heat source

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htown16

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I'm planning the rebuild of my motor and transmission. What sort of heat source is recommended to remove bearings and valve guides. Putting them in the wifes oven is a non-starter. Anyone use a heat gun?
 
A heat gun MIGHT give you enough heat to do it, an oxy/acet or Mapp gas torch has a better effect.

Buying a used oven is a good way to go if you intend to do restorations as a long-term hobby or business.

I'll bet a full facial and manicure takes longer than the time it takes to do the job and completely clear all evidence of petro-based aromas from your kitchen...

(espeically if you make the appointment for her in the afternoon, with a dinner date afterwards)

Kinda expensive, but a man's got to do what a man's got to do.
 
(espeically if you make the appointment for her in the afternoon, with a dinner date afterwards)


Well that don't work here, not enough time to get all the dirt from under the fingernails (mine that is) :roll:
 
Jean,

By the time I met Sally, she had been riding bikes for a while. As a teenager, she did a carburetor overhaul on her brother's Honda 70 so she could ride it while he was off to college.

She's done the ton solo, and with ME riding pillion.

Although she dislikes the aroma afterward, she acknowledges the fact that the oven and house are half mine, so I can pretty much do as I please.

My kind of woman, so I married her.
 
Grandpaul,
That is just about the best advice I have ever seen in this forum...and there has been a lot of good stuff. Sneaky too...I like it!

I will say that I have had really good luck over the years with a heat gun for lots of applications. I use a spring clamp to set it up on the intended spot and then work on other stuff, this approach works better for me than the patience required to let the heat gun bring the piece up to temp. Often when I come back to it the project comes loose and in the meanwhile I don't have to worry so much that I am going to burn the place up. You can't put a torch on ignore!
 
grandpaul said:
she acknowledges the fact that the oven and house are half mine, so I can pretty much do as I please.


I would advise other members to think very carefully before attempting to claim joint (sorry!) ownership of the oven?

As I can guess what the reply is likely to be "well...if the oven is half YOURS....then you can do HALF the COOKING!" :eek:

And if the oven is half yours....your Commando is half theirs! :shock:

Is it worth the risk?
 
Our local auto speed shop / engine builders use an old gas barbeque grill for this function. The owner says he drives around on Clean-Up Day in the Spring and picks them up free and that usually there is nothing wrong with them.
 
I use a kerosene heater (round stove top type) with the outer wire mesh. Set anything you want on top and monitor the temp of the part by spitting on it (or a temp gun). Put an old cookie sheet or pan if your worried about oil seepage. Once the spit vaporizes instantly it should be good - roughly 200-212F. I used this method on every thing from removing the main bearings out of the cases, gear box bearings, to removing the rocker arms out of the head with great success. I'll use the same method during re-assembly. A little heat goes a long way with regards to disassembly with out damage...

It works great to cure paint too!
 
My wife remembers every time I've used the oven to heat up engine bits and every time I've used the tumble dryer to re-wax my old Bellstaff and Barbour.

Man can she be cruel. :cry:

Cash
 
Thanks for the replies. Next project is gearbox rebuild. Sounds like the MAP torch could be used to remove the layshaft bearing I intend to replace with new superblend. With a little careful planning I think I can do the work on the head and cases with the oven when my wife makes her annual ten day visit at her mothers. Should give it plenty of time to air out.
 
Not too hard to pick up a free oven from somewhere like craiglist. You have a bike so you must have a truck to carry it with. :mrgreen:
 
I've used a simple handheld propane torch for full gearbox rebuild on the Norton, replacing rear crown gear on BMW, and numerous other tasks. Haven't needed anything else (cept I do use a cheap heat gun for shrink wrap).
 
htown16 said:
I'm planning the rebuild of my motor and transmission. What sort of heat source is recommended to remove bearings and valve guides. Putting them in the wifes oven is a non-starter. Anyone use a heat gun?

Gas barbecue works great
 
tpeever said:
Gas barbecue works great.

That it does. I don't think it heats evenly and it helps if you have a thermometer.

And the wife is less likely to find out...
 
I've found that if you run the hood fan, use a tray out of foil, and run a self cleaning cycle afterward, then no one will be the wiser. Try to get all your stuff ready to do together, you've probably only got one shot. Remember, it's better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Two of the three women in my life have proven this to be true. Never underestimate the power of cold hard cash when negotiating. Lastly, Tis the season for forgiveness :D
 
Oven or grill will work just fine.

Hand held torch is a LOT easier, though. You're gonna have a bunch of bearings and bushings to remove and replace. Easier to deal with them one by one, if you ask me.

I note Mick Hemmings uses a torch in his video....
 
byrdman76 said:
I use a kerosene heater (round stove top type) with the outer wire mesh. Set anything you want on top and monitor the temp of the part by spitting on it (or a temp gun). Put an old cookie sheet or pan if your worried about oil seepage. Once the spit vaporizes instantly it should be good - roughly 200-212F. I used this method on every thing from removing the main bearings out of the cases, gear box bearings, to removing the rocker arms out of the head with great success. I'll use the same method during re-assembly. A little heat goes a long way with regards to disassembly with out damage...

It works great to cure paint too!

This is the ticket!!! I use mine all the time for this. I have an infra red thermometer now but used welders heat sticks in the past for guaging the temp of the parts. In fact, if you place a case half on the heater, old bearing still in, face down, it will alert you when the bearing falls out of the race. :shock: WTF was that!!!

R Model Tony
 
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