GL1000 HEAD

[dalewinslow]

AM TRYING TO INSTALL new valve guide in a 77 gw head and the manual says to heat in oven. Was wondering if anyone has done this just by heating with a torch to remove old guide and quick install new one. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Old Fogey]

Don't do that! You stand the chance of warping the head. It needs to be heated uniformly.
Before removing the old guide make sure that you clean off any carbon from the part protruding into the port or you run the risk of removing material from the guide bore.
Put the new guide in the freezer for a while before fitting, makes it easier.
The guide will need to be reamed out to fit the valve stem. The stem is an odd-ball size of 0.257" or 6.55mm so a standard size reamer won't do it. I use an adjustable flute reamer for doing this.

[dalewinslow]

Great tip on the freezer idea-never woulda thunk of. Also about torch heating- would have been too easy. Service manual says to heat to 176-212f. Hope this wont fu the head. Was looking for anyone who maybe did this before?? No big rush here in Chicago. or chi-beria. Maybe in 2 months will be cruising? Thanks, Dale

[ntintruder]

I've done it many times on the old British twins, never did a Wing but can't be any different, just get the guide good and cold in a freezer while the head is in the oven and it'll go right in.

[WingAdmin]

You can heat the head, just do it evenly. Doing it slowly in an oven, where the entire head is at the same temperature, is the way to go. Heating a small area locally with a torch while the rest of it stays relatively cool is an excellent way to warp it.