Time to take a seat – a valve seat that is

By Jim Tapp,
Goodson Tech Services Manager & ASE Certified Master Machinist

Let’s talk seats. Valve seats. Back in March of this year, we touched on valve seats and now we’re back for more. As I said in that article, there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to valve seats, so I’ll try not to rattle on too long.

By way of introduction, let me say that this is going to be an “entry level” summary valve seat work. But before you guys who’ve been doing this for years give up and go on to the next story, let me ask you for some input. In future issues of Talkin’ Tech we’ll be getting into some tips and tricks for making seat grinding and/or cutting quicker and easier. If you have a tip that you’d like to share with the readers of Talkin’ Tech, either reply to this email or drop me a line at Goodson. We’ll compile your suggestions and share them in an upcoming issue. Be sure to give us your name and/or your company’s name so we can give credit where credit is due.

I’ll assume that if you’re reading this, you know what a valve seat is and have at least a passing knowledge of why you grind or cut seats >>read complete story>>

Quick Tips from the Techxperts™

Measure, machine, measure will save you time and trouble in the shop

By Jim Tapp

One of the things that I stressed to my students when I taught at Austin Technical College was the importance of measuring BEFORE starting to machine. Many of my students didn't get why they should go through all of that trouble. After all, measuring isn't fun. Machining is. My answer to them was (and still is) how are you going to know what you have if you don't measure up front?

You can't always take your customer's word for it that a head hasn't been machined. He may have bought it used from someone who didn't bother to tell him that the head had been resurfaced, the guides replaced or oversize valve stems installed. By just taking his word for it, instead of measuring, you won't know until you're done machining that things just don't add up.

You've probably heard the saying in carpentry, "Measure twice, cut once." Well it's just as (or maybe more) important in engine machining. After all, if you cut a stud a little short, you can always run to the nearest home center to get another one for a few dollars. Cylinder heads aren't as readily available or as inexpensive.

Take my advice, I've been doing this for a long time (nearly 50 years). Measure BEFORE you machine then measure while you machine and measure when you reassemble.

Techxperts™ Top Picks

Goodson.com is an invaluable resource for your shop

Dave Monyhan, Goodson Tech Services Department

This may sound a little self-serving, but we're pretty darn proud of our website here at Goodson. If you've never checked out everything it has to offer, let me encourage you to do so. You'll find lots of technical information in addition to our online store.

But what, you ask, makes the Goodson website it a top tool pick? Did you know that you can download product instructions and MSDS from the website any time, day or night? If you're burning the midnight oil to finish a job and you can't find the instructions for a tool that you absolutely have to use to complete it, you don't have to wait for our tech lines to open up the next morning. Go to the website and download it. Within minutes, you're up and ready to go again.

Or let's say, you spill some Ultrasonic Detergent and can't find your MSDS. You have immediate access to a nw copy of the MSDS so you know how to clean it up and what health and environmental issues you need to be concerned with.

It's a stretch, I know, but our website is one of my favorite tools in the Goodson arsenal.