Kz900 Head

   I’ve been inquiring with various know shops to see if saving a head is a viable project. I’ve seen some “rebuilt” ones advertised and I think I know we’re to stop dollar wise. I sent out pictures of the damage so venders could see if it’s something they think they can repair. Along with the repair I’m asking to price out a standard valve job. One vendor replied saying yes they can help, but they wanted the valves removed and only send them one each good exhaust and intake. I called thinking that was strange but before I took up his time I asked for a ballpark cost. He gave me the cost. Slightly higher than I expected but we chatted more. I inquired about he’s requesting only two valves. He said a standard valve job only consists of cutting the seats. When a question him about resurfacing the valve and setting the height and possibly tipping the stem to get the correct installed height, he mentioned that not a standard valve job, if you want all of that done it would be an additional cost. 

So my question is, did I ask for the wrong thing when I said standard valve job, or should I be leery of this vendor and his tactics of adding cost. I thought a valve job was resurfacing the valve face. Cutting the seats, lapping the valves and setting the installed height. Am I wrong? 

What damage ?
If the valves have seat dents from use replace them.
 

Stripped blown out spark plug hole. A miss drilled attempt to drill out an exhaust stud. And a similar ham fisted drilling attempt to remove a broken cam cover bolt. All the valves are installed so I don’t know the condition. 

Sounds like BS.  A "valve Job" involves both cutting the seats and valves.  And regarding the valves, they need to be tipped in order to put the valve height within the proper range.  

From the photos, it looks like some threaded inserts will save the day.  I've seen worse butchery.  You need to find a shop that knows their shit though.  And sadly, that's not easy these days.

For a typical valve job my local shop will cut the seats and face the valves. They will tip the valves later it no cost after you take it home and assemble it.

If you want all of that done (assembly/math) there is a extra cost involved. This is a motorcycle only machine shop, they don't lap valves if they already ground them.

My guy breaks down the cost and asks if you can do any of it, gives me the choice up front. This guy is the Larry Cavanaugh of Canada.

It pays to be handy and do stuff on your own, you can save a lot of $$.

I wonder if the shop in question is the same one I used (and was disappointed in). Located in Florida perhaps?

No, I contacted them but yet to get a reply. APE, Schnitz, replied they can’t help but did offer referrals. 

Thanks for backing up my thoughts, that asking fo a standard valve job should involve what I expected. I understand installing the valves, seal, cams and shimming would be an extra. I was just confused by asking for a valve job and being requested to supply only two valves. I guess if they thought I was asking for head work only that may have been correct to just cut the seats and check with a valve, but I clearly asked for a standard valve job. 

The quest continues. One driving factor is to find a shop that does good work so we know where to send our parts and feel confident. 

I was gonna ask if anyone here has had work done at this place.     www.pitstopperformance.com/valve-jobs/

wrote:

I was gonna ask if anyone here has had work done at this place.     www.pitstopperformance.com/valve-jobs/

I used them 10 years ago for block boring  and purchased MTC pistons for a great price  . Workmanship was excellent . No issues at all
  BUT      others have had issues , so I dont know  anything as a absolute.
Joe was off with health problems  for a period and problems were during this time frame .
 Cant speak  about today.
Joe was easy to reach by email.   But will tell you not to call as thats not how to reach him fast
Dave
 

Thanks Dave, I have an engine I'd like to have rebuilt and looking for a place that does good work, I contacted Schnitz years ago and was told the guy that knew his stuff passed away.

I would run a mile from any shop that said they only needed two valves to do the job. If you get a spring compressor, you could take a look at the valves and seats yourself, measure them up etc, chances are a gentle lap with some fine past is all you will need. Most car workshops should be able to do the threaded inserts for you, they generally do it all the time and have the tooling. Its not too difficult to do yourself if you have the space and tools. Timecerts are far better than helicoils, but you may not have the option on the spark plug hole, a helicoil would be better probably due to close proximity of plughole to valve seat edge. 

wrote:

 APE, Schnitz, replied they can’t help...

What did APE say they wouldn't do?  They show rewelded heads in their page and definitely advertise head work.  I have been thinking of sending a head to them.

One driving factor is to find a shop that does good work so we know where to send our parts and feel confident. 

That's exactly where I am as well.  With multiple projects I really want to find someone reliable and skilled, and then seems all my stuff to them 

"Seeking trustworthy cylinder head shop for long term relationship.".