I currently have my head off to change pistons and going through the head while it's off. Seems like there is play in the valve guides, especially more in the exhaust valves. How much is too much? The head has less than 30k miles on rebuild (Was told it's a Buschur stage 3). I know there's a ball snap gauge? to measure the valve guide wear but obviously don't have one. Any other way I can determine if I need new guides? Both the valve and guides look great with no scrapes or wear by eye but seems like too much play in the guide (mainly exhaust) from how I measured which is only by feel. They are AE valves.
Thanks

 

I'd suggest replacing the exhaust guides if noticeably looser than the intakes. At least have them looked at by a machine shop with measuring tools. Too much play will prematurely wear oil seals and might cause a burnt valve.

 

exhaust side gets mucho hotter than intake side so they tighten up when running.
by feel the N/S wiggle needs to be reasonably close to E/W wiggle.

 

That's true....What's N/S and E/W?

 

north south and east west

 

The play feels same in all diff directions. I just realized it's not the valve guides, it's the valves. I put the intake valves in the exhaust guides and vice versa and wherever the exhaust valves went there was play but if I put in the intake valve in the same guide it was good (or much better).

So I measured the valves and came up with this
Intake valve (only was able to take 2 out of head tho) 2.58...=655mm
Exhaust valves 2.56....=652mm

Soo the exhaust valves have like .002 of wear....Is this wear or are they supposed to be (from the factory) a bit looser since they get hotter and expand more? Meaning if I buy new ones will the new ones be like this or is this from wear? Since the valves and guides look perfect and no wear marks at all. They are AE valves