Topic: Burned valves.........

[Hannibal Smith]

All my intakes look peachy, but my exhaust valves have seen better days, 3 are serviceable, but one is a no-go.
Anybody know a source of CB550 exhaust valves besides BikeBandit?

Thankfully, my seats look great, but you can see the pitting at the stem base. The beadblaster brought that bit to light.

[Whaleman]

Was this rust? Valves burn on the seat face not the stem. This area does not slide in the guide. Are you sure you could not just polish/sand/grind this area smooth so there is not a stress concentration and reuse? The valve face actually looks OK to me. Dan

[MoMo]

The seat looks good, IMO if you're not building a super racer it should work.

[Kong]

Was this rust? Valves burn on the seat face not the stem. This area does not slide in the guide. Are you sure you could not just polish/sand/grind this area smooth so there is not a stress concentration and reuse? The valve face actually looks OK to me. Dan

Yep, what he said.  However don't grind it smooth, just hit it with a wire brush (on a grinder) to clean it off.  Grinding can weaken a valve and if the head later separates from the valve stem it makes one hell of an expensive mess - don't ask me how I know.