early and late valve springs

lolski · Post by **lolski** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:07 pm

Hello i have 54 g3ls and the hair springs are held in place by trays i have a spare cylinder head that i would like to refurbish but the springs are inserted in can this be changed to the tray type or leave it as it is and would it be ok to use on the bike if i needed to change it later thanks

Laurence

Biscuit · Post by **Biscuit** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:10 pm

Are you saying that the spare head has coil springs?

lolski · Post by **lolski** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:14 pm

blimey that was quick thanks biscuit it as hair spring

lolski · Post by **lolski** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:36 pm

hello any body out there

bjork · Post by **bjork** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:58 pm

Yes, we're all here, scratching our heads and checking manuals! I can't get at my books at the moment, but I wonder if by 'trays' you mean the post 52 arrangement? The earlier type was a thick flat plate with holes through from side to side for the spring arms to be inserted in. I can't remember any where they're fitted in the head? Is yours gunged up with burnt old oil perhaps? The iron heads seem to build up a lot of rubbish here.
If you do use a different head you probably just need to check that pushrod tube lengths are the same and that everything else lines up.

That was just a bit of padding to fill the time till Ken shows up, he'll fix it.

lolski · Post by **lolski** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:23 pm

hi bjork my head on the bike is standard the valve springs are sitting on a tray which as a hole in centre and locates over valve guide the hair spring in the spare are held by as you say by thick plate with holes in it i am currently riding my bike the spare was given to me as a returned faviour.
regards
Laurence

Biscuit · Post by **Biscuit** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:30 pm

The part numbers for the tray type springs are different to the springs for your spare head 'blocks'. as are the cylinder head part numbers, so it is possible you can't fit the trays to your spare head and vice versa.

lolski · Post by **lolski** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:41 pm

Thanks biscuit for that if that is is the case about the spring fittings if i rebuild the spare as it is could the spare head still be compatable with my 54 G3LS with the only difference being the spring set up.
thanks

itma · Post by **itma** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:49 pm

I am sure you can mix and match these spring sets, you just need to use a bit of common sense.
Pay close attention to small details such as the recess needed to clear the spring clip on the valve guide where fitted.
I think the difference between the springs is in the length of the legs,and/or the width between them.
I am sure it will work,as I am playing about retro fitting later springs to an even earlier iron head

lolski · Post by **lolski** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:26 am

thank you all for the info i thought i would ask before i recondition the head and that i am not wasting my time the head is in good condition with no strippped threads that i can see
Laurence