Valve Guide Replacement

Hi All,

Only ever rebuilt 2 strokes in the past. Anyway I have decided as my bike was puffing blue smoke on running the engine and the plug kept oiling up it was time for a top end rebuild. I have removed all the old valves and ordered 2 new valves, valve guides and other bits and bobs.

Question 1, Is it normal for the New valves Not to fit into the New Guides? will they need to be reamed?

2, has anyone done a valve job themselves or am I better getting all the bits to a workshop for this?

3, Can anyone recommend a good rebuild shop?

Thanks
Hope to be back on the road soon.

Bald Monkey

Hi and welcome!
It's a good idea to do this job yourself.
It's pretty straight forward, if you keep your mind to it, and if you have all necessary tools.

Did you buy a complete new set? Or separate parts?
Because the new valves should fit right away, but there's nothing wrong with grinding them up lightly and is indeed sometimes necessary.

Thanks for that, I bought all separate bits but the valve stems are very-won't go in to, type tight and notjust a little stiff. I have used a little emery tape on the stems to remove the coating and they are getting a little better but still will not go into the guide more than 4/5 mm. Not sure if the guide needs reaming.

mmm... Personally, I won't go in to that.
Are you sure you got a correct set? Correct numbers, Honda parts,...?

You could make this work, but it's a pity if you put your engine together, just to notice he smokes even more as he did before and have to start all over again.
In this case, the little extra costs aren't worth all the extra labor hours.
Just my 2 cents off course.

I did this exact same job, rebuilding the cylinder head with new valves and seats, springs, camshaft, camchain, etc. etc...... Started rebuilding the engine last year slow time, and eventually got the bike on the road about a month ago.... Engine sounds a treat now.... although I did put new piston and barrel on it as well.

I bought the Honda valve spring compessor and all the parts thinking that I'd be able to rebuild the head myself..... Wrong !

I managed to get the old valve seats out by warming the head up in the oven.

I then warmed the head up again and tried to tap / press the new guides in..... Couldn't do it !..... Ended up breaking one guide and having to order another.

A this point I thought "What have I taken on here" ?!?!..... realising that I couldn't cope with this job and that I now had to send it to an engineers to get it sorted.

Also the new valves didn't fit in the new guides...... Just like you have found.

The engineer took on the job and it cost me £60 + vat....... What's useful to know is that he wanted to inspect the old valve guides. He measured them and then reamed the new guides out to the same...... He also re-seats the new valves to the cylinder head.....

I live and work in London..... An engineer shop in Wandsworth did it for me...... Can't remember the name right now but can if you want me to.

Hope this helps....... Steve

Cheers everyone, Head all sorted now, see post for the Headshop in my town. they do FED-EX if you ever want anything doing.