1981 GSX1100 Katana Based Project

[Shin-Ken 1074]

That's completely normal. I usually put blue Hylomar under the copper washers to prevent leaks.

Yep, not unusual and Plan A was to use a sealer but when my mate offered to mill it I wasn't going to pass on that deal.

[Blower]

Even if the surfaces are good, I still put a thin layer of Blue Hylomar under the washer.

[Shin-Ken 1074]

O.K. another step completed today. The head bolt posts have been milled back to new and the head is now ready for the new valve guides, seat cutting/matching valves and new valve stem seals to be installed. The same workshop is boring the barrels for the new pistons.

I will be interested to see how much lighter the 1135 barrels are when they are bored to 76 mm for the 1197cc kit. As stock they weigh 8,080 grams.

1197h by Max Mutarn, on Flickr

[Shin-Ken 1074]

I have seen some bike engines finished with ceramic coatings and I like the look and by some reports the hard wearing properties of the ceramic coating compared to engine paint. So there has been a delay with the head and barrel work to have the ceramic coating applied to the head and barrel. Going with Gloss Black to match the lower engine cases. Should have the finished parts back by the end of next week.

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Update on the parts, the people doing the ceramic coating have only just got back from SEMA and so the parts wont be ready for another week. Hope they enjoyed SEMA, what a show!

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Had a phone call today from the engineering shop doing the work on the barrels, there is good news and some bad news. The good news - head and barrels have been ceramic coated and the five plane valve seating has been completed. The bad news - first three cylinders have been bored out however, while boring cylinder #4 the sleeve has spun and done some damage. Number 4 barrel now needs a replacement stock sleeve and then bore it to 76mm so it looks like another week or so to finish the job providing the barrel has not suffered too much damage and can be saved. They are pressing out #4 sleeve now and will inspect the barrel to see what is what.

I hope it can be saved or I'll have a very nice looking, very expensive ceramic coated doorstop.