Japan Meets Britain

jerry · Post by **jerry** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:07 pm

It is looking good Vince. I am sure that you are enjoying this adventure. The Quest for extra performance can be addictive. Wish you all the best. Jerry

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 4:13 pm

Thanks Jerry -- hopefully this will finally do it!

I dropped the head and remaining pieces to John today, and everything is coming along. The transmission is installed, and he was very impressed with the quality of the machine work in the transmission -- it spun and shifted beautifully when it was dry, so you can imagine how nice it will be when it's all together and running with oil! As well, the head looked good to him, the numbers sounded good to him, and hopefully the whole package will work well together -- we'll see!

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:15 pm

Has the head been blasted with sharp media?
Satin rather than smooth finish. ... ........lm

Vince Lupo wrote:One more piece back!

So, this is what Mr. Ladd did: open intake and exhaust ports, valve job and vacuum test, final clean and assemble with the new valve springs and retainers. He said that there was nothing surprising, and no problems whatsoever.

Springs 1.410 = 100 lbs @ .400 Lift = 250 lbs.

Hopefully it won't explode!

teazer · Post by **teazer** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:54 am

Vince,

I'm not sure exactly what shape the crowns are on those new pistons, but do they match the head with that recess? Or does the head have to be machined to work with them?

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:35 am

Answers to two questions:

A) Ed -- no (and I double-checked with John) the head has never been blasted with sharp media, at least not while I've ever owned the bike. Might just be the way it looks through that plastic bag?

B) Teazer -- the crown of the new pistons is exactly the same as the stock ones (checked with Bore-Tech), so no extra work in that regard was needed. As a matter of fact, that was one specific thing that Mr. Ladd wanted to verify prior to his having commenced his head work, so we are fine there.

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:34 am

Thanks Vince. ............lm

Vince Lupo wrote:Answers to two questions:

A) Ed -- no (and I double-checked with John) the head has never been blasted with sharp media, at least not while I've ever owned the bike. Might just be the way it looks through that plastic bag?

B) Teazer -- the crown of the new pistons is exactly the same as the stock ones (checked with Bore-Tech), so no extra work in that regard was needed. As a matter of fact, that was one specific thing that Mr. Ladd wanted to verify prior to his having commenced his head work, so we are fine there.

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:01 am

While John and I were going over the bike yesterday, we discussed options regarding the hole where the kickstart shaft comes out of the right cover. John figured that he'd just find another plug that matched the other rubber plug that's on the cover, but then he came up with another idea: If I had another entire cover (which I do!), smooth those two areas flat with the rest of the cover surface, get rid of the un-needed grease nipple, fill in the holes, then powder coat the cover like the original one. Don't need those holes now that the whole kickstart assembly is eliinated, so I think we're going to look into having that done. Fortunately I do have this spare cover, and I can ride the bike with the 'old' cover and change it out whenever.

John always figures out new ways to spend my money!