Head gaskets are a time consuming item to make ,it doesn't matter how you do them . I've tried cutting , sissors, knife ,punch,special tools and so on . Just a pain in the neck !!! Now I just bite the bullit and make a jig system to suit and make what ever amount will fit in it and put the leftovers in a bag with all the other leftovers . Then go thru the bag to check before making a new jig or boring out an older one to suit the size you want . I make the inner hole jig first ,for no reason other than that's the way I do it and then the lock cap to suit it so it holds the material tight ,I punch and put all types and thickness of material in the jig to bore out so gives me a few choices of size and type to use on the engine . From 1 to 10 thou,alum ,brass, copper,oilite, card stock, just fill it and bore . When they are made I make another jig to suit the internal hole and put them all on and lock up tight and then machine the outer to the diameter required for the particular head . Job done ,still time consuming and machines required but when the engine has a groove for the head gasket ,I find that this is easiest for me . It's either fiddle for hrs and get frustrated or ,spend a couple of hrs and do it...Continue Reading

An oil pump drive shaft came in to have the seal area on it repaired as it was deeply scored ( in fact 6 thou deep ) so had to grind down to clear the marks and then he wanted it brought back to size , 12.5 ml , with chrome . So set up in my tank after the grind and just on 9 hrs later , 13.5 thou diam of chrome , and re grind to 12.5 ml Diameter shaft . Don't know if it will stay there or not but looks ok and didn't do any damage whilst grinding it so will keep my fingers crossed .
At the same time my friend who rebuilds magnetos asked me to make two Pistons for a twin cylinder V i think 900cc Swedish MCycle engine . I was given two cylinders I cast iron piston and two sets of rings and asked to make two aluminium Pistons for them at the same weight as the cast iron ones. Bit hard to decide how much alum to take out while still in the lathe ,which would be easier ,but to much out and I can't put it back . I will add some more photos as I go . Finally got the Pistons finished and was careful that they ended up the same weight as the original cast iron ones ,I think more by luck than good measure ....Continue Reading