KH tappet and guide question

Production K Models

KH tappet and guide question

Postby Kurt » Tue Apr 14, 2020 12:48 pm

Hello,
I am sorting through a '55 KH basket case, in which a lot of the parts are turning out to be early Sportster. Comparing the tappets and guides with a lot of websites, appears that the tappet guides are correct for the KH (though two are damaged and will need replacement). With the tappets, I am guessing that three of them are KH and one is a KK,KHK,KR. This one also had a shorter adjustment screw. The tappets are all in pretty good shape and all are the same length. I am guessing that I can use them all if I get a longer screw for the odd-ball lifter.
If I am missing something I would appreciate anyone correcting me.

p.s. If this virus curse has a (very, very) thin silver lining it is that it gives time to devote to sorting out all the boxes and milk crates of parts.
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Kurt
 
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Re: KH tappet and guide question

Postby starcain » Tue Apr 14, 2020 12:55 pm

A description of tappets and adjusting screws can be found here.

http://www.harleykmodel.com/technical/v ... index.html
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Re: KH tappet and guide question

Postby Kurt » Tue Apr 14, 2020 1:50 pm

Thank you Starcain, though it does not directly state that the KK,KHK,KR lifter can be used in the KH with addition of a longer adjustment screw, what they did show in close enough for me. I will go ahead and use all four of the tappets and get one longer bolt. I do not think the 2 grams variation of the tappets will make a difference at the relatively low RPM range of the KH's.
Do you happen to know if the 45 guide is useable in the KH? I am putting a couple of guides and an adjustment screw on my swap meet list.
Thanks again.
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Re: KH tappet and guide question

Postby thefrenchowl » Tue Apr 14, 2020 2:01 pm

W and K tappet guides haven't got the same size thread. From memory, W is bigger diameter than K.

The W also need trimming a touch on the back to fit on the K case since the K tappet blocks are nearer the cylinders than on the W...

Make a mix of top K bottom W for the bottom covers, that's what I've done on my KHK, soldered together, in the 80s there was no way in GB to find K tappet blocks...

Patrick
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Re: KH tappet and guide question

Postby starcain » Tue Apr 14, 2020 2:06 pm

Yes you can use KK,KHK or KR tappets in your KH. They are just lighter in weight. As Patrick says the 45 guides are different then K guides.
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Re: KH tappet and guide question

Postby Kurt » Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:31 pm

Thanks guys for the info! To bad I did not know about the K upper/45 lower lifter cover trick to use the 45 tappet guides a couple of weeks ago. I sold a truckload of 45 stuff and there was a shoebox of WL tappet guides and covers. Guess it is smarter to be a hoarder!
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