From:Sverre e-mail:sve***ger@online.no
Subject:RE: RE: Factory bulletins Date:Mon Mar 5 09:15:09 2007
Response to:1510

Hi Steve,
What can I say, your answer was very informative tough the information a bit confusing.
I have based my engine on a 1924 De-luxe case. This had a older type camshaft that was good for throwing away only. I got hold of a newer camshaft and when comparing this with the older it had a significantly much higher lift.
To install it in the case was no problem, didnt need to bend it at all. This means that the case have been made for the high lift cam (obviously since produced in 1924), someone have changed the cam to an earlier model later? or the factory sent it off to Norway with a older type camshaft to get rid of it (the older type camshaft)?
When it came to the lifters I found there had to be taken off 3.4mm on the top to get them same length as the later type lifter. This would have forced me to take of the lifter guide as well wich I didnt want to, mostly because this was allready nickle plated and ready to be mounted. To overcome this I grounded off 2 mm from the lifter top, I made a slightly thinner lock nut for the adjusting screw and finally I shortened the valve-stem below the locking pin hole by 2mm. This hole is now 2 mm from the valve stem end instead of 4 but it has not affected the spring tension. I did not have to remove any from underneath of the lifter guide, when cam was at highest point there was still good clearance to the guide.
Well what still concerns me is that the text in the German parts list is refeering to a, what I read as "recomended" modification to the "kurbelwelle gemasse" wich I thought ment flywheel but might be the upper case half?
Any way, would be real nice to have even a sad copy of those copies you have got if you run by a copy machine?!
Again thanks Steve.
----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
As far as I am aware there were 8 Service Bulletins in the form of a single sheet with drawings and information as follows:
1: Henderson Timing dated Jan 20 1922
2: Henderson Deluxe and K Oil Distribution dated Dec 20 1921 (there are two versions of this one, both with the same date - see earlier listings about 'baffle plates')
3: Clutch and Transmission Model K dated Jan 5 1921 (again there are two versions of this one, both with the same date - one is labelled Model K, the other Deluxe and Model K - but information is identical)
4: Excelsior Timing Diagram dated Feb 18 1921
5: Excelsior Crank Case Baffles dated 10-6-21
6: DeLuxe Cam Shaft Brake Installation dated Feb 28 1923
7: High Lift Cam Installation dated Nov 17 1923
8: New Style Gear Shift Installation dated October 20 1924

No, I don't know where the sheets are numbered in a different order to the publishing dates.

The Exclesior Henderson Dealer's Bulletin Vol II No 3 dated December 1923 contains reduced copies of all the above except for Number 8 (for obvious reasons!) I have a copy of this Dealer's bulletin but it is in very poor condition - a copy of a copy too far I guess - so it doesn't scan too well. I have good full size copies of Service Bulletins 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 which do scan OK.

As this enquiry is about 7 and 8....

Service Bulletin Number 7.
As I said, this doesn't scan well so I'll do my best to describe what's in it. The words in the Dealer's Bulletin say ...
'Service Bulletin Number 7 shows the changes which must be made to put one of these new camshafts in old motors. It is necessary to file with a round file, a notch of about 3/32" radius in the aluminium crankcase for insertion of camshaft. Another notch of the same size, approximately 90 degrees from this must be cut in the aluminium of the crankcase where the middle crankcase (error here - they mean camshaft) bearing fits. The purpose of the notches is to provide clearance for noses of the higher cams of the new camshaft. Without cutting these notches the camshaft could not be inserted without bending and care must be exercised to prevent anything of this kind.
It is also necessary to install the new style tappets and tappet guides which will permit the higher lift given by the newer camshaft. Or if the old tappets and guide have to be used they should be altered as shown on the Service Bulletin No 7'
Servive bulletin No 7 shows the two notches referred to above as being at 3 o'clock in the front bearing and 6 o'clock in the centre bearing when the crankcase is viewed from the front. These notches are in the aluminium - the front and centre camshaft bearings are removed when the camshaft is being inserted. Pretty obvious but thought I'd mention it anyway. There are dimensioned drawings of the original and modified guide and tappet. This is very unclear and I can't make out the dimensions too well.
The guide is reduced in height by taking some off both top and bottom. You could do this by trial and error - when the camshaft has lifted the tappet to it's highest point, make sure the tappet is not jammed against the underside of the tappet guide.
The tappet is also reduced in length but this time by removing material from the top only. It will also be necessary to grind the two flats back as well. Again the dimensions given are very unclear but I guess the overall height needs to be reduced by the difference between the lift on the two camshafts.
The drawings show the Deluxe tappet (two flats at the top) and guide (bulbous, spherical end). The earlier, four flat tappet and parallel guide need different attention. Again, best to do this by trial and error. The important thing is to keep the valve length the same so that the spring tension is not altered.

Service Bulletin Number 8
This is easier - scan attached.

If anyone knows of any other Service Bulletins or has a good copy of No 7, I sure would like a copy please!

Hope this helps - Steve

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
Gentlemen,
In a German version Henderson de-luxe parts catalogue that I bought from Gump a couple of years back, there is a list of what modifications are done to the De-luxe trough its production and it states that modifications are required if installing newer parts in older models, ie. the high lift camshaft in an older engine.
This list refeers to two factory bulletins, 7 & 8 regarding necceseary modifications to be carried out.
Have anyone seen those, or know what they say??
Does anyone know what was the factory recomandation of modifications required ie. if installing a high lift cam in an older engine?

Regards
Sverre