, grind off a good bit of the very ends push rods pass, [where it matters most mass wise anyway], to get push rod clearance each and every time so is one the fastest easiest tasks you'll ever do.
 
I don't have a heat gun but the missus has a hair dryer. Might see if that works. If not I do have a gas bottle and pen torch but am worried about using them. Think the oven would be a better option but don't like the idea of heating the valve and seals.
 
Dkt26 said:
I don't have a heat gun but the missus has a hair dryer. Might see if that works. If not I do have a gas bottle and pen torch but am worried about using them. Think the oven would be a better option but don't like the idea of heating the valve and seals.
Click to expand...

[I don't have a heat gun but the missus has a hair dryer]............. Same thing probably better........... Dont be scared we wont tell her !!! Go find a candle and when you reckon its hot, touch the candle/crayon/wax on the area and if it melts "quickly/instantantly" then its hot enough.. (rule of thumb). Dont "over-do" that singular point, but spread/weave/wash the heat around the general area.

Try to think a bit lateraly ....

FA Head assembly and fitment guide
 
Haha!!
After the money she has spent I think she will be happy for me to get the head on the bike!!!
 
kerinorton said:
Depends on how tight they are to get in. one of mine is an easy slide fit. The one time I got my pushrods wrong when I installed the head, I found the easiest way to fix the problem was to remove the spindles and the rockers. It was not hard at all, which makes me think that maybe the next time I fit this head back on, I will make sure the inlet valve cams are closed , and remove the rockers on the exhausts. Saves a lot of fiddling and sweat. btw, my tappets are not noisy and I don't need to adjust them very often. Not since I renewed the pistons a few years ago. I have checked the valves but my philosophy is if they are not noisy, but are slightly loose, I leave them alone. Note my comment about rocker spindle fix. We always found vehicles performed better with looser tappets.
Dereck
Click to expand...

Dereck
Why don't you just admit that your eyesight is not the same as it was twenty odd years ago. The hardest thing about putting head on and seating pushrods is seeing into the head, a head torch gives you two hands and plenty light. You feel like a diddy wearing one but it does work.as for rocker spindles I always have had to pull mine several times to shim the rockers for the valves. But then again some Folkes May find it easy.
J
 
I always leave one exhaust rocker out when I install the head. That way I can turn the motor till the three remaining rockers are down and the head will drop all the way to the head gasket. Then I know all the pushrods are seated. After the head is snugged up I rotate the motor and install the last rocker. I use a heat gun in the area until the head is uncomfortable to touch with my finger.

I started doing it this way after I caught the edge of a lifter cup one time and broke an iron valve guide. I would have sworn everything was seated and I had rotated the engine with rubber bands on the rockers but light pressure from a head bolt was all it took and I heard a little pop and a piece of broken exhaust guide came tumbling out of the exhaust port onto the workbench. Never again.... Jim
 
comnoz said:
I always leave one exhaust rocker out when I install the head. That way I can turn the motor till the three remaining rockers are down and the head will drop all the way to the head gasket. Then I know all the pushrods are seated. After the head is snugged up I rotate the motor and install the last rocker. I use a heat gun in the area until the head is uncomfortable to touch with my finger.

I started doing it this way after I caught the edge of a lifter cup one time and broke an iron valve guide. I would have sworn everything was seated and I had rotated the engine with rubber bands on the rockers but light pressure from a head bolt was all it took and I heard a little pop and a piece of broken exhaust guide came tumbling out of the exhaust port onto the workbench. Never again.... Jim
Click to expand...

Sorry Jim, but reading this makes me feel a little better about my own efforts. Thanks for sharing. :D
 
Dkt26 said:
I don't have a heat gun but the missus has a hair dryer. Might see if that works. If not I do have a gas bottle and pen torch but am worried about using them. Think the oven would be a better option but don't like the idea of heating the valve and seals.
Click to expand...

Dkt26 How hot do you think the head gets when the bike is working.

Aulblue. The last time I put the head on , the f...g neighbour came round to ask me to help him with an "emergency".


