Where to buy valve stems?

[Lápiz]

Hey ya'll!

So I bought my first Ninja 250 a while ago with my original post being here "https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1314777#post1314777"

But I have run into a *slight* issue, that mainly being one of my valve stems on the exhaust side is completely destroyed.

Photos of this are on my google drive, its easier to share.

The photos above should do it justice but checking everything else including the transmission and carbs I actually have a pretty decent build. I am going to be buying the proper tools in order to install the valve stems but where do I buy them? eBay is kind of sketchy with most of the sellers since they all sell their own version of parts and I don't know who to trust.

This is one contender https://www.ebay.com/itm/294994983861
along with this Which seems even more scary.

Besides the valve stems, I also am checking the side-to-side play of the piston shafts, since I know that can be an issue with a bike with 30,000 miles on it. But I can't find the specifications on any manuals online or even with my Cyclepedia manual either. If anyone knows do let me know here.


*PS I have been using a freaking penny to clean off the carbon deposits off of the piston heads, works surprisingly well. No gouges!

[Lápiz]

Okay I may have bought these "might be totally screwed but I will post updates if I actually get a compression from my engine"

But also I am pretty sure this is why I got nearly 0 compression from the cylinders when I went to test them, still love my ninja and maybe one day she will run

[DannoXYZ]

Wow, that's pretty bad! This is usually due to letting valve-clearances get too tight with wear. The valves spend less time touching the seat. Which is how they're cooled. Exhaust valves face harder life and they overheat!

You may also need valve-seats cut as well due to wearing wider and wider. Want to cut them back to minimum widths on intake and middle range on exhaust.

[Lápiz]

DannoXYZ what would I ever do without you bro.

I am definitely trying to figure out how exactly to do valve seat cuts online as most of my disassembly and reassembly has been through youtube videos and ripped PDFs of 1990's manuals. My credentials for doing this is that I like to build things but it puts me nowhere near being knowledgeable about machine maintenance/restoration.

Always appreciate the support and insight since I most certainly need it.

Thanks again!

[Singh2jz]

Will used ones suffice? Like obviously good condition. I’ll check clearances and stuff