Author Topic: cleaning up cb550, cilinder head cover stuck?  (Read 2726 times)

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Offline obibas

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cleaning up cb550, cilinder head cover stuck?
« on: June 22, 2012, 04:11:47 AM »
First of all I would ike to say hello to the forum, have been lurking for a while before I start posting.

I picked up this honda cb550 F 1976 a couple of weeks ago. First of all I want to make a totally functional motor.

I think it runs not too bad, bad I can hear the cam chain. It is my first motorbike, so I am a complete rookie. Also the electricity is not completely right, because my left signal turns arent't working and my right signal turns only work when I hit the horn.





My first adjustment were the valves, which wasn't t easy because the valve screws were #$%*ed, so ordered a new one. Finally got the #$%*ers out.




Then I decided to do the cam chain adjustment, shouldn't have done that. BEcause automatical adjustment didn't work. Now comes a question:

I followed the hymer manual, that told to screw out the adjustment screw of the cam chain. I did that, but then it didn't adjust itself, I hope I didn't do anything wrong, because I turned maybe 4 times 360degrees out. Please let me know, if I can start the bike, or reassemble the motor.

1. What's the best thing to do, I read you can only adjust the srew 180 degrees afterwards?

After that I just started to check the electrics, I found a couple of lose wires next to the coil. The blue white, the orange white, the green and the brown white.


In the headlamp I found another 4 lose wires, the orange white, the gray, the brown blue and the blue one.



2. ANy suggestions here, on what to do with them?

« Last Edit: July 06, 2012, 08:48:47 AM by obibas »

Offline MoMo

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Re: cleaning up cb550, electricity is a mess
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2012, 04:28:37 AM »
Orange/white is left running light and blue/white is right.  Blue is right turn signal. Go through your wiring  and clean all connections. I adjust the cam chain while the bike is running, not the official Honda way but it works for me. Have fun and welcome.   Nice bike...Larry

Offline obibas

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Re: cleaning up cb550, electricity is a mess
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2012, 04:41:52 AM »
Thanks Momo for your help, do you think I can just connect the loose wires from the headlamp to the ones that our located at the coil? I assume the color should be the same when connected?

Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: cleaning up cb550, electricity is a mess
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2012, 04:49:28 AM »
Brown/blue is turn signal buzzer. Green is ground. As long as the same colours connect it will be ok.
Your cam chain tensioner needs looked at, the adjuster should not rotate 360 degrees.
That is the first ever 550F I ever seen and made me want one. Looks like K model side panels though.
'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline MoMo

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Re: cleaning up cb550, electricity is a mess
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2012, 04:54:23 AM »
Honda  made the color code  universal to all models.  Male Like color to female like color. Your front turn signals are not correct for your bike, so if they do not have running lights the o/w and b/w will not be used.  If you haven't download the manual from this site...Larry

Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: cleaning up cb550, electricity is a mess
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2012, 04:58:31 AM »
Your front turn signals are not correct for your bike,
Depending on year and country of origin they are. They are original on my bike.
'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline obibas

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Re: cleaning up cb550, electricity is a mess
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2012, 06:44:42 AM »
The side covers aren't original, they are from a k model. I got one original f side cover with the bike.

Offline obibas

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Re: cleaning up cb550, cilinder head cover stuck
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2012, 05:06:50 AM »
Currently I am trying to remove the cilinder head cover, but somehow I can not get it of. I think I removed all the screws and bolts. Any help?




Offline MoMo

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Re: cleaning up cb550, cilinder head cover stuck?
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2012, 05:06:26 PM »
It looks a though it is seized on a knock pin.  Have you very gently tried to pry up?...Larry

Offline rb550four

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Re: cleaning up cb550, cilinder head cover stuck?
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2012, 07:08:01 PM »
Lester seems to be right, Those are 77 K side covers, and they should not fit the F, the carbs are also incorrect for an F...Look like PD's to me ,as is the tank ...totally K. Picture takers finger is in the corner covering the rear tail light....long chrome ridge from seat to lamp F , no ridge to lamp 78 K.  78 K has some quick connect wires in the bucket the 76 F didn't as far as I remember. Could be an older harness.  Does the I.D. tag on the throttle side of the neck match the stamped numbers on the opposite side of the neck?
  It is a very nice looking machine.
You can try to bump the front part of the covers down with a rubber hammer gently transferring the valve spring pressure to the rear ,maybe the energy transfer will lift the head off the 2 rear pins. PB blaster it first and bump it gently.
  And as for the non adjusting timing chain adjuster, I d find a new one that works before dropping that one back in the hole.
« Last Edit: July 08, 2012, 08:47:58 AM by rb550four »
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
  550 Snowbike -Somebody had to do it.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907