You, Sir, are the Bob Ross of motorcycles. Awesome.

Well that old Springer's got me excited!👍

I remember lapping the valves on my dad's old Ford Thames Van in the 50's & early 60's. That was my job. I still have his lapping suction tool. It must be about over 90 years old. Love your video's Mike. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the videos Mike. I imagine it would be a blast to spend a day or two in your garage listening to your stories. You are passing along time-honored information that would be getting lost with newer generations.

Good morning Mike, speaking of keepers, I thought I had a keeper, but I soon realized my dog was more loyal. Ha! BLESSINGS BROTHER

YEAH...back to Shovelheads!!!

Hi Mike love your videos , I had a1983 shovel head , had to sell it to fix our house I wish I had it today! I don't like the new engine. Now I'm retired so I just enjoy your videos. Thanks again

im 24, and have never touched a Harley, but these skills are the lost art of mechanics that need to be kept I take thousands of notes when I watch your videos... maybe one day ill tackle an old Harley just to see if im worthy!

My dad was a retired Navy jet aircraft mechanic. He owned and worked on Harley's his entire life. I've not seen anyone lap valves like this in a very long time. Interesting note about my dad...after he died he was cremated and his ashes were put into a custom Harley gas tank and mounted on a wall in his old club house in north Texas. He taught us how to trouble shoot and work on so many different engines. I'm 58 and still wrenching to this day. Love what you do Mike...bringing back some very cherished memories indeed. You are very much loved by the KZfaq community to say the least! Wrench on my friend....we are watching. :)

Your workshop reminds me of a little part of heaven I would love a workshop like yours because I work on my bikes regards Alan from the UK

Back in the 70s, when i was a pup of 18, im 62 now...i met an old timer that took me under his wing and taught me how to work on Harleys....first time he showed me how to lap valves he made me do it with one of the suction cups on a wooden dowel just like youre using, but he made me use Pepsodent toothpaste instead of lapping compound.....took me hours to get those valves seated LOL Guess he wanted to teach me how to do things right, or he was just getting a good laugh out of it LOL....he taught me everything I know about building HDs....of course the next time we lapped valves he brought out his real lapping tools .....only took a few minutes that time LOL

My Father was a die maker for lots of stuff during the war and after that he made dies for Craftsmen Tools. No CNC all hand grinding. He had a big family of 10 kids and a couple of times a year he would bring home a box of "seconds" tools. By the time he would bring home another box the previous tools were all lost! Anyway, I developed a love of tools and metal from him so I can really appreciate the love you have for your projects. Thank you for sharing!

I, being an "old geezer" have one of those crank lapping tools...needs a new suction cup, but the mechanism works great. Last time I used it was ten years ago. I'd happily give it to you, if you promise to use it in a video. peace-out..Tc

One day on the job, my foreman said to lap the valves on an Alco locomotive in the roundhouse. Same as what you're doing here but on a larger scale. And yes it was by hand and hard work. I don't miss that job either but it paid well and had good benefits. Thanks for another excellent How To video.

I always get nostalgic lapping valves because my Dad used to get me to do that job in his motorcycle shop when i was a kid. Funny how these things stay with you. Thanks Mike.

Brother Mike, you’re a godsend for us novice/beginners need to shovels. I really, truly appreciate your videos man, love the detailed way you explain these procedures and the back stories and priceless gems of experience you drop!

The Bob Ross of motorcycles...We have happy little valves.

This was my favorite one so far never did my valves but I sure would now watching this pretty straight forward. Thanks Mike !

Just as I've gotten pretty good at lapping spilled beer off the bar floor, I want to set my sights higher by learning how to do this this. Mike, you're a true inspiration!

I just stumbled onto your videos. I feel you are the Bob Ross of Harley repair. It’s nice watching a KZfaq channel that does not beg for money. I really like your tools, the explanations and how you keep it to the point.

@PacificMike. Thanks for showing the valve installation in the head. I am looking to get a Shovelhead and your videos are a great instruction tool for me. Shovelheads are my favorite as I grew up during the Shovelhead production run. Please keep the videos coming.

THANK YOU...for sharing. Thanks for letting me hang out in the shop with you and Camera Mike, watched and very much enjoyed. Looking forward to the new bike build.

Very nice video. Like all the stories behind all the work and parts. Keep it up. I think you are getting us hooked with the reveal of parts for the build.

Mike have you ever went over the special tools required to do a Shovel and Evo motor . I had a lot of home made tools I had to come up with back in the 70's and 80's when I was doing basket cases . I couldn't afford to buy the real Harley tools or a running Harley so I had to use farm boy ingenuity. You by far have the best and easiest videos to follow thank you.

Great video, I hear you mention that EVO engines need to change base gasket at around 40.000 miles, well that's the mileage on my Harley so it sounds like the valve seals have the same replacement time. B.t.w. I have never had any oil leaks from cylinder head gasket so far, driving my bike for 22 years in Thailand. Thank you for all your time and effort to make all videos who make a lot of help for us bikers who live in the jungle far away from any Harley dealer shop.

First job I did at my first job as an apprentice mechanic 48 years ago, grinding in valves on an old Ford. "LOL"

Loving the channel Mike. Thanks again for sharing this knowledge.

Love your videos and looking forward to the new build!

Can't wait for the ground up build,,,sounds like you might be using a pan frame,,but anyways. Good stuff Mike keep them coming,,,

You are awesome, Mike! Thank you for sharing your work with us!

Great video Mike!!!! Cant wait for the next installment

Great job Mike, Love your videos and expertise

I really enjoyed that thanks for putting it up. Good luck Mike on your project

I enjoy all your vids. You helped me out on my evo oil pump cam and lifter rebuild. Thx

Thanks for sharing your skills and knowledge. Your commentary sent me on a trip back in time.

looking forward to this build your going to be doing im also doing one so will be interesting to watch what you do and maybe pick up a few pointers thanks for all your videos mike they have helped me understand my shovel a lot better

I have an 93" cu.i S&S Shovelhead (with Harley top ends with the short/mid "Sportster-type" of sparkplug threads). My friends say that when I shift gear it come "black-smoke" from the pipes. Last year, I had my cylinderheads of to make a repair-welding and new threads for the sparkplugs :-). My "reaction" was that there was no valvestemsealers fitted.I read in the Clymer´s book in the chapter that concern top-ends that "have a valve-stemsealing" should replace it like you do in the video. This S&S motor was buildt (not by me) for about 30-35 years ago.No problem with the running of the motor,and the smoke don´t bother me:-).....but when it´s obvius that something is wrong,I want to solve the problem. Sorry about my bad English....but I am born 1958.... :-) //Jörgen

Great video and I’m really looking forward to seeing you build that bike. Hopefully in long, almost half an hour, videos like this one!

I'll be watching that build, love your videos brother 👍

Mike, a pure joy watching and listening to your videos. Been riding a 1980 FXB Sturgis since 2000. Hope to see ya at Born Free this year.

Watching you lap those valves was very nostalgic for me. Good memories.

Thanks mike I just love watching your videos I'm working on my 82 shovelhead and your videos have been very helpful. LnR

Great video Mike...thanks. lapping my shovel valves during lockdown in Ireland. & appreciating the video. Take care of yourself!

another great video Mike ,please keep them coming I love when you post anything.And thank you for not talking down to us ,you are the best ,stay safe!!!!!!!!

Truly enjoy your videos and appreciate the knowledge. Thanks Mike!

nice to see a real mechanic thankyou

Thanks for all your videos mike, finally achieved my dream of owning a Harley by the time I'm 35. I'm real familiar with motorcycles, mostly dirt bikes. Heading to Callahan Florida to pick up a shovel motor very soon to start a 70s themed chop build. Thanks again from Alabama.

Thanx never would have thought how to set that seal like that ! One piece at a time u tha man

Looking cool with that stroker cap! Thanks for the video.

I watched many videos on valve lapping. I used a piece of rubber hose on the stem. Cleaned them real good. I like the way you do it. I did mine last August. Thanks for the lesson.

