Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Cylinder head difference

I have an 02 America, As far as I know the head and engine are orginal to the bike. I'm swapping the head from an 03, to my understanding the heads are the same but they aren't. The blocks that the timing gear goes inbetween and the gear shaft goes into are different. The 02 has a hole going thru the top of the block for a bolt to go down thru to secure shaft and the 03 head doesn't have this hole. Is there a way I can still use this head or do I have to find an 02 head? I tried to post a pic of the 02 head but I haven't figured that out yet?

bad link

Yeah, I was trying to post a pic and did something wrong

The whole I'm asking about is in the block/post in the center of the pic

I just looked back at the pic I had of my head when it was off and I don't have the hole. That said I don't see a purpose for it unless you actually had something there.
Based on my limited knowledge it should be fine BUT I'd wait and see what others say.

It holds the gear shaft in place on the 02

Any suggestions?

If memory serves there were 3 different designs depending on Ser# The head will bolt up fine but you may need to get the applicable top end pieces to make your idler mechanism compatible.
Go to bike bandit and check out the diagrams.. could give you some insight.

you need different timing gear ,different shaft,bolt and washer ..new head will work on your bike..I got 2004 head on my 2001 America and at the moment fitting 2008 head on 2001 bonneville ....
this picture shows what you got in your old head


and this what you need to new head work

What would the run me cost wise?

How do I get the part number for each of those so I know what to order ?

Go here and price the parts for a 2003 Speedy..

$240 ouch. Are there any other place I can check

Check with Pinwall or any of the other cycle breakers. Most of them have listings on Ebay. It may be more cost effective to re-hab your original or is it beyond repair?

You mean check those places for heads or the parts? My other head is pretty beat up. I'm curious if I can use my old timing gear but replace the gear shaft and the other parts?

Possibly the only thing you should need is the shaft, retaining screw and wave washer...

I've been all over ebay and nothing

From what I'm seeing the the part list the timing gears are different part numbers. Just curious what the difference is

Was the new gear an improvement that they made? I looked at several yrs and they are showing both sets that I have checked which is from 02 to 08

i think fitting new one is an improvement as old one with pinch bolt was bastard to get off....they changed bearings for some reason as well as you can see

Thanks for everyone's input

Well I learned something from this one. Thanks for the pictures Grzegorz.

I have the parts for that still. Send me like some cash for the shipping and ill send em to ya. Just saw this now

Sent you a pm

jryan please email v_s_t_a_r@yahoo.com. If anyone has a good way to get hold of him please contact him and have get hold of me

Finally got her running just a bit ago. I have to put the seat and muffles back on then order two parts and then I should on the road. Big thanks jryan he helped me out big time