Bronze valve guides verses cast iron

[travelingman]

A fue years ago I had a valve to stick an get slaped by the piston an bent . When I repaired it I replaced them all with standard OEM guides. Reciently I've had the loud clacking noise to to reappear shortly after start up. Sometimes even after the bike has been ridden an the motor isn't cold yet. It's not the noise you normally hear after start up as the oil makes its way to the top end . So I'm reasonably sure I'm headed for a instant replay .
This bike has 35000 mi on it an it has set alot in the last fue years. I had someone tell me that there was a certain number of Z1B motors that had valve guide issues when they were new. But KAW just delt with it on a per bike bases instead of doing a full recall ? He recommended the cast guides said it would elimanate a repeat occurence . I,ve also wondered If I could have weak springs this bike was run hard when it was new. I read what someone said about closeing pressure guess that would tell the story. If I do replace them should I just use stock springs since the cams will be stock ? An what about the guides what are my choices?
If I get new valves is there anything out there that would be better than OEM for a stock engine . I plain on ringing it to I don.t know yet if that will involve boreing it . Well better get off here did.t mean to write a book.
It,s just really nice to have site to share comon interst . Thanks

[Garn 1]

Travelingman, I doubt if any one would tell the difference in the material guides are manufactured in, be it bronze, brass or cast iron. Perhaps, one or the other, may wear a little more.

The only trouble I've seen with the guides, otherthan worn oval with excessive wear (100,000k), is looseness! They often still work but are jammed on the valve and moving up and down in the guide hole. These require, oversize valves to be fitted and require expert help. This trouble is usually brought about when replacing guides, by pressing out and not heating the head up first. It would be worth checking, as this may be the noise. They can be viewed thru the manifold

At the mileage you quoted, ring replacement would freshen up the motor. Rebore is not likely required.
RegardZ.

[debben1]

Hello Travellingman, If you are going to replace the guide use the APE alloy bronze type, these are much better than the iron type, the alloy bronze type where fitted to all the USA police bikes because of the high milage they where expected to cover. Alloy bronze type not only last longer but have a shoulder machined into there design to eliminate the horrible circlip used on the iron type, fitting a set of alloy bronze guides means you can also upgrade to stainless valves at a later date, these guides are also less expensive than the original iron type, Steve

[ROZZER]

ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF THE APE GUIDES IS THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE OVERSIZE, SO IF THE GUIDES IN YOUR BIKE ARE LOOSE THEN OVERSIZE GUIDES ARE THE WAY TO GO. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN DEBBEN STOCK THEM IN DIFFERENT SIZES ON THE O/D. FITTED THE 1ST OVERSIZE (0.004'' I THINK) IN MY Z1B.
GOOD LUCK

JR

[travelingman]

Thanks for the info . thanks to the other two gearheads as well. Debben
I went on your site today it appears you would have anything I need .
All I would need to do is pick a level . I,m sure this is a dum question
but you do ship world wide don,t you ? I just didn,t see a conversion to
US dallar or a mention of shipping . I don,t have the motor appart yet so
it will be a while before I get my list started . Just trying to exsplore my
options ahead of time . I,m sure lots of things are available here but it
want be locally . An finding someone knowledgeable is a task around
here . Although I do have access to good machineist all he,ll need is the
specs an parts. I have my doubts to that it will need boreing . I,m the
onlyone thats ever ridden it an hasn,t been overheated. So proffesional
hawning an standard rings you think? I was on Z1 enterprizes site an
they indicated there hard to come by an there selling the last they have.
OEM . Well enough for thanks for the help !

[debben1]

Hello Travelling man, Yes, we ship Worldwide, and I can give you discount if your a member of the Z1 owners club, the discount will not show up when you order online but if you include your membership number with your order detail I can correct that when I download the order.
Regards, Steve