engineering squish heads

[ja-moo]

Exhaust height.........

[Vintageman]

If RK does this for example and you guys come up with final design tell them more people are interested.

And How much$

[srech77]

If RK does this for example and you guys come up with final design tell them more people are interested.

And How much$

Any idea how many people might be interested so I can give them a ballpark? Maybe some more people can bump this post so I can see if we just have two or three ... or maybe lots more.

[Blokhead]

Last time I talked to Kelsey at RK Tek, he told me $1500.00 for a head with removeable domes. This was for a GT750.

[srech77]

Hmm... Well that's definitely too rich for my blood. I don't think it's nearly that much to have them machine squish chambers into the heads... I think it's around $450 for this work on a 750 per my conversation with them. A t500 would likely be less.

[ja-moo]

I do heads for the Kawi's for 65.00 each, but I'm not set up for off center plugs.

[jeff kushner]

Kelsey at RK was VERY reasonable considering the work they are willing to do, to mill and build your head and do it right, definitely worth it!


His number in case anyone wants to call him is 208-852-3221

jeff

[srech77]

Kelsey at RK was VERY reasonable considering the work they are willing to do, to mill and build your head and do it right, definitely worth it!


His number in case anyone wants to call him is 208-852-3221

jeff

Cool, thanks Jeff.

[srech77]

RK should be receiving my heads today ... I'm really hoping they are weldable. I know I've seen people weld the t500 heads before, but I know it's possible that the heads could have the alloy mix that makes them unweldable (#vintagemetals) ... crossing my fingers. Anyone ever have any problems with these heads? Successes?

thanks - sterling

[tz375]

Question for Jeff:

What is the connection, if any, between RK-Tek and RK heads from "Robert Knippleberg" that some of the GT guys are running?

[jeff kushner]

Sorry, I've been busy on a stack of home projects but I can't answer your questions. As we've discussed off-line, your best bet is to have a chat with Kelsey and just ask him. He doesn't appear sketchy at all as some others have so have the discussion and you may find out that it was simply a former affiliation he was in business with.

jeff

[srech77]

Ya, that name is new to me, but then again I'm not familiar with GTs. RK Tek, based in Idaho, currently has my t500 heads - waiting to hear back if they are weldable ... if so, they will do a squish band for pump gas and center spark plug, with their patented machining techniques, then drill some racey holes in the fins. Aside from the welding, the only potential problem might be the thickness (or thinness) of the factory heads ... I told him to cut into the fins if necessary and just reweld afterwords if necessary. Factory heads don't give you much room for machining new chambers in.

I'll post when I hear back.

[srech77]

If anybody is following this thread ... I talked to the guy at RK today, and they were able to weld and machine squish bands into my t500 heads. He said they welded fine, but there was quite a bit of machining involved - mostly tricky due to the thin heads and running into the fins to get the center spark plug. The squish clearance will be .040" and I will be running a cometic copper gasket at .020", which is factory thickness.

I believe they are running about $275 per head for the work ... and I also had them drill some 1/2" holes through the first three fins on the outside for cooling efficiency, and for a more racey look.

They are trying to get them shipped out today, so I will update and post a pic when I get them back and on the bike.

Sterling

[ja-moo]

WOW. but hey.........

[diamondj]

Thanks for the update! So they centered the spark plug along with modifying the combustion chamber with a squish band? $275 per head doesn't seem outrageous when machine shops get $75 - $100 an hour in labor. I wonder if this will help keep the heads from cracking as easily as skimmed heads on a race bike? Hope you will post some pictures and a follow-up once you've run them a bit?

Jim