How to pack heads

2V head packing

Why?
Why is this page here? To help protect YOUR valuable property.
It is probably not your job to ship things. As the owner/operator of Ca Cycleworks, it IS part of my job to ship things. People tell me that I am "anal" when describing tasks I perform... Not once since 1997, when I start shipping parts for Ca Cycleworks, have I had a customer complain that their parts were damaged in transit. MANY TIMES in the past years I have received parts from vendors that were poorly packed and damage resulted. I have seen it all and have learned a good bit. I want to share tips with you on how to pack your heads so that they do not get damaged.

General Tips:
Insure for replacement cost. For heads, I would not insure for less than $500.
Heavy objects must NOT be allowed to move within the carton at all.
Items with small points at an end must have plenty of packing to prevent the point from poking out of the carton. This applies to crankshafts and heads with studs.
Extra reinforcement with flattened boxes provides an amazing amount of strength.
Double and triple tape the bottom of the exterior carton. It doesn't hurt to do this for the top, too.

Shipping DON'Ts:
Loosely wrapping heads in heavy craft paper and filling the shipping carton with foam, etc, is not a good idea. This will allow the heads to move too much, possibly damaging each other or poking through the shipping carton and striking equipment or the floor.
Loosely packing the heads will allow the shipping carton to deform. Once its shape is lost, it dramatically loses its strength and ability to protect your heads. Once its shape is lost, the tape is apt to come off the surfaces, and allow the carton to open.

You start by removing the heads from the engine. To do this, remove the belt covers and tensioners and then the belts. Next, use 15mm wrench to remove all head nuts and lift off the heads. Note that they leak oil. Be sure to let them drain for a couple days. CLEAN your heads the best you can.
Always rest heads on cardboard or other soft surface. Laying them on the floor may scratch the heads or otherwise mar the finish.

Now, get plastic grocery bags and wrap the heads in them. Use at least two bags per head. This will help prevent that last bit of oil from seeping out. Also, the bags help spread the load of the cushioning in the next steps.

Buy TWO boxes that are 10x8x6 (LxWxH) in size; one for each head. Tape the bottom of the box, where the writing is. Place the heads FLAT in the boxes. Orient the exhaust studs towards one corner. The heads will rest flat on the bottom of the box.

Completely fill the space within the box with dense material. Newspapers work the best. Take single sheets of newspaper and pack it tightly in EVERY corner, completely filling the empty space in the box around each head. Folding the flaps of the box down helps prevent bulging.
Do not stuff too much into the box and make the box bulge greatly; this is counterproductive. Note in the picture that the short sides with the flaps pointing up are bulging slightly. A slight bulge is OK so long as you can "pull" the flaps together on the top when the box is closed.

Tape the boxes shut. Write your name on the boxes. Then put the boxes on their sides. Place the bottom of each box against each other in the center and then tape the boxes together.
Buy a 14x12x10 box (herein referred to as the shipping carton). Bonus points for double wall 275# test. Lay a flattened cardboard box in the bottom. Now lay the heads boxes in the shipping carton. Place more flattened boxes around the perimeter of the boxes within the carton. Then use newspapers or foam popcorn to fill the empty space of the carton. IT IS IMPERATIVE that there is no free space in the shipping carton and also that it is not bulging.

Also, if desired, you may remove the cam end caps from the heads. This is the piece with "Ducati" cast into it. If you ship your heads with the cam end caps, they will be returned to you and the custom machined cam end caps with the oil fitting will be installed on the heads. You will need to indicate if it is your desire to have the inner belt covers removed or retained. If no preference is indicated, they will be retained.

8 30 2004

Why? Why is this page here? To help protect YOUR valuable property. It is probably not your job to ship things. As the owner/operator of Ca Cycleworks, it IS part of my job to ship things. People tell me that I am "anal" when describing tasks I perform... Not once since 1997, when I start shipping parts for Ca Cycleworks, have I had a customer complain that their parts were damaged in transit. MANY TIMES in the past years I have received parts from vendors that were poorly packed and damage resulted. I have seen it all and have learned a good bit. I want to share tips with you on how to pack your heads so that they do not get damaged. General Tips: Insure for replacement cost. For heads, I would not insure for less than $500. Heavy objects must NOT be allowed to move within the carton at all. Items with small points at an end must have plenty of packing to prevent the point from poking out of the carton. This applies to crankshafts and heads with studs. Extra reinforcement with flattened boxes provides an amazing amount of strength. Double and triple tape the bottom of the exterior carton. It doesn't hurt to do this for the top, too. Shipping DON'Ts: Loosely wrapping heads in heavy craft paper and filling the shipping carton with foam, etc, is not a good idea. This will allow the heads to move too much, possibly damaging each other or poking through the shipping carton and striking equipment or the floor. Loosely packing the heads will allow the shipping carton to deform. Once its shape is lost, it dramatically loses its strength and ability to protect your heads. Once its shape is lost, the tape is apt to come off the surfaces, and allow the carton to open.
	You start by removing the heads from the engine. To do this, remove the belt covers and tensioners and then the belts. Next, use 15mm wrench to remove all head nuts and lift off the heads. Note that they leak oil. Be sure to let them drain for a couple days. CLEAN your heads the best you can. Always rest heads on cardboard or other soft surface. Laying them on the floor may scratch the heads or otherwise mar the finish.
	Now, get plastic grocery bags and wrap the heads in them. Use at least two bags per head. This will help prevent that last bit of oil from seeping out. Also, the bags help spread the load of the cushioning in the next steps.
	Buy TWO boxes that are 10x8x6 (LxWxH) in size; one for each head. Tape the bottom of the box, where the writing is. Place the heads FLAT in the boxes. Orient the exhaust studs towards one corner. The heads will rest flat on the bottom of the box.
	Completely fill the space within the box with dense material. Newspapers work the best. Take single sheets of newspaper and pack it tightly in EVERY corner, completely filling the empty space in the box around each head. Folding the flaps of the box down helps prevent bulging. Do not stuff too much into the box and make the box bulge greatly; this is counterproductive. Note in the picture that the short sides with the flaps pointing up are bulging slightly. A slight bulge is OK so long as you can "pull" the flaps together on the top when the box is closed.
	Tape the boxes shut. Write your name on the boxes. Then put the boxes on their sides. Place the bottom of each box against each other in the center and then tape the boxes together. Buy a 14x12x10 box (herein referred to as the shipping carton). Bonus points for double wall 275# test. Lay a flattened cardboard box in the bottom. Now lay the heads boxes in the shipping carton. Place more flattened boxes around the perimeter of the boxes within the carton. Then use newspapers or foam popcorn to fill the empty space of the carton. IT IS IMPERATIVE that there is no free space in the shipping carton and also that it is not bulging.
Also, if desired, you may remove the cam end caps from the heads. This is the piece with "Ducati" cast into it. If you ship your heads with the cam end caps, they will be returned to you and the custom machined cam end caps with the oil fitting will be installed on the heads. You will need to indicate if it is your desire to have the inner belt covers removed or retained. If no preference is indicated, they will be retained.