Alloy Head reco

[mark]

I'm ready to order new valves, springs and guides for my 55 road rocket. I'd like to make sure that I get quality items. Any advise as to who can supply, or who NOT to use. Or any other things to be aware of. I'm keeping the inlets original size so they are the smaller ones 67 0968 and not everyone seems to have them. I couldn't find them on SRM's site for example and my local supplier here in Melbourne also doesn't stock them and his prices for the other bits are about double the UK prices.
Regards
Mark

[muskrat]

G'day Mark,
                     "his prices for the other bits are about double the UK prices." Your not talking of a place that starts with M are you 
Get used to it down here. I only buy local if needed in a hurry. Seems they all want to be millionairs.
Cheers

[a101960]

Mark,

Lyford Classic Services have 67-0968 valves @ £16.04 + postage. Lyford catalogue part number LCS 1006A

Email lcsbsa2003@btinternet.com

website www.lyford-bsa.co.uk

John

[mark]

Muskrat you picked them. They do serve a purpose but you pay for it. Thanks John, I see that Draganfly and Supreme also seem to have what I want. I guess what I was trying to establish is whether or not there are dodgy valves and springs out there like some of the other junk around. It is not the sort of thing you want to break on you.
Mark

[bonny]

is your alloy head cracked about the rockerbox bolt holes ? mine is 

[mark]

Bonny, I have 3 Alloy heads at present ,a 54/55 with seperate manifold, a 57 and a super rocket and all have good threads and no cracks.
Mark

[Rocket Racer]

I got my valves and springs for my '55 twin port head from draganfly and had the guides and work done locally.
Although my head looked fine, it turned out the guides had been put in badly damaging the guide holes and I ended up needing two new valve seats. Cost me a small fortune  but at least its now all done now.

British Spares in Wellington (NZ) are another crowd that have a good on line presence and you can search for stock if you know the part numbers. I get some parts from them depending on availability.

[mark]

Thanks Tim I think that I will go with draganfly, the last few times I have used British Spares they haven't been able to supply everything that I was after. What springs did you get? I'm assuming that the 55 uses the same as the later rockets but its hard to find any info. The valves are definitely the same.
Mark

[Goldy]

Mark. You are quite right to question the quality of these parts and as has been stated in other sections of this form poor quality is becoming a real problem. Draganfly are a reputable Company, but they only buy them from someone else. It would be good if some of these suppliers started to give a guarentee with thier products. I have began to trust SRM with machined parts, but no so sure about any of the others.

[Rocket Racer]

Thanks Tim I think that I will go with draganfly, the last few times I have used British Spares they haven't been able to supply everything that I was after. What springs did you get? I'm assuming that the 55 uses the same as the later rockets but its hard to find any info. The valves are definitely the same.
Mark

Mark,
I actually ordered the later super rocket big valves and springs (not the super fancy expensive ones). My head (I believe) was a converted shooting star one. It had been re radius'ed and ported by a PO but was still running small A7 valves. (it doesnt have the A10 overstamping)
I also had the porting revised. My inlet ports are also way off centre from the manifold studs, so we machined our own manifolds as nothing stock was likely to fit.
A '55 RR should have a 356 cam, so coil bind shouldnt be an issue. I've fitted a 357 and I actually had to get the cam tunnel milled out as it wouldnt fit!
Even with the twin TT9's we had it idling quite nicely, but getting it to start before we started fiddling with them was an absolute B@#$@#$t. we towed the bike quite a distance, but admittedly werent helped by clutch slip.
Look forward to seeing a pic of the mighty RR finished!
Tim

[muskrat]

G'day RR,
                 funny about the cam trough, I have fitted a 357 to both the '51 A7 and the '57 SS now with A10 cases with room to spare.
The inlet tracts are supposed to be off center to the studs. 1.41" in and 1.38" ex valves fit no worries, the later big valves take a little work.
Cheers

[magicflem]

I have an alloy head number 67-1549. Can anybody tell me what model it is off?

[Brian]

This should answer your question.

http://atlanticgreen.com/a10alloyhead.htm

[trevinoz]

If that doesn't, it is a Big Valve head from 1960 on.
Trev.

[magicflem]

thanks Brian and Trev..

[Goldseeker]

I have an alloy head number 67-1549. Can anybody tell me what model it is off?

Not thinking of selling it by any chance?

[sinbad]

Love this forum!.
                      Just keep reading and all my questions (and some I have not thought yet)are answered.
Best straight forward web sight I have seen so far John A101960.
Regards Sinbad.