48 pan threaded intake spigot replacement information needed

[T. Cotten]

"What are you going to do with your knowledge, take it to your grave?"

Seems so, Duke!

(I too was a "Technical Trainer", not only for a few years in academia, but throughout my commercial motorcycle career, as I was compelled to train associates to sustain my shop.
At least that was the business plan.
Even with two reliable associates for a couple of decades each (off and on), the lockdown of 2020 meant they had to find real jobs.)

"I use to hold so many technical items closely guarded, like secrets, "

Of course, Duke, proprietary intellectual property!

My competition took my ideas and ran with them, saturating my market with inferior options; My own fault, I guess.

....Cotten

[MarkLindyHugo]

OK, so the story continues, and another question. Looking at the Colony offerings for a replacement OEM nipple they are pointing me to this version with "'O' ring seal". Would you folks agree, or should I continue looking for a more one that is 'original' metal-on-metal. Hopefully if I get this fix right, my son won't need to address the intake again 50-60 years down the road. Thanks again to all that share their knowledge and advice. You are truly a wonderful resource. Mark

[Jerry Wieland]

OK, so the story continues, and another question. Looking at the Colony offerings for a replacement OEM nipple they are pointing me to this version with "'O' ring seal". Would you folks agree, or should I continue looking for a more one that is 'original' metal-on-metal. Hopefully if I get this fix right, my son won't need to address the intake again 50-60 years down the road. Thanks again to all that share their knowledge and advice. You are truly a wonderful resource. Mark

Yes I would use the original plumbers type insert and replace the brass seals with PEEK seals from Cotten.

[T. Cotten]

OK, so the story continues, and another question. Looking at the Colony offerings for a replacement OEM nipple they are pointing me to this version with "'O' ring seal". Would you folks agree, or should I continue looking for a more one that is 'original' metal-on-metal. Hopefully if I get this fix right, my son won't need to address the intake again 50-60 years down the road. Thanks again to all that share their knowledge and advice. You are truly a wonderful resource. Mark

Yes I would use the original plumbers type insert and replace the brass seals with PEEK seals from Cotten.

Inspect Colony inserts carefully, Mark!

Not only for length to be certain they will bottom out at the flanges (they usually needed shortening for Knucks), but one older production had disastrously wide chamfers on the flange where seals made poor contact.

The thin O-rings are a lit fuse, as modern fuels eat them; and the huge rivets are a sin.

My PEEK seals are for the manifolds themselves, and it is a custom-fit operation, as nearly any used manifold must be reconditioned, and it may be some time before I am back in business, if ever.

....Cotten

[MarkLindyHugo]

Cotton, thanks for the feedback. As I have not purchased a nipple yet, can you point me to any vendors that you've had better luck with? I'm not set up for machining parts, and the O ring prospect got me concerned. Thanks!

[T. Cotten]

Cotton, thanks for the feedback. As I have not purchased a nipple yet, can you point me to any vendors that you've had better luck with? I'm not set up for machining parts, and the O ring prospect got me concerned. Thanks!

I haven't ordered any for a few years, Mark,

But Colony has usually been pretty good about corrections.

Frankly, I used the generic Tedd offerings, but they require scrutiny of course.

(You never know what will arrive from Tedd.)

....Cotten

[MarkLindyHugo]

Interesting development, I have the old nipple, new V-Twin nipple and the Colony/Sifton install tool at hand. The anvil fits the old nipple with a slight drag. The anvil will not insert into the new nipple. The new nipple id is about 55.2 hundreths of an inch. The old(oem) nipple id is about 56.2 hundreths of an inch. The anvil is about 55.9 hundreds. Anyone have an idea as to if the inside diameter would have changed between 1947-1948, knucklehead to panhead or if this might be a mfg defect? I have an inquiry going with my supplier.
Thanks

[T. Cotten]

Interesting development, I have the old nipple, new V-Twin nipple and the Colony/Sifton install tool at hand. The anvil fits the old nipple with a slight drag. The anvil will not insert into the new nipple. The new nipple id is about 55.2 hundreths of an inch. The old(oem) nipple id is about 56.2 hundreths of an inch. The anvil is about 55.9 hundreds. Anyone have an idea as to if the inside diameter would have changed between 1947-1948, knucklehead to panhead or if this might be a mfg defect? I have an inquiry going with my supplier.
Thanks

I had to look up the tool on fleabay, Mark,

If the slots in the anvil are sloped so it would force a rivet outward as it is forced inward, it might work (if you can turn it down enough to slip into the installed nipple).

The rivet's a joke.

The appliance, puck, and bolt for installing the nipple might work, but I just used an expanding collet.

....Cotten