RGM reducing their workshop services

Thanks Niall.  I have read about SRM and some not very kind remarks about them - particularly their prices.

I am exploring other companies and will let the club know if and when I find one that can be added to out very short Services list on cylinder head work.

Thanks James. I've contacted them and had a general response.   I've contacted Norman White, but he is up to the eyeballs with work - might fit it in as a hospital job as & when, Summer probably.  Only the guides and seats.  

I also contacted Banda Engineering, who just sent an email asking me to call them.  Also Kevin Traill, the only one on the NOC Services list.  He said £80 - £100 for fitting  guides & re-cutting seats plus parts.

On balance I am still considering doing the guides and seats myself.  I am happy to buy a seat cutter - which an earlier posting attracted responses including things like "Don't waste money on a cutter you'll only use once - get someone else to do it!.  That is fundamentally wrong as a) I might use it on another bike (I have a 1962 navigator) and b) I'll be buying it on eBay, which means I can sell it on eBay, like anything else.  It would be nice to be able to hire one, and a half-time pinion extractor, but that doesn't seem possible.   I may as well buy what I want and sell it afterwards!

I have accumulated many bits over the years that I will be able to sell at up to twice what I paid for them!

Their minimalist website only seem to show that they manufacture valve guides.  Do you know if they do the fitting and seat re-cutting? 

If not they are of no use to me as there are plenty of suppliers of valve guides.

Rather than send the head away to strangers (!) I might do it myself as I did many years ago.  I do have an option withing a reasonable distance from me which I might consider.  No rush as I was just doing some idle thinking - as you do nowadays!

Thanks for your input chaps!

I saw your post about the NOC possibly having a hire service.  No doubt it's been considered many times over the years - maybe even tried?  Fraught with problems though and it would need maintenance as has been said.

My Dommie has 1.5 inch (38mm) inlet valves and 1 5/16 in (33.32mm) exhaust, so I don't know if your kit would suit.  The valve stems are 5/16" (0.312"/7.923mm).  Thanks for the offer.

I'm considering buying a small set from eBay with 5 cutters - 4 x 45 deg and 1 x 20 deg x 1.5".  This could give me a gas flow into the inlet using a 20 and 45 deg, not that I'm looking for speed!  It only costs £55.30 and it's a proper one from India! LOL!  As I've said, I could sell it after I'd used it and I won't get the seats recut for that money!  I still have my guide drift somewhere.  I last used it on a 1964 Jaguar 3.8 litre engine!  Same O.D.!

There is a larger set for £79.19, but they list the cutter angles as 45 deg (good) and 70 deg ( I think it's really 30 deg the way you normally measure). Both these kits have carbide cutters which are essential for the hardened Norton valve seats. The bigger kit also has fixed size reamers - 5/16" and 3/8".  The smaller one would suit the guide bore (for the valve stem).  I have an expanding reamer covering the 1/2" range used for the guides - used on Norton and Jaguar!

Nothing is happening for a while though as my projects are buried deep in the sheds!

The other hire tool could be a half-time pinion extractor.  £55 - £60 to buy!

Watch this space

Thanks Dennis.  I didn't think they were the same.  I've had to do a rethink about the Indian cutters as I've just watched a YouTube video which say they are complete junk!  The biggest failing is that the pilots are not accurately sized so give too much run-out.  They are critical to the whole operation and should be no more than 0.002" undersized. 

Have you checked the diameter of the one you used for the Jubilee?

Thanks Dennis.  You'll see from my postings here that I am considering using a professional service, but they are few and far between!  There is a possibility within 12 miles of home (Not keen on posting a cylinder head anywhere!) but it is also down to cost.  I am able to do the work myself given the right tools.  It seems you were lucky with your Indian cutters but you paid a much higher price than those I've seen on eBay - as I mentioned before.  

I'm not expecting the seats to need much cutting - only because you have to recut after replacing the guides.  Hopefully it will be minimal and is likely to only take a few minutes for each one.

As quality is variable it  could be worth me going for a more expensive kit and selling it afterwards - as I would have done for a cheaper kit.  They must be carbide for hardened seats though, not High Speed Steel.

Hi again,  I've pretty much decided , after a fair amount of research that, if I go for professional services, the seats must be machine cut, not hand cut as accuracy isn't so good.  In that case I would do it myself.  The best cutters to buy seem to be "Neway", but they are sold by the Armanaleg Company!

I will ask the few companies I have found and ask what systems they use.