valve guide material 3

[duclav]

I need to turn some new valve guides for my motorcycle engine (3 cylinder air cooled Laverda) what would be the best material to use?
Thanx

 

[EngJW]

Manganese Bronze has become a popular material.

 

[Tmoose]

If the original guides were thick iron I'd only use a thin bronze sleeve (and not spiral inserts, like helicoils). I've witnessed a few serious failures caused by the expansion rate of bronzes in thick or confined parts. Several precision spindles with thick bronze non-contact seals (that rubbed very slightly). One was a Harley V-twin seizing both exhaust valves in its brand new spiral bronze inserts