What year triples have cast iron cylinder head skulls?

1200ts

1200ts

Hero member
Location
USA - Riverside CA
In reading here and various Laverda books, there appears to be no consences as to what year triples have the cast iron or aluminum cylinder head skulls?

As an example from what I have read:

1976 - all are aluminum

1976 - all are cast iron

1976 - some are cast iron, some are not.

1979 - all are aluminum

1979 - all are cast iron

So can someone tell me what years they made the changes from one to the other?

I will soon be removing the head from my 3CL due to a oil leak (cam chain) and will give it a full overhaul. The motor has never been apart from new (33,000 miles) so I don't know what head it has?
 
From what I have learnt there were changes made in 1977 some cylinder heads were all alloy some had cast skulls, there may have been some over lap in 1976 I am not sure.
As far as I know in 1979 the cylinder heads had cast skulls but soft alloy castings.
Once again Laverda being Laverda I dont know if there really is a sttus quo.
 
I thought the all-alloy heads were in 78, 79, from what I think I remember Red likes them to mod for racing.
 
All had cast iron skulls, except for the few that didn't... ;)

All-alloy heads were made only for 1-2 years, I can't imainge the factory mixing them on the production line. I'm thinking, 77-78, as I have found examples with dowelled cam bearings, as well as examples with the milled locating slot for the bearing blocks. If a skulled head is fitted to a bike that fits in the all-alloy numbers, it has most probably been replaced at some point. Who knows after almost 50 years...

The all-alloy heads are of miserable quality, the casting is soft and porous. Most have seriously suffered through thousands of heat cycles, cracks from spark plug bore to valve seat being very common. Thankfully, the seats rarely come loose,after pressing, they are staked(?) to prevent them from falling out. I've come across a few that actually leaked from either the intake port or combustion chamber to the outside. Chuck 'em in the skip, or send to Red, he's quite ambitioned in making something useful from them! Loads of work and effort, isn't really viable if not intended for racing.

piet
 
Cuda said:
Where can you find the information about the all alloy head numbered bikes please piet.
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No fucken' idea... ;)

Socks' '76 has/had one, my mates' '76 doesn't, go figure. That's mainly why I suggested '77-'78.

Totally irrelevant imho, either you have it, or not. No point in worrying about it beforehand, you'll find out as soon as you lift the head. An eagle eye can spot it down the inlet port.

It's not as if the skulled heads won't cause any problems at all... just different ones.:rolleyes:

piet
 
hmmm ... I've not heard the term 'skulled' before (I take it that it is an obvious insert in the head?)

eitherway, my 1200 (77) does not (and quite porous casting for sure)
 
Chrisk ; I've never used that word "Skull" to describe Aluminum density Vs strength compounded with various metals.


You just taught me a new WORD "SKULL" to describe casting strength and density. I always went by sheet numbers.


Thank you, I feel dumb right now or I'm lost into dementia further then I think ;o)
 
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Laverda SF said:
Chrisk ; I've never used that word "Skull" to describe Aluminum density Vs strength compounded with various metals.


You just taught me a new WORD "SKULL" to describe casting strength and density. I always went by sheet numbers.


Thank you, I feel dumb right now or I'm lost into dementia further then I think ;o)
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Skull has nothing to do with the casting strength and density. It's the top of the combustion chamber, the recess in the head where the valves live.
A cast iron skull is cast into the head, you would have noticed that on your 750 when the head was off.
Some models of the triple didn't have a cast iron skull, it was all ally.
 
Head is leaking oil at the front of the head gasket next to the cam chain. Also has a small crack on top where the valve cover seals. As I have heard bad things over the years about the all alloy heads and seeing in a book that mine may have one, I was wondering what I would find when it is removed. Head has supposedly never been off since new and bike runs fine except for the oil coating the front of the motor. Leak has been there a few years but it only leaked a very small amount. Not enough to bother removing the head. Now it is getting worse. Bike is a 1976 3CL with 33,000 miles.
 
1200ts said:
Head is leaking oil at the front of the head gasket next to the cam chain. Also has a small crack on top where the valve cover seals. As I have heard bad things over the years about the all alloy heads and seeing in a book that mine may have one, I was wondering what I would find when it is removed. Head has supposedly never been off since new and bike runs fine except for the oil coating the front of the motor. Leak has been there a few years but it only leaked a very small amount. Not enough to bother removing the head. Now it is getting worse. Bike is a 1976 3CL with 33,000 miles.
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just remember .... double the time / four times the cost and enjoy every moment!

frankly, mine's worked out so far, but has yet to have a good run (after head off) but time blew out a bit and just remember to think through a possible parts list
 
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