Another great video, very interesting to me as I'm currently elbow deep in my top-end EVO refresh. I dropped my heads and jugs off at the machine shop yesterday. Getting the bases turned, bored +10, valves and heads worked on...Should be good to go in a week or 2.

loving the channel mike !!!! thanks for sharing !!!

Thank you for passing on this infomation . Im working on a 1988 Softail. thinking about rebuilding the motor. Thanks again.

Man what great videos! So well done and explained and demonstrated! Fantastic!

CiTy H I am new to your site it is good to see old school still working I started on HD'S in 1968 I was 16 a good friend gave me a 55 pan for my birthday with 1 condition I had to build it myself 1 hard tail frame 2 wheels and 3 boxes of Parts it took me about a week no book but JR new every thing I needed to know but I had to try to figure it first I got it running and have been hooked ever since seeing your 52 baby sure brought back a lot of memories thanks .I just bought a 01 FXSTD I got a book this time!!! talk to you down the road I am in West Virginia don't know where your at.Keep the rubber on the down side and the wind at your back later

Love the videos. Good stuff.

I like to use a 4" length of tubing attached to the stem end with small zip tie then attached to a two inch length of 1/4" all thread in a drill and I'll just pull lightly with the drill on low speed and it works great. I also put the C-clamp in the vice instead; that way you can drop the keepers in from the top. Awesome to learn so much new stuff from Mike though!

Really enjoy these videos.

Love to see you again

I’ve done a lot of cylinder head work even porting , it’s nice to watch someone else do it , we all have our ways , when I lap I use a rubber fuel line on the valve and slid the other end one a drill bit I have on a power drill and work it , but spring and all together add some gasoline into the port and see if it holds at least 3 mins .. Enjoying your channel

Keep teaching us, good work

Love your videos you are the best..I wish you lived close to me my 2006 sportster backfires for two years and is unusable only rode it for ten miles and now cant even make it down my street without it backfiring and then stalling,sorry just venting....great vids man

Love the videos very helpful.

Great video I’m l lapping heads always enjoy watching you had the pleasure of meeting you at born free is Tom and I gave you a card have a good one thanks

You are the Mr Rogers of motorcycle repair. Calm and self assured. I'm digging your channel.

Pacific Mike is a National Treasure.

Hey Mike great videos!!!. Can you do a video on rocker clutch assembly and adjustment?? Keep up the great work!!!

Looking forward to seeing it.

Hey mike. Could you do a video some time explaining and showing how to measure and set spring lift and pressure. I’ve read the steps 100 times but once they start with the math they lose me. I learn way easier seeing something done while it’s explained. Heads is the one part of the engine I never messed with. Keep up with your awesome work

Good video mike

Mike, you could give Morgan Freeman a run for his money as far as narration is concerned. 😎

Thanks Mike, that was fun to watch..... Back in the 70's when I was a kid working for Porsche/Audi I remember we would cut the valve face at a 44 deg and leave the valve seat at 45 deg, we called it interference angle for a perfect valve to seat seal. Do they still use that theory today, or am I so old school it's no longer used?.....Thanks again Mike.

Hi Mike, I know this is gonna sound creepy and or corny but not long ago (about two to three months ago my oldest brother passed away, well all I just wanna say is just watchin' you and listening to you explain n' stuff on the bikes you look and sound "exactly" like him!!😱 Also wanna say keep up your vids because they are really helpful to me with wrenchin' on my bike when needed, stay safe watch out for the cagers out there and God Bless You Bro...😎🏍

Awesome videos

Righteous! Carry on bro!

Give Jason lienweber cams a call use there springs for 35 years the best springs on the market,old panheads had exhaust Rotator keys that would actually move the valve in the engine when it runs they were factory up grade

If you do not lap base of cylinder it will leak again, trock made a special tool that worked great and I never had a comeback usi g it. Width and position of lapped area on valve is important, I use a dial caliper and a loop to set contact patch visually, otherwise you are guessing. I did 100's of evos back in the day.

I put a Compufire ignition and whoo weee she runs out now, I ran a MC power arc a Dyna 2000i and the Compufire which has been the best ignition.. I built the engine in 93 which is a Shovel style using -66 heads..I did so many evo engines but never ever did I lap the valves. I always cut new seats because most of them were way outa spec.

If you use that Zippo fluid as a cleaner/solvent, charcoal lighter fluid is so close to the same it doesn’t matter, and it’s way cheaper. Did they ever fix that issue on the later Evos? As usual, I enjoyed this I’m immensely and learned something new like always. Love the old stories too as always, so don’t ever stop telling them.

Hi Mike. Love your videos. Can you do one on prepping for the first start and break in for a new built shovelhead? Thanks.

Mike, can't wait to see the build video's. If you don't mind me asking, where can I find the grips you have on the knuckle? Would like to get a set for my old shovel.

I can voice for the people who don’t know how to do these things but love mechanics and am slowly falling in love with motorcycles

Great video. Early in this video you briefly mentioned about the Evo having base gasket issues. What did fix the issue? A better gasket? Thanks.

Mike, i love and enjoy your videos. Will reference them often when i start my 1984 Evo upgrades this winter. Constructive criticism: - Please assume your audience knows little or even nothing at all. Occasionally, you skip a detail assuming the viewers already know. - Your close ups are rarely close enough or long enough. Often, i need to pause the vid to get a good look. Regards from NE Indiana!

Hi Mike I see ya have 3 exh studs on that head. Is it home made or aftermarket heads ya have?. Always good to watch your channel its calm me down when I is pissed on something.

I’ll do mine this winter thanks

Hello Mike, I‘ve watch some of your videos and i‘m very happy to have a person on youtube who show us some skills ! Do you have some videos where you disassemble a complete shovelhead? I mean from first step till the end ! It would be very helpfull for me and for other people ! Great work ! Greetings from Germany!

Hey Mike, love the videos. You mentioned adjusting spring pressure & spacing "It's not necessary to go into all that detail." I'd love to hear that detail. Any resource for a guy to look into this? Appreciate the fine work you do.

thanks for the video. curious about the project special about de engine.

product called prussian bluing , if I remember helps check for surface wear and mating of valve to seat .

Springers rule Mike 😁👍

Doing this thanks Pacific Mike

Mike love watching all your videos on your Shovelhead. I finally picked up a 1981 FX Lowrider from a friend of mine for $600 was torn apart in pieces. The motor was put together but you know all the other stuff was taken off. I had it back together in a day and running by the second day Clutches really really tough now this bike has been ran since 1990 and I finally got it running everything it was sump. It pumped out a bunch of oil. I do have one of the lifters tapping real bad but once I start driving it it it’ll stop but we’re concerns me, the oil gauge does not show that there’s oil pressure but as you know if there’s no oil pressure that thing will be tapping and make it all kinds of noise and it doesn’t make any noise after drive it a few and get it all warmed up, but there’s still no pressure on the gauge. I’ve checked the gauge it works so, I am interested in your videos and getting your info and what you think would be great for this bike it’s not been altered or anything whatsoever. It is a bone stock 1981 like you come off the showroom floor and it’s not back condition, but it looks old, but I would like to know more about this bike and stuff that I can do to make it run better and maybe get your input on fixing this oil pressure and tapping noise. Thank you Mike love all your videos. Keep up the good work if you need in their bike, bring this one to you. I’m in Texas, but I have lived in Wrightwood all my life up in the mountains.

Love it

THANK YOU !

Mr Mike I have a question. You where talking about the early evos leaking on the base gaskets. Mine just started last year leaking. I'm new to working in bikes but you inspire me to do my own. And its relaxing. My question is can I pull the cylinders off with the engine in the frame or do I need to pull the engine out? Bike is a 91 fatboy if that matters. Thank you sir.

As soon as I saw that springer, my first thought was Panhead! lol Will you have it Magnaflux tested?

Easy way out is usually pretty good, but if you got the heads that far, three angle cut valve seats will outlast any lap anyday. My opinion, I may be wrong.

Thank you for doing videos like this, helps alot. I was just wondering if you would recommend any specific brand or model for a rear chain? Mine is worn out and I need to replace it. Should I go with an o-ring chain? The bike is an 80” stroker duo-glide.

Thank you