Exhaust System Topics New and old exhaust system discussions. Fitment issues to sound bites and suggestions. Post them here.

Head Work

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 8, 2013 | 07:58 PM
  #1  
danoflhrci's Avatar
danoflhrci
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: On the road
Default Head Work

Howdy all. I’m doing a 95” on an 02 RK and would like to share my position and hopefully get some solid feedback. I’m overseas & have no access to a machine shop that does porting. I’d rather not ship them back to the States because of the expense, hassle/expense with customs here upon return & the down time. So I’m considering doing a little tuning myself. Crazy talk???

1: I understand that where the manifold gasket meets the head, any extra pronounced ledge on the head can be filed down to eliminate that resistance. My question is would this sacrifice atomization?

2: would polishing the rough cast in the ports & manifold increase flow or could that sacrifice atomization?

3: I have kibblewhite black diamond valves for this project. If my seats & guides are clean could I do a good laping & installation without a valve job (cutting)?

4: would polishing the combustion chamber (while the old valves are still in of course) be beneficial?

Appreciate any help & ideas!!!
 
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2013 | 09:20 PM
  #2  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default

Your best option would be to have someone in the US purchase a take off set of '07 or later heads and intake flanges for you. Have the heads decked to provide the compression for the cams you plan to run and send them to you. The later head flow much better than the earlier heads. You could disassemble if you wanted and do a little work on the short turn in the intak runner and some bowl blending under the valve; the exhaust doesn't really need any work. Shipping cost a little more but the results will be significant compared to what you are currently planning. JMHO.

EDIT: Kirby is right about the valve job which I overlooked; very important and should be done before the heads are shipped to you. Maybe Kirby can help you out??
 

Last edited by djl; Jan 9, 2013 at 10:13 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 06:48 AM
  #3  
prodrag1320's Avatar
prodrag1320
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 624
From: deland,florida
Default

just cleaning up the ports wont do much,they will need bowl work & a GOOD,radiused valve job (oftain over looked),I agree with DJL on buying some heads outright
 
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 06:01 PM
  #4  
Hillsidecycle.com's Avatar
Hillsidecycle.com
Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
Default

Originally Posted by danoflhrci
Howdy all. I’m doing a 95” on an 02 RK and would like to share my position and hopefully get some solid feedback. I’m overseas & have no access to a machine shop that does porting. I’d rather not ship them back to the States because of the expense, hassle/expense with customs here upon return & the down time. So I’m considering doing a little tuning myself. Crazy talk???

1: I understand that where the manifold gasket meets the head, any extra pronounced ledge on the head can be filed down to eliminate that resistance. My question is would this sacrifice atomization?

2: would polishing the rough cast in the ports & manifold increase flow or could that sacrifice atomization?

3: I have kibblewhite black diamond valves for this project. If my seats & guides are clean could I do a good laping & installation without a valve job (cutting)?

4: would polishing the combustion chamber (while the old valves are still in of course) be beneficial?

Appreciate any help & ideas!!!

We've actually seen quite amazing results, porting the heads with the OE valves.
We use Black Diamond, AV&V, Ferrea valves here.
We do not assume they are ground correctly, and each one is ground here, prior to installation, and then lapped to insure all is well.
Happy to lend a hand however we can.........
Scott
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 07:39 PM
  #5  
danoflhrci's Avatar
danoflhrci
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: On the road
Default

Thanks much for the feedback. I will go ahead & pick up some later heads & have them worked there as suggested. They can sit in the States for a while & I will suit-case them back upon my next return to avoid the guys in shiny black shoes here. Not sure when that may be, so in the mean time I may go ahead with the 95” using the stock heads & I can look forward to the back to back flow difference in the future.
Thanks again for the great info!!!
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 10:30 PM
  #6  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default

Originally Posted by danoflhrci
Thanks much for the feedback. I will go ahead & pick up some later heads & have them worked there as suggested. They can sit in the States for a while & I will suit-case them back upon my next return to avoid the guys in shiny black shoes here. Not sure when that may be, so in the mean time I may go ahead with the 95” using the stock heads & I can look forward to the back to back flow difference in the future. Thanks again for the great info!!!
Recently saw an 88" with stock heads and a set of Andrews 48 cams make 90+TQ and 80+HP; not bad for a cam only upgrade and cheap; might consider something like that while you wait for heads.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Schorsch70
Shovelhead
2
Jun 3, 2014 12:50 AM
terrapin88
EVO
24
May 14, 2013 09:04 AM
07 dyna man
General Harley Davidson Chat
5
Apr 30, 2011 04:11 PM
Sublime1
Exhaust System Topics
3
Oct 22, 2010 01:04 PM
txtec
Exhaust System Topics
14
Jan 31, 2008 08:14 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:52 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE