well hell

[garyajaz]

feeling frisky last sat.
nice 80 degree day.
what the hell.
walked past the buell and FXDX.
rolled out the iron.
it took a while to kick, as usual.
but then a familiar sound.  sheeet sheeet..
comp leak.
i figgured maybe my rear comp release stuck and did not close.
checked. nope.
looked over outside at head gaskett area.  all fine. (copper paint/sealer still showing).
crap.  started taking it apart.  valves kissed and bent both.
i did this 6 months ago with front head.  but it was obvious.  valve stem galling and wore out guides.
replaced front head valves and new guides both heads.
looking over the carnage i see no galling.  valves move freely in guides.
no obvious problems.
clearances with bronz alum guides fine.
it ran 100's of miles after last work.
push rods adjusted correcdtly.
maybe it just needed new valves when i put in front head ones.
but i did look over closely.  every thing was fine then and other than the bent valves, (not stuck)_ still looks good.
does my bike of 38 years now hate me?

[Lew]

I don't think it hates you, just wants some attention.
Seems odd it was fine then would do this.  You say that the guides are good and no sticking, so I'd definitely be checking valve to valve clearance.  Too tight here could cause this, especially if the valve springs are tired, or if a lifter was sticking due to galling of either the lifter or guide bore.

[garyajaz]

have huge XLR valves in it.
yeah close. but been running these in axtel ported heads over 35 years now.
not a lot of bent valves even when racing and over revving.
springs are the sifton double racing units.
but yeah, been in there long time.
still for something to stick on start up?  doubtfull springs.

very good idea on  the lifters and bores. 
crap, did not even think of that.  when i get unsore from all the work
(next week) will remove and examine.
its all sifton cams/gears and havent had side case off in years.
so they could not have been assembled with tooth off.
there is a lot of overlap with these custom cams.
everything is close.  so yeah, if one component sticks even a little the valves will meet each other.
gary