Author Topic: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?  (Read 1278 times)

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Offline vaah

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CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« on: June 24, 2019, 07:32:20 AM »
My exhaust valve was bent, and I cracked the valve guide in the process of freeing the valve. So I bought a new valve and valve guide, now I just found out that the valve won't fit in the valve guide. I double checked my order and it seems the correct part for exhaust valve. the valve guide number is 12203-333-405.

Did anyone experience the same problem as me?

Offline robvangulik

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2019, 07:55:13 AM »
New valve guides always have to be reamed at the exact right size for the valve that is to be used in it. The right clearance will be in your workshop manual.

Offline calj737

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2019, 08:55:30 AM »
When you replace guides, the seat must be recut to align the stem perfectly to the guide. Some guides are already reamed, some are not.
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Offline bryanj

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2019, 09:36:31 AM »
All genuine Honda valve guides need to be reamed to size and DO NOT let a machine shop use an adjustable or "near enough" reamer, it needs to be the EXACT correct size and yes the seat will need to be recut
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Offline Don R

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2019, 11:05:27 AM »
 I found reamers on ebay, the trick is to know the exact size.
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Offline gtmdriver

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2019, 03:12:09 PM »
Ideally you should use a piloted reamer with a plain lead-in section allowing you to line up the reamer with the guide bore exactly before you start to remove metal.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2019, 06:20:56 PM »
When looking for a reamer for this job, select one that is 0.0012" larger than the valve stem. That's the clearance number for the 350F exhaust guides and stems. Honda's OEM spec was 0.0008" 0.0016" stem-to-guide clearance. Most machine shops will try to ream at least 0.0022", which is Honda's worn-out spec. That's how I get much of the work I see these days... :(
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Offline jaytee-nz

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2019, 07:14:09 PM »
Mark - would that explain the large number of posts from CB350 owners complaining of smoking / burning oil on newly rebuilt engines ?

Offline HondaMan

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2019, 09:20:25 PM »
Mark - would that explain the large number of posts from CB350 owners complaining of smoking / burning oil on newly rebuilt engines ?

Exactly. And, most of the heads that I get in here for rebuild. Sadly, many of those are coming to me AFTER the local [bike, Honda, chopper, specialty] shop worked on them (worked them over?).  :(
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

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Offline HondaMan

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2019, 09:28:55 PM »
You can also get reamers at MSC Supply for much less than automotive reamers. They are intended for limited use: I get about 24 valve guides per reamer from these when reaming by hand (patience, patience...) before they lose their edge. After that they tend to ream on the small side, and take more time, so I chuck them in a [slow] drill, heat the guide with a torch and run it thru, then let it cool and run a fresh reamer thru. This lets my newer reamers last longer so I don't have to charge as much as some shops do, in the end. Those poor guys with the big reamers (Serdi, Sioux, etc.) can do a nice job quickly, but their reamers cost like $250 each, so they do have to charge more.

For a long time the APE valve guides came with holes almost to spec for the Honda valves. Most needed another 0.0005" ream if brand-new "Made in Japan" automotive valves were used (these are popular aftermarket valves for these engines). Last year, though, APE's guides began coming out 0.001" undersize, so I've been reaming a lot more lately. It sort of 'feels' like the 1970s again, when Honda's guides (cast iron, all) came 0.0004" undersize and you had to use their hand reamers for the final fit after installing them.
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

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Offline vaah

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2019, 02:40:02 AM »
Thanks for the reply. The valve guide i received looks different from the other 3 exhaust valve guide that came with the engine originally. The part i needed is 12203-333-335 but the shop sent me 12203-333-405 instead because it was superseded. Also the original valve guide is supposed to take stem seal, but what I got doesn't look it can.

This is the valve guide I received in the mail.


and this is what I'm looking for, the one that can take stem seal.
« Last Edit: June 26, 2019, 02:42:07 AM by vaah »

Offline vaah

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #11 on: June 26, 2019, 02:46:55 AM »
New valve guides always have to be reamed at the exact right size for the valve that is to be used in it. The right clearance will be in your workshop manual.
hmm, are you saying if I buy another one that take stem seal, that one also need to be reamed and recut?? I don't have machine to ream, and I am a bit skeptical I can find machine shop that can do it perfectly. I thought if I buy the original stuff it will be plug n play without any modification...

Offline bryanj

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #12 on: June 26, 2019, 04:25:11 AM »
As he said ALL Honda supplied valve guides need reaming after fitting and i think whoever sold you the part sold you an early one without seal as,  to the best of my knowledge, the fitting of the seal was a later upgrade
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Offline robvangulik

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Re: CB350F valve won't fit in new guide. any thought?
« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2019, 07:07:21 AM »
Correct, correct and correct!
If I were you I'd go back and try (demand) switching it for the right model....