RH4 head work question...>

I'm replacing the inlet oil seals on my RH4 head. Is heat required to pull the spindles?

ommief said:

I'm replacing the inlet oil seals on my RH4 head. Is heat required to pull the spindles?

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A little heat is a good idea. 200 F. from a heat gun or lamp makes them come out [and go in] easier. Jim

Or hair dryer.

This might go against the advice of the manual and others, but when I replaced those intake guide seals I was able to get the spring compressor on without removing the spindles and rockers. With the tappet adjusters removed, the end of the rocket arm was able to fit inside the business end of the spring compressor without touching anything. Springs on and off without hassle. I always feel that if I can avoid removing something or breaking something down, it's the way to go.

Depends on the type of spring compressor you have. I've been able to remove the springs in the way you mention when using an old C-clamp style manual compressor designed for British bikes, but couldn't do it with a modern over-center-lever style. I think I could probably make an adapter with clearance holes for the lever style that would allow it to work, but it doesn't seem worth the effort for the number of heads I plan to work on. Someone like comnoz, who does a lot of heads, has probably developed an efficient tool for the job. For me it's not much of an issue, since I'm usually removing the rocker arms anyhow when I work on a head.

Ken

Ken or anyone - have ya run into a head the rocker spindles fit so tight that even with head heated to 400'F oll smoke range and spindles chilled [replacing] > it about sheared the spinlde and puller threads plus smearing layer of alloy bores left on spindles even with hammering help and same brutal mania putting back in that traps spindles so hard can not turn them any to align notches for the rocker covers to fit back? Wesley was helping - whittenessing this horror as much in shock as me as he'd done his '71 as expected no problemo on half the heat and halve the forces Trixies' Comabt head required. If Trixie head ever needs service again to point of spindle handling I'll send to comnoz to see if he can handle it w/o breaking tool or head or spindle.

Like this?



And the two readouts to the right tell the spring installed height and spring pressure while your at it.



It uses a strain gauge and a linear reader for sensors.

Why an I not surprised?

Ken

lcrken said:

Why an I not surprised?
Ken

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+1....I know, right...... :mrgreen: ..the few tools I have here with me at the moment fit inside a cardboard box that is stored above the shoe shelves just inside our front door, and my bench is the kids picnic table out by the front gate. I did buy a spring compressor from commando specialties or eurotrash a couple of years ago off of ebay, but haven't used it yet, kinda like a big "C" clamp. Looked well made and was cheap enough, Cj

I have used an actual large C clamp with a section of notched pipe to access the collets with a magnet and later replace them with a hemostat. The rockers and shafts had been previously pulled to replace the shaft springs with shims to center the rockers on the valve stems.