Is there a need for valve collets/keepers for alloy head A10s?

[jjbsa]

Hi folks,

Some will know that I run the eborbikes.com website and others may know from it that the site is not currently showing stocks for sale because my health has been a big problem for me since the end of 2019.

However, I'm intending to get the site active again soon, and I'm also getting back to spending time doing things with alloy head BSA A10s.

I feel the valve collets (also called keepers) for these motors (specifically the alloy head A10s) are in very short supply and the very few sources I know of don't produce stuff I would use because of their quality.  I'm considering getting a batch made and I have found a company that's interested. They will be high quality, made on good CNC kit and made from a high tensile steel, EN24T.

I think the price is likely to be a little above that of the Triumph twin keepers made by Kibblewhite (there, that's my cards on the table). There would be little in it for me.

I'm interested in finding out what the demand for these is, before I decide to go ahead. Could you please help with your views?

The questions I'd value answers to are:

- Is availability of these collets a problem for you?
- What do you think is the level of demand? Low, medium, high?
- Do you think you will need some in the future?  E.g. to build up another cylinder head.  What is the likely number of collets needed?
- What is the most you would pay for a pair of collets (i.e. for one valve)?  Please think about this, we're talking about new parts.

I'm hoping for answers that will allow me to form a reasonably clear picture. There will be very little in the way of profit for me, my business is a retirement one, and is done to a good extent as a service to other enthusiasts.

I  would be selling them through my website, http://eborbikes.com/

Thanks for all replies,

Jon

[muskrat]

G'day Jon.
I moved it as not really a tech 
My A7 with a SS head uses the std A10 type. The cafe has A7SS head modified with A10SR valves and SS valve springs/retainers but modified SR collets.
Heaven help the next owner 
Cheers
added a link.

[jjbsa]

Thanks Musky, appreciated, I should have thought of that,
Jon

[edboy]

hello jon,
hope your health improves. i m in the same boat. bit of a shock when it all happened at once. diagnosis and operation.
i believed you offered laser cut a10 barrel shims and sold collets and alloy keepers as a set which is good. anyone matching 2nd hand and pattern parts of the internet will find some mismatch with collets sitting too high or too low it they re unlucky. so selling a complete matched kit is a good idea in my opinion. beware of pattern hepolite valve springs as the wire guage is too thick causing coilbinding.