Commoz. Yup I agree. You can get it right most of the time but even the best get caught out on occasions.
 
auldblue said:
kerinorton said:
Depends on how tight they are to get in. one of mine is an easy slide fit. The one time I got my pushrods wrong when I installed the head, I found the easiest way to fix the problem was to remove the spindles and the rockers. It was not hard at all, which makes me think that maybe the next time I fit this head back on, I will make sure the inlet valve cams are closed , and remove the rockers on the exhausts. Saves a lot of fiddling and sweat. btw, my tappets are not noisy and I don't need to adjust them very often. Not since I renewed the pistons a few years ago. I have checked the valves but my philosophy is if they are not noisy, but are slightly loose, I leave them alone. Note my comment about rocker spindle fix. We always found vehicles performed better with looser tappets.
Dereck
Click to expand...

Dereck
Why don't you just admit that your eyesight is not the same as it was twenty odd years ago. The hardest thing about putting head on and seating pushrods is seeing into the head, a head torch gives you two hands and plenty light. You feel like a diddy wearing one but it does work.as for rocker spindles I always have had to pull mine several times to shim the rockers for the valves. But then again some Folkes May find it easy.
J
Click to expand...
The last time I put the head on the f.....g neighbour came round to get me to help him with an emergency. And yes, my eyesight is not what it used to be. Wait for my comments on the LED headlamps.
 
I know it gets hot.
Should I fit valve seals to the exhaust? I have 4 but others say it ain't necessary.
 
Its no big deal to have the head complete and ready with rockers. Then bring the pistons to TDC and install just the central head bolt finger tight only. Then rock the crank back & forth around TDC till things are even with the cam for both intake and exhaust. The head will be about 3/16" off the gasket. Check that the pushrods are centered on the rocker ends and you're ready. If something's off then the valves won't be near even at TDC and the head will be too high off the gasket.
 
Dkt26 said:
I know it gets hot.
Should I fit valve seals to the exhaust? I have 4 but others say it ain't necessary.
Click to expand...

No valve seals on the exhaust. Jim
 
jseng1 said:
Its no big deal to have the head complete and ready with rockers. Then bring the pistons to TDC and install just the central head bolt finger tight only. Then rock the crank back & forth around TDC till things are even with the cam for both intake and exhaust. The head will be about 3/16" off the gasket. Check that the pushrods are centered on the rocker ends and you're ready. If something's off then the valves won't be near even at TDC and the head will be too high off the gasket.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I always thought too. I had been installing Norton heads for 20 years before one caught me.
 
comnoz said:
jseng1 said:
Its no big deal to have the head complete and ready with rockers. Then bring the pistons to TDC and install just the central head bolt finger tight only. Then rock the crank back & forth around TDC till things are even with the cam for both intake and exhaust. The head will be about 3/16" off the gasket. Check that the pushrods are centered on the rocker ends and you're ready. If something's off then the valves won't be near even at TDC and the head will be too high off the gasket.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I always thought too. I had been installing Norton heads for 20 years before one caught me.
Click to expand...

I'm still trying to work out why the valve guide broke and what broke it.sorry for being so slow on these matters, but I'm still learning.

J
 
Usually what happens is all seems in place as head fully torqued down then engine turns a little to release a push rod off edge of seat with the valve spring thrust so sounds like a chipping hammer struck a brittle little bell. Usually happens at top of lifter where can't see ahead of time not up in rocker ball end but obviously has.
 
auldblue said:
comnoz said:
jseng1 said:
Its no big deal to have the head complete and ready with rockers. Then bring the pistons to TDC and install just the central head bolt finger tight only. Then rock the crank back & forth around TDC till things are even with the cam for both intake and exhaust. The head will be about 3/16" off the gasket. Check that the pushrods are centered on the rocker ends and you're ready. If something's off then the valves won't be near even at TDC and the head will be too high off the gasket.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I always thought too. I had been installing Norton heads for 20 years before one caught me.
Click to expand...

I'm still trying to work out why the valve guide broke and what broke it.sorry for being so slow on these matters, but I'm still learning.

J
Click to expand...

It broke the valve guide because both the intake and exhaust valve opened a little bit at the same time. One pushrod was setting up on the edge of the lifter. The valves tangled, ie the intake valve hit the exhaust valve and bent it slightly to the side -breaking the guide.

That scenario happens more that just my one time. I have received several heads over the years that had been installed and run just long enough to find one cylinder had low compression -due to a slightly bent valve. I actually have a pretty good assortment of slightly bent new valves that were obviously bent during installation. Jim
 
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