My friend is struggling to find the correct replacement valve guide seals for his Shovel with 1978 barrels and cylinder head, bronze valve guides and manly valves.

I've tried the Harley dealers who advised to purchase the standard ones but these are nothing like the originals (see attached image). The manly valve guides seals aren't any good either.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Adam

 

I suspect what you have there are aftermarket ones, which may make tracking down the right parts a bit difficult.

 

A further thought is that not many shovels were imported into the UK as new bikes, so that bike may be an import. If it is a recent import, there is no certainty just what parts it may have in there. There is a Shovelhead section of HDF, so I suggest you call in there and see if you can get some help. Not many members venture into this DIY section - they're too busy doing stuff!

 

All that I have installed had a metal case with a blue rubber umbrella seal wrapped with a spring sticking out the small end. They slipped over the straw cover stem and had to be tapped into place over the guide. What you show looks to me like an all rubber replacement..... Who is the supplier?

 

http://www.debrix.com/Intake-Exhaust...FYo7Ogodk1YAXg

 

Intake & Exhaust 4pk Valve Guide Seals for 1981-up Harley Shovelhead


81 and up.... Mine was an '81 FXRS

 

In 78 they did hot come with guide seals. So on them if you want to run guide seals you have to machine the lower collars properly. Done this many times. I personally do not like bronze guides for the same reason Harley does not run them.