Topic: Did I hit the jackpot? Ebay 400f head with Ti retainers/HD srings?

[jessezm]

So I just picked up an extra head for my ongoing 400f/466 that's been together and apart 3 times this year, but the insides look different from my stock parts.  Can anyone tell me what I've got here?  Springs/retainers on the left are the mystery parts, on the right are stock.  Form my observations, the retainers on the left are more robust and "snap" into place in the springs.  They are also noticeably lighter that the stock retainers, and seem to be anodized blackish/purplish.   While the mystery springs are slightly shorter, when they are together in a stack with the buckets on the bottom and retainers on top, the stack is taller than the stock springs and retainers (which have no "buckets") by about 2mm.    Can anyone shed some light on these parts for me?

[jessezm]

Or are they alloy?

[MRieck]

Magnet?

[jessezm]

Oh, duh....  They are NOT magnetic

[jessezm]

I am guessing hard anodized aluminum alloy?

[MRieck]

Oh, duh....  They are NOT magnetic

A good start.

[jessezm]

Oh, duh....  They are NOT magnetic

A good start.

So it's late and I've had a few beers!

[Lostboy Steve]

I have no opinion on what they are however im pretty sure aluminum and valve train dont go together well. Its gotta be some other alloy.


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[754]

IMO they are either coted aluminum or Ti.. big chance its aluminum.
 Hard-anodized BTW gives it steel-like hardness, for those that are not familiar with it. Works well on belt drive components, and other applications.
 7075 Al ..btw , is probably a lot harder than most people would think.
 Aluminum of either a had alloy or coated is fine in that application.

[jessezm]

Would you run them or stick to stock/known retainers and springs?  The bike has a 466 kit, a mild Webcam, and will be getting the Mrieck treatment shortly and bronze valve guides/new valves.  Also a Yosh-style exhaust and bored carbs.  I'm not racing, though, it's just a fun street and back-roads machine, with an occasional highway trip.  I guess I worry about wear on the cam a little more than I worry about valve float.  I've had her past 10k RPMs plenty of times and never had a problem with it.  What about running the retainers with the stock springs?

[754]

See what Mike says, but I would run them, not the stockers. better valve control ..
 Check the top valve spring retainers in the tapered hole for any wear, if there is none.. good..

[jessezm]

One of them has a groove in it about 2/3 of the way down that runs the whole inner circumference.  I can feel it with the tip of a pick.  The others have a few slight nicks in them here and there on the outside edges and a few rubbed spots, but nothing major.  I'll send them to Mike along with my stock parts and let him have a look.