Topic: Valve cover/rocker arm question

[Scott S]

 Bike is a '78 CB550K.

 I recently pulled the top end on this bike (head and cylinders). This was my first time removing a head and I mistakenly removed these four nuts, thinking they were some of the ones that held on the head.



 Realized my mistake and put them back on. However, when I was cleaning up the valve cover yesterday I noticed something that seemed a little odd....

[Scott S]

 I noticed that when the rocker arms are at rest, they're not all even.
 With the valve cover upside down and the arms resting on the tappet cover holes, the arms are at varying angles.

 The only tool I've used to measure them is my eyes, but the exhaust side seems fairly even all the way acroos. The intakes are all different from one another.

[Scott S]

 This view shows what I'm talking about a little better.




 I also noticed that these.....plugs, or whatever they are. Aren't even. I take it that they're the other end of the threaded stud under the breather cover; the ones I removed the nuts from.
 This side seems flush:


 And this side seems countersunk:


 Did I get something out of adjustment when I removed the nuts from the studs that lock the rocker arm shafts into place? Do you adjust anything in there to even up the rocker arms? Does it matter?

[thrutheframe]

+1 I wanna know.

[MRieck]

Those 4 nuts secure wedges that hold the rocker arm shafts in place. They are wedged in very tightly. I have to put the cover in a shop press and push them (force applied to the threaded  top of the wedge). You have to remove them to get the shafts out. The chrome is gone on several of your arms. New ones are not available from Honda or anybody else. You have to hardweld them...I can have that done for you if you like.

[Scott S]

 So, what about the arms all being at different angles at rest?

[thrutheframe]

So, what about the arms all being at different angles at rest?

Are you referring to the heights? Or do you feel like they are off left to right?  I can't see it. 

[Scott S]

 The height.

[MRieck]

Nothing to worry about at all as long as they all move freely....that's what happens when the cover is removed and the rockers are not under valve spring pressure.