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Rebuilt L & F Heads: How many miles and any problems since?

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by Gwillys, Nov 15, 2011.

  1. Gwillys

    Gwillys 1953 CJ3B

    Who has had their engine rebuilt recently or in past years and how many miles do you have on it now? Have you had any mechanical problems or had to bring it back to the shop for service?
     
  2. garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    I rebuilt my L head 3 years ago. Been fine. I think I've put a little over 5K on it since. The only problem I had was when I first started it up and the oil pump locked up and sheared a couple teeth off. It was a new melling. Guys over on the 2A board have had similar problems. I got lucky and it didn't hurt the cam unlike another member there.
     
  3. garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

  4. oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    I've went through 1 Go Devil engine before 1983.
    I have only rebuilt and operated Hurricane engines since then.

    The last Hurricane engine that I wore out was fully rebuilt in 1984.
    When that particular engine was rebuilt (by me) I failed to have the connecting rods resized.
    I ran it until it flattened a crankshaft rod bearing in 1995.
    The exhaust valves were also shot at that time.
    That was 80,000 miles with zero problems beyond regular maintainance.
    I regularly run them hard with no mercy at sustained speeds over 2800 RPM.

    I am currently breaking in a newly rebuilt Hurricane and just started rebuilding another one.
     
  5. EricM

    EricM Active Member

    I've got a rebuilt F-head, about 2 years old, but only 2k miles. Runs fine.
     
  6. Bill F

    Bill F Finally running

    My L-head was rebuilt 4 years ago probably close to 5000 miles on it, only problem is the rear main seal leaks.
     
  7. duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Only one experience rebuilding an L head-with my father someplace around 1955 and the 2A was traded in on a FC before it had more than a couple thousand on it. F heads, on the other hand, were a staple around the farm for 4 decades. I never remember getting more than around 60k on one without it needing a ring job but then farm work is a lot like stop and go city driving with a lot of short trips where things usually never really get up to operating temp.