Importance of good valve stem seals

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triton28
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Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by triton28 »

So I bought a used cylinder and head to rebuild for my spares inventory and since I have learned how to use a digital camera recently I thought some of you not familiar with the internal workings would like a glimpse of the results of bad valve stem seals.
The LH and the RH intake valves are pre-cleaning and the intake valve in the center is what the valve should look like when in good state of cleanliness. The exhaust were just as bad except drier/sootier due to exposure to the hot gases, unlike the tar like quality of the cooled oil on these intake stems. Mileage unknown on head and cylinder.
Dave

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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by Lucasind »

Hello Dave ....you post yet another good reason to not live in the frozen NORTH !....LOL ! your valve stem seals are contracted , too cold to expand and provide a seal ! :gig: .......................not any better here on the west end of Lake Erie my friend ! our weather has been bitter cold .........glad you got a digital camera to use .......
90% OF ANY JOB ...IS GETTING STARTED !
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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by triton28 »

Yes Tony it has been cold enough these last 2 weeks to let the oil get by the seals.
Just waiting for the next Nor'easter due to arrive Thursday evening, brrrr.
I see even Jacksonville Florida and Savannah Georgia are getting freezing temperatures this winter.
Seems like the kind of winter to hunker down around a warm wood stove.
So I started seating the valves using a cordless drill, coarse and fine lapping compound and a short length of 3/16" clear plastic tubing with a length of a 3/16 machine screw, without a head, inside the tube for the chuck to close onto.
The tubing is a good fit on the top of the valve stem and the cordless drill is slow and quiet enough so I can still hear and feel the lapping process. Sure beats the old way of using a suction cup ended dowel on the valve face!
The valves I have done so far don't even leak brake cleaner they are so well seated. The worst part so far has been cleaning the ports of carbon buildup, as they are so long and have so many facets to clean. It's interesting to see the casting pebbles/alligatoring left in the ports by the factory. I went in with a carbide burr and relieved them as smooth as I could, but I am not going to go the polishing route as that is too much work.
Next job after the head is finished is deglazing the cylinder bores, cleaning pistons/rings/ring lands, checking all clearances and ordering any out of spec replacement items and getting the cylinder with in spec pistons/rings stored on a shelf with the cylinder head until needed.
Gotta go, supper is ready and I have to go lap some more valves after supper,
regards,
Dave
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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by Mr Jensee »

So what you guys are saying is MR Jensee be glad you live in the sultry south? Another good reason why I hate cold.
For Voyager XII Manuals click the link below.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ao3K0Ai2gvglgS3l7J4pBJrjfBhc
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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by Thud300 »

This isn't cold, it's ridiculous :cold:

Hey east coast, are you ready for a BOMB CYCLONE? :cold: :windy:
Returning neglected Kawasakis to glory since 2014
1991 Voyager XII "Xaviera"
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triton28
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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by triton28 »

I live right on the open Atlantic ocean so my wife and I are moving to a hotel in town for tomorrow night.
The forecast is for 100 MPH hurricane force winds and with no shelter whatsoever in front of our 90+ year old house, we're "gettin out of Dodge" for the duration of the storm.
It does seem to be an unusually difficult winter so far.
I hope all keep safe and warm until the Spring season returns,
Dave
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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by Jimvoyager01 »

90 year old house-------100 mph winds--------------how about good door seals?????????? :windy: :windy: :windy: :thmup: :hmm: :wnk2:
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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by cranky »

... and really good anchor bolts????!!!! GBG Best to Ya!!!
'03 Voyager - http://tinyurl.com/mqtgpwp VROC pics of Gina
Cranky - Bill Snodgrass AVA # 6544. VROC # 16804
Cranked >128K miles, Mtn bike-no motor!!!
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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by voyager55 »

Hope our global warming meeting isn't cancelled :laughing:
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Re: Importance of good valve stem seals

Post by triton28 »

Made it back from the overnight accommodations OK, power was off but came back on about 45 minutes after we arrived home.
The winds here were sustained at 135 KPH, which is about 85 MPH but surprisingly the old house did not suffer any damage at all, phewww!
Lots of shore line roads ripped up and are impassable now, some houses lost their rooves, and lots of uprooted trees.
Horrible night here in Nova Scotia, even the hotel we were staying at lost power during the night.
It is calm now and things are settling back into their routine, including valve lapping.
I wouldn't wish that weather on anyone,
regards,
Dave
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