Comments for

Comment on Valve Grinding Machine Comparison by Jonathan Couch

Jonathan Couch — Wed, 22 May 2024 22:49:17 +0000

I have 3 Sioux machines. 2 680s and a 2075HP. I’ve had KW SVS-D machines and a B&d machine in my Engine Machine shop. I’m sorry to see T&S has stopped making theirs. I would have liked to buy one. Back to my input on the above. We can disagree and I’m not offended but I have gotten excellent service from my Sioux machines. The KW was easy to use so long as you had a compressed air supply available which isn’t always available at a race track or out on the road but the Sioux machines in my opinion have always worked better. First off the KW machine seems much less sturdy and the motor moves to the valve instead of the valve moving to the motor. The valve is in the back of the machine so you end up hunched over in an awkward pose trying to see what you’re doing over the stone. I’ve always liked the SIOUXper finish my machines provide (probably low mileage compared to a production shop, I have a racing engine shop) and the KW way bar was always a pain to adjust. About the time you got it to stop rocking the motor back and forth in the machine (axially) it was hard to pull back and forth (laterally) so the motion of grinding a valve was very choppy and inconsistent. I handed that machine off to another shop and they got so frustrated with it they traded it off to someone for other equipment. You praise the valve finish you were able to get from your KW machine where I was doing good to grind an angle on one instead of a weird radius due to the play in the way bar. If Sioux is bad, then I don’t know any better and they’re all consistently bad the same way but at least they’ll seat a valve. I like KW as a company, their boring bars and block equipment was top notch as is their customer service but I just never could get along with their valve grinder.

Don’t get me started on B&D machines *junk* for sure.

If I could buy a machine right now personally I’d take a Sioux or a T&S 2075 over a KW machine but that’s just my input.

Comment on Valve Grinding Machine Comparison by Juan Morales

Juan Morales — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 17:23:21 +0000

Hey i came to this analysis by accident but i’m happy i run in to it. I just bought a sioux/snap on……………… vg3000 trying to do something on my time off, i haven’t used it but i’m eager to start. Thank you very much and hope to be back with some good news.

Comment on The Evolution of Balancing by Chris Whitley

Chris Whitley — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 14:54:15 +0000

In reply to rick hovey.

Hi Rick,

I sent you an email a few minutes ago with a few clarifying questions. Please feel free to give us a call so we can go over the size and application of your machine at 940-668-1002.

Chris Whitley
Account Manager

Comment on The Evolution of Balancing by rick hovey

rick hovey — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 14:39:00 +0000

Hi How much for an upgrade kit on old SW machine?

Comment on Valve Grinding Machine Comparison by Ken Ragan

Ken Ragan — Wed, 02 May 2018 17:13:43 +0000

Good information here, I am looking for a valve grinder and seat grinder to be used on motorcycles and cars and light trucks, any recommendations. I would prefer used as I am retired and will only do this type of work when I feel like it. You know friends and family.

Comment on Valve Grinding Machine Comparison by Brodie

Brodie — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 04:06:30 +0000

Awesome write up, thank you! No mention of Black & Decker?!?!? HHAHA.

Comment on Valve Grinding Machine Comparison by Skip Green

Skip Green — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 14:17:29 +0000

Great analysis Tim. I came to similar conclusions 25 years ago when working at WVN. The WVN engineering committee Built a valve refacer in the 90’s and it was a real dogs breakfast because the emphasis was on cheap and they tried to copy Sioux. They also had the IDL until Sunnen bought it. The original sample is still floating around Winona. The VR1000 and the old VN CRW were great machines for finish (12″ wheel), and were very accurate if the collets were in good shape, but the large castings were too expensive. It always came back to price, and Sioux won that battle. ER series collets and chucks are available at reasonable cost and precision so it seems that these might be an answer to the workholding issue. They are cheap enough that new collets can be purchased on a regular basis. The non-Asian ones would be my choice. The centerless design is OK but is tweaky to operate and can have inaccuracy if the valve butt does any in/out movement while rotating.
I guess this brings me to the question: why do we need valve refacers anyway? I am back in the machine business (retired from WVN & DCM) , restoring motorcycles, and generally use all new valves. I think I might have reground some about 3 months ago, but am not sure!!

Comment on The Search for Efficiency by Ricardo Maldonado

Ricardo Maldonado — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 15:01:26 +0000

Gracias por su historia. Espero poder realizar mi sueño utilizando máquina TyS