Alignment Pins

Hand-made TC-88 and TC-96 (a & b) Oil Pump Alignment Pins

Back to Motorcycles

Machine tool metalworking is one of my hobbies. It just happens to cross other hobbies; including making parts and tools for my Harley Davidson motorcycles. I thought the fabrication of my TC-88 oil pump alignment pins was interesting; so I documented the process of making a pin. Below are the major steps taken to produce one pin. I turn them, one-at-a-time on my 12x36 Birmingham lathe, using a Digital Read-out for accuracy to .0001". They're turned to very precise tolerances and highly polished.  

In all of these pictures, the lathe is turning. This particular pin was one of a pair that went to Lincoln, Nebraska.

My Alignment Pins are available for $28.00 per pair, shipped anywhere within the continental U.S.

Proper oil pump alignment is recommended any time the pump is removed or replaced. These tools provide precise alignment of the oil pump in a TC-88 engine to the inner cam plate and to the crankshaft extension with no guessing and complete confidence.


Center Drilling
Marking Taper End
Marking Taper Start
Digital Read Out
Initial Cut

Measure Diameter
Shank Cut
Taper End
Threading
Threading

Taper Cut
Taper Cut
Sizing Shank
Final Shank Sizing
Checking My Work

PolisingShank
PolishingTaper
Parting
Tit
Beveling Sharp Edges

Removing Tit
Final Test
Finished Product

Send check or Money Order to:

  • Ken R
  • 521 Bardfield
  • Garland, Texas 75041
    (or email regarding PayPal)

Or, email me at: ken @ kenandjudy.us

I usually keep two or three sets made up and can ship same day.

Alignment Pin Usage Instructions
  1. With the cam plate out of the engine block, orient and hold the oil pump into its mounted position. (see the shop manual)
  2. Thread two alignment pins into diagonally-opposed holes and finger-tighten.
  3. Then, (making sure the oil pump orings are in place, mount the cam plate onto the engine block. Take care the the o-rings don't fall off or get dislodged.
  4. Insert and torque the cam plate bolts following the shop manual torquing instructions.
  5. Then, torque the alignment pins to between 25 and 50 inch pounds. Do not over-tighten.
    The actual torque isn't critical; the object is to firmly seat the pins into the holes.
  6. Insert two oil pump mounting bolts (1" in length) into the open diagonally-opposed holes and torque to about 25 inch pounds.
  7. Remove the two alignment pins and insert the remaining two oil pump mounting bolts.
  8. Torque all four pump mounting bolts to factory specifications.