Question about valves in my Predator engine

[michael whiteman]

I was told that a lot of the valves in China built engines have a hardened surface and if you grind them this surface is removed and the life of the valve is greatly reduced. I would like to verify this statement being true in regards to my 79cc Predator but have no idea who to ask. Any thoghts will be appreciated.

 

[Gordy]

Maybe you could call up the harbor freight corporate office and see if they can connect you with someone who will know. They're pretty good at keeping track of that kind of stuff. I'll ask around on the go kart forum for you and see what they have to say.

 

[Chainlube]

I was told that a lot of the valves in China built engines have a hardened surface and if you grind them this surface is removed and the life of the valve is greatly reduced. I would like to verify this statement being true in regards to my 79cc Predator but have no idea who to ask. Any thoghts will be appreciated.

When valves and seats get hardened the process goes fairly deep, or else you'd remove the hardened area when the valves get lapped.

 

[tombenn444]

When I was going to school for Honda motorcycles they taught us that their engine valves are coated in a chromium nickel silicone alloy about a 1/10mm thick. Hard enough to withstand the combustion and the grit from cutting new valve seats but still very delicate

 

[michael whiteman]

I found a machine shop today that could chuck my valve in their grinding machine. They used a collet because most chucks will not clamp on a stem this small. This fellow stopped what he was doing and helped me imediately. He did this for no charge, and when I asked if he was a Christian he said yes. I figured as much.

I'll be putting it all back together in the morning........................