knuckle valve seals

[vern]

I'm working on a knuck right now and the guides that I recieved from Vtwin have such a large top on them that they won't take a seal. the HD book does not show seals nore does the parts books do I have to machine the guides or just forget about the seals?

[jimlibo]

knucks never had valve stem seals

[vern]

I'm getting the local machine shop to cut the new guides to accept seals, man these heads are labour intensive.

[prodrag1320]

just curious,does your customer know that you have no clue when it comes to knucks? be carefull not to mess them up too bad as replacements are far & few between

[vern]

You are right I've never done a knuckle head top end, but the heads went together reasonably well, will they leak, most likley, but the guides and seals, rings and cylinders and pistons also went well. I am going to flash it up tomorrow morning. I'll take a pic and let you know how it went.

[prodrag1320]

their not rocket science by any means,put do take alittle different techniques than other heads,im sure it`ll be fine

[vern]

I fired up the knuckle yesterday and it ran fine, I was surprised that there were no leaks but time is the test. And there was no blue smoke from the exhaust like before so I am very happy about the way it turned out. But I spent 19 hours on the top end rings to seals no mistakes and no time waisting , they are very labour intensive. Pics to come.

[vern]

pics of Knuckle head. these are V-Twin and S&S engines that we buy and build bikes around.

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[vern]

more pics

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[vern]

can't seem to get all the pics on one post

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[jimlibo]

So in essence, this not a REAL Knucklehead you're working on? A rebop? Just curious.

[vern]

Yes they are reproductions of the original, same castings, same parts, same oil leaks. can't really tell the diff.
Yes the same "Potty mouth"ty design, But people love them. I love Shovelheads!

[ricochet]

I love looking at any knuckle engine but I must say... you don't usually see them that clean and aluminum colored.

I just saw this string and although I haven't used it yet I had bought a guide cutter from Goodson's I think, quite a while ago to do just what you were needing.  It's a piloted cutter to do the od of the guide for seals.  Use with a drill or probably even by hand.

ricochet

[vern]

 the shop that did the valves had a jig and used a hand drill. when I flashed it up it ran like a top and didn't leak a drop, but after a short ride it was puking oil out of every crack and cranny. As it turn out the last guy that worked on the bike ran a stupid set of metal oil lines to the filter, they are kinked or flattened. I ran the oil straight to the tank and presto the oil stopped leaking and it looks pretty good with out a puddle of oil under it.

[War Horse]

Just wondering out loud here , but did they update the bottom end with Timkens or is it still the roller bottom (left side) ? 

[vern]

big splined shaft, timken bearings, alt or gen. electronic ignition. newer spark plugs, and Super E carb

[War Horse]

Thanks Vern, thats a big improvement over stock.....