Engine Pro

Protecting the guide bore starts before the guide moves⚙️

When removing valve guides from an air-cooled cylinder head, try cutting the guide flush with the spring pad before pressing it out toward the port. By removing the protruding portion first, you reduce the chance of the guide expanding as it's driven through the bore.

This simple step can help prevent damage to the cylinder head and make guide replacement go much smoother.

What techniques have helped you save hard-to-find cylinder heads from unnecessary damage? Have a shop tip of your own? Share it with us at enginepro.com/submit-a-tip/

Tight ring lands in used pistons can be a real challenge!

Carbon buildup, rust, or even slightly pinched ring grooves can make cleaning and reusing pistons difficult. One simple trick is to save old piston rings and use them as scrapers. For even better results, apply a generous amount of fine lapping compound and work the ring back and forth through the groove.

What tricks have earned a permanent spot in your engine-building routine? Have a shop tip of your own? Share it with us at enginepro.com/submit-a-tip/

SAVE YOUR FINGERS 🔥🖖

A simple tool swap can save your hands.

When cleaning head bolts and other small parts on the wire wheel, try using a valve seal puller as a holder. It gives you a solid grip, keeps your fingers away from the heat, and makes handling small parts a whole lot easier.

Sometimes the best shop hacks come from using a tool for more than one job.

What tool in your shop has found a second purpose? Have a shop tip of your own? Share it with us at enginepro.com/submit-a-tip/

⚙️Damper fit is one of those details that’s easy to overlook, but it matters.

Too loose, and the damper can walk on the crank snout and cause galling.
Too tight, and both surfaces can be damaged during installation, reducing contact area and damper effectiveness.

One simple trick for dual key dampers:
Fill the keyways with auto body filler before honing and let it harden overnight. It creates a smooth surface that makes honing much easier, and it pops right out afterward with a screwdriver or punch.

We also use extreme pressure l**e on both the snout and damper during install to help protect the surfaces from damage.

What small engine-building details do you never skip? Have a shop tip of your own? Share it with us at enginepro.com/submit-a-tip/

The right jig can save time and your hands.

This simple wrist pin pressing jig makes removing pins from pistons much easier. Built from a roughly 5” x 5” x 1/4” steel plate with two scrap wrist pins welded vertically in the center, it provides a sturdy setup for smooth, controlled pressing.

Sometimes the best shop tools are the ones you build yourself.

What homemade tools have earned a permanent spot in your shop? Have a shop tip of your own? Share it with us at enginepro.com/submit-a-tip/

SPRING INTO ACTION 🔧

A small buffer can prevent a big problem.

When chamfering valve springs, avoid hitting the inside of the coils — even a small nick can create a stress riser that may lead to spring failure.

One simple trick:
Insert a trimmed rubber pad between the coils to lift the tail away from the next coil. It gives you extra clearance for the chamfering cone, helps protect the spring from damage, and makes the job quicker and safer.

What shop tricks help you avoid costly mistakes during engine builds? Have a shop tip of your own? Share it with us at enginepro.com/submit-a-tip/

Need a more accurate way to set up your degree wheel on crankshafts?

This Degree Wheel Adapter uses a machined Delrin insert that fits snugly into the pilot bushing hole, precisely locating the degree wheel. It’s especially helpful when adding keyways, since not all hubs have exact 90° offset keys. It also works great for balancing and vector splitting off an existing hole while making corrections on the mill.

If the dye witness method has let you down, this adapter is a simple, accurate solution.

Honda VTEC Tech Tip

If you’ve torn down enough Honda heads, you know some VTEC engines use piston-loaded rocker arms that can shoot out during disassembly.

A simple fix: loosen the bar just enough to slide a rubber band underneath and tie it off, as shown here. It keeps the rocker assembly together and helps prevent parts from popping loose during teardown.

It’s a small trick, but in the shop, small tricks save time, frustration, and lost parts.

BIN THERE, DONE THAT.

A simple shop habit can save time, prevent part mix-ups, and keep engine jobs moving.

Label a stackable bin with the invoice or work order number and place all removed parts inside. Don’t throw anything away until the new parts arrive and you’ve confirmed they’re correct.

What’s your system for keeping parts organized during a job?
Have a helpful shop tip of your own? Share it with us at enginepro.com/submit-a-tip/

🔧 GOOD FOR TOOLS TOO

Split-ball dial bore gauges are commonly used to measure small bores like valve guides, but after a lot of use, the anvils can develop flat spots. When that happens, getting consistent and accurate readings becomes much harder.

💡 Simple fix: Have the anvils DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coated.

Benefits include:
• Increased durability and longer tool life
• Reduced friction when entering the bore
• Smoother movement for more consistent measurements

A small upgrade that can make a big difference in measurement accuracy and tool longevity.

Have you tried DLC coating on measuring tools in your shop?

Split-ball dial bore gauges are commonly used to measure small bores such as valve guides, but after heavy use, the anvils can develop flat spots. When that happens, getting consistent and accurate readings becomes much harder.