Skip to main content
English French German Italian Spanish

valve guides

Forums

does anyone know which grade cast iron to use to make valve guides for a cast iron head any advice would be appreciated

Permalink

Dear Pete,

               a likely answer received in the Emerald Isle would be, 'I wouldn't be starting from here if I was you'

I assume you are wanting a guide that is not readily available or you need oversize for one that has come loose. solution I have used before is to take old guide to your local engine reconditioners and buy an off the counter one that has same Internal diameter but has more meat in OD and length. You can then turn it down to suit.

a good example for any T150 Trident owners is buy BSA A10 guide as a start point.

using a commercial guide saves worry about material.

hope this is useful

regards Martin

Permalink

Although it seems strange, my 16 h has the valve guides "jacketed" with bronze, here they are used in vehicles converted to gas (CNG). So far I had no problems. The alloy is copper, tin, aluminum and manganese. A big greeting.

Permalink

I believe it is Meehanite. I have made guides out of this and it works fine.

Paul

Permalink

Your local car engine repairer/machine shop will be able to fit " K line " bronze inserts , which bring the guides back to standard /new condition . This is a well established method often used by the racing fraternity . My commando was fitted with these inserts , and performs perfectly . They are a well used/proven method of valve guide recovery and inexpensive.     If you are near to Leeds try Lockside Engineering    01977 554593.    

Permalink

thank you for the info,i want cast iron  not bronze as bronze expands at twice the rate of cast iron so in a cast iron head the bronze can only go 1 way which will be to tighten on the valve stem when the engine cools the bronze may not regain its tightness in the head this could be catastrophic, bronze guides however are ok in alloy heads as the expansion rates are similar

Permalink

I have many of those iron valve guides, and they are original Norton ones in a silver metal. If you want a set i can send them to you. 

 


Norton Owners Club Website by White-Hot Design