BSA B33 Inlet Valve Guide- National Scarcity?

[Cardiboy1]

I am in the middle of a top-end overhaul of my 1959 B33. Commenced work to cure a pushrod tube oil leak , but it revealed a serious level of oil burning in the combustion chamber. It wasn't the piston, which is in perfect condition, as is the ring set. The bore isn't quite perfect but is pretty good, so I'm going to leave them alone.
Removing the valves uncovered a noticeable wobbliness in both the valve stems. So I resolved to replace the valves, and get new valve guides fitted into the head while it is dismantled. All but one of the parts has been ordered.
Problem seems to be- no supplier I have contacted either by phone or by website search has the inlet valve guide in stock. One I spoke to said they'd had difficulty finding them for some time. Another said Alpha Bearings at Dudley used to make them, but haven't done so for a long time.
Therefore, it looks like I'm going to have to fit the new inlet valve into the existing guide, hoping that the unworn new valve stem makes up sufficiently for any wear in the guide! To be frank, the existing inlet valve stem looks pretty ropey, and I'll be glad to replace it.
BIG QUESTION- does anyone know where I can obtain a new inlet valve guide? BSA Part No 65-1515.

[Steve.S]

If you cannot find a new valve guide, I would definitely not fit your new valve into your worn out guide.
Perhaps you could take the head to an Engineering Shop and have the guide sleeved? May be cheaper than having a new guide made.

[Jim S]

My B33 has been running with an HD Sporster guide for several years.

Jim

[Cardiboy1]

Steve.S
Thanks for your info.
I was going to get an engineering workshop to remove old/fit new valve guides anyway, and have been pointed towards one in Newark. I'll ask them about 're-sleeving', though I've never heard of it being done on such small components before. Anyone else come across that?

[Cardiboy1]

Jim S.
Thanks for your response.
That's very interesting. Can you provide any helpful details so I can get one if I need to go that route?
Can you recall if any machining was required to enable fitting the HD guide to the BSA head?

[Derek996]

I had a valve guide sleeved on my ZB32 recently. I can't remember how much it cost but it wasn't expensive and, particularly with an alloy head, there is less risk of damage to the head.

[Cardiboy1]

Thanks Derek.
I phoned the engineering place at Newark today, mentioned sleeving the guide. The reaction was- we wouldn't try that!
With your ZB, it might be a different scenario with the alloy head, compared to the iron head of the B33 where one basically bashes the guide in and out of location (-the polite term is drift).

[cdsdorset2]

Get the guide sleeved. You want someone who fits k liners.
T&l in Bedford have done loads for me. Much better than disturbing the head to remove guides. They can be honed to tighter tolerances and are internally scrolled for lubrication.
I have them in my BMW and have had at least 6 heads done for customers.

[Cardiboy1]

CDSDorset,
Many thanks for this.
It prompted a bit of internet trawling, and somehow I ended up looking at the extensive website of the Cylinder Head Shop (Len Paterson) who do this particular thing, which seems to involve boring the existing valve guide guide, fitting a highly trick liner, then reaming it so the valve fits nicely. Not only that, but they specialise in older motorcycle heads AND they're not far from where I live. This is definitely worth a try.

[Cardiboy1]

By the way, while I'm doing all this to the head, does anyone think it's worth getting the ports cleaned up?
The Brummie iron casting looks distinctly rough in the ports, probably giving even the modest gas flow of a B engine a hard time.

[Bigsingle]

Thanks Derek.
I phoned the engineering place at Newark today, mentioned sleeving the guide. The reaction was- we wouldn't try that!
With your ZB, it might be a different scenario with the alloy head, compared to the iron head of the B33 where one basically bashes the guide in and out of location (-the polite term is drift).

That re sleeving is actually  called  a K-liners they are very good , typal guides are ½ OD the bsa ones are huge  . Plenty of existing guides have k liners fitted .

[Derek996]

By the way, while I'm doing all this to the head, does anyone think it's worth getting the ports cleaned up?
The Brummie iron casting looks distinctly rough in the ports, probably giving even the modest gas flow of a B engine a hard time.

I doubt of it will do much for the performance of a B33 but it won't do any harm either.

[Steve.S]

It's your choice, but personally I wouldn't pay for getting the ports cleaned up. But I think it would be worth investing in a kit of abrasive mops and grinding stones on extended shafts and use a drill to clean the ports up yourself. As they say, every little helps. But I suppose it depends on how much surplus cash you have.
While you're there, why not polish the inlet port and combustion chamber to a mirror finish? After all, it's only a bit of fun and at least will look nice and reduce carbon build up. 

[Jim S]

Cardiboy1

The shop that installed the Sporster guide in my B33 head was J Precision in Longueuil, Quebec. Because they specialize in HD and Ducati engine machining, they just picked the closest guide they had on hand and reshaped it to suit the B33. It wasn't a simple "drop in" but not that complicated either.

Jim

[Cardiboy1]

Steve.S
Mirror finish? But surely I won't be able to look at it/me.