Windy City Weapons

[Jerry Wieland]

Stephanie I have one question - why are you using bronze composition valve guides. Years ago when lead first went out of gasoline, bronze guides were one of the first 'quick fixes' that came out. While they worked good and stopped the stuck valve thing they were incredibly short lifed. On HD knuckleheads we were redoing the head almost every year if it even made a year. On one occasion I totally wore out the bronze guides in 6000 miles. We now use cast iron and they last 100,000 miles or more. I know of one knucklehead bike with over 200,000 on the top end.

Thanks Jerry

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Another thing while I am at it. The valves I originally used 30 years or more ago were cut down from Manley stainless 427 Ford Nascar valves (OEM were sodium filled - Manley not). Now Rowe makes them for us. The only problem was a soft stem where the rocker pushed on the top. I got around that by using panhead lash caps/rotators.

I also think you guys are doing a great job but I will be on a Harley JD come September.

Jerry