2003 Royal Enfield 500 Deluxe

Adamc said:
. . . Mind you If I had the bits I'd probably do it anyhoooo.
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Hmmm.


PICT1526.JPG

Oil just below the spark plug.


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More oil at head-barrel joint


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Not much to see looking at the valves.


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There appears to be a slight lip around outer edge of the face - I've drawn the arrow a bit too far 'in' but doubt you would see much anyway. Also, old and new exhaust valves and the new seat.

Much of the oil seems to come from the push rod tunnels and then migrate around the gasket. Will do some research and have a think about some of the methods people have used to seal 'em up.

Also try to find a 'trusted' engineer to replace the valve seat and cut it for the new valve. Fink that might be beyond home bodging . . .
 
Raymond said:
Also try to find a 'trusted' engineer to replace the valve seat and cut it for the new valve. Fink that might be beyond home bodging . . .
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Getting more difficult by the day in the UK. You need to talk to Seager Engineering. They're one of the very few trustworthy places that do bespoke repairs to older bike engines these days.

Snag is, they're always extremely busy and a repair will take ages as you'll unfortunately be in a very long queue. Definitely fixable though.

Seager Engineering will also make valve guides and supply new valves if required. Good luck with it.

For this, I think I'd be looking for another second hand head to use while that one is being repaired.
 
Raymond said:
Hmmm.


View attachment 359378

Oil just below the spark plug.


View attachment 359379

More oil at head-barrel joint


View attachment 359380

Not much to see looking at the valves.


View attachment 359381


There appears to be a slight lip around outer edge of the face - I've drawn the arrow a bit too far 'in' but doubt you would see much anyway. Also, old and new exhaust valves and the new seat.

Much of the oil seems to come from the push rod tunnels and then migrate around the gasket. Will do some research and have a think about some of the methods people have used to seal 'em up.

Also try to find a 'trusted' engineer to replace the valve seat and cut it for the new valve. Fink that might be beyond home bodging . . .
Click to expand...

IMG_20251010_095838.jpg
IMG_20251010_095805.jpg
 
Its been a long time said:
Getting more difficult by the day in the UK. You need to talk to Seager Engineering. They're one of the very few trustworthy places that do bespoke repairs to older bike engines these days.

Snag is, they're always extremely busy and a repair will take ages as you'll unfortunately be in a very long queue. Definitely fixable though.

Seager Engineering will also make valve guides and supply new valves if required. Good luck with it.

For this, I think I'd be looking for another second hand head to use while that one is being repaired.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the pointer to Seagers. Can wait - this is looking like a Winter job.

Yes, could find a s/h cylinder head - looked about on that internet and found this https://accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/accessory-shop/Cylinder-Head-Tuned/18864

- the very expensive option at £800 near as dammit.
 
Raymond said:
Thank you for the pointer to Seagers. Can wait - this is looking like a Winter job.

Yes, could find a s/h cylinder head - looked about on that internet and found this https://accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/accessory-shop/Cylinder-Head-Tuned/18864

- the very expensive option at £800 near as dammit.
Click to expand...
Hmmm. That's not so insanely expensive if you budget on the repairs costing say £400? Possibly more? That's only 5 hours labour at £80 an hour and no budget for parts in that number.

Edited to add - Looks like around £300 for complete new cylinder head if bought directly from India on eBay?
 
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Its been a long time said:
Hmmm. That's not so insanely expensive if you budget on the repairs costing say £400? Possibly more? That's only 5 hours labour at £80 an hour and no budget for parts in that number.

Edited to add - Looks like around £300 for complete new cylinder head if bought directly from India on eBay?
Click to expand...

Yes, £800 is an insane amount of dosh to invest in an old motorbike but also not so far out of reach as not to remain tempting. Hypothetically.

Yes, I've seen those ads for the 500cc head complete with valves etc for that sort of money. Price Parts in the UK has a similar offer and at a similar price. A number of the RE Community have mentioned buying stuff from him.

Having a think. Going on holiday next week, such considerations will be very much on the back burner.
 
Raymond, I only mentioned using a proper shop because where I work we do assembly of heads for OTR diesel engines. We often get bare heads from Asian sources that don't always deliver a quality product and we have to rework them. This can involve removing and installing seats and cutting them to the proper geometry.
Don't know about yours but the seats we use are a material called Stellite which is hard and difficult to cut, requiring carbide cutting tools.
Seat removal involves using a router type tool which cuts a groove in the bore/ID of the seat, then using a special slide hammer puller to fit into that groove and snatch the old seat out. Installing the new seat is a simple fitted drift and brass hammer to knock the new seat in. Then the head goes to the seat cutting machine where piloted tools cut the proper seat geometry.
 
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