Hardened steel washers for cylinder head?

[Greybeard]

I'm looking for 9 hardened steel washers for my cylinder head bolts. Have you got any contacts in the UK for these washers?

Size: inside diameter 3/8", (10mm). Outside diameter 11/16", (18mm). Thickness 1/16", (2mm)
 Many thanks.
Neil Ives UK

[bsa-bill]

Got mine from Lyford classics pretty sure most of the regular dealer will have them, they have a BSA part number (sorry parts book not at hand)

[Greybeard]

Got mine from Lyford classics pretty sure most of the regular dealer will have them, they have a BSA part number (sorry parts book not at hand)

Are the standard BSA washers hardened? I didn't think they were. Anyway, thanks for the lead; I've sent Lyfords an email; we'll see what turns up.

Neil Ives UK

[chaterlea25]

Hi Neil,
I dont think that the washers are hardened, I make my own washers from 3/4 stainless bar
I make them 3mm thick
I also spotface the landing area for the washers as these usually have been messed up especially on alloy heads
BSA's are not alone with this problem, all the other brit twins and so on seem to suffer this problem

Cheers
John O R

[bsa-bill]

Yes don't know about being hardened but certainly are thicker and even at that the can be dished when you remove the head, don't think I've heard of it causing a problem though unless the head bolt holes squished in

[fido]

I think hardening them would be a bad idea as you will get the best contact area if they are able to deform slightly. They only have to cope with compressive loads whereas the bolts / studs are in tension.

[chaterlea25]

Hi All,
When the standard washers deform the bolt heads dig into the washers
they do not give a flat clamping surface, so torque values go out the window
Yes the alloy heads also squeez in around the headbolts and further bugger things up 

On my own SR I fitted the thick SS washers that I made, This was over 10 years ago and the head never took a re torque

Works for me

Cheers
John O R