Topic: CB550 cam cover installation problem

[bloglos]

CB 550 74, Ahhh.. final stages of putting a top end back together and I'm pretty sure we F'ed it up.  Thought we had our eyes on lining the tappets up when putting the cam cover back on but it looks like we tightened the cover a little ways with it misaligned.  We backed off a bit and loosened the tappet lock nut and turned then open a bit, they popped over the valves with an audible noise so there was definitely some pressure on the valve stem. 

I'm guessing that under no circumstance should the valve and tappet be lined up like the picture I posted, once the cam cover is on.  Are the valves that easy to bend? 

[bloglos]

Oh really? Would you guess that's what happened based on the misaligned tappet?  Most of them align but a couple of them are misaligned like the one in the picture.   

[bloglos]

Actually, I think it may very well be bent valves, the ones that don't line up stick when rotating the crank, and pop hard when they close.   

I'm only guessing of course, I would appreciate feedback from the more experienced folks on this forum.

[bollingball]

Is this the one that needs the rubber bands? And did you use them?

Ken

[Greggo]

That pic looks just like what the shop manual warns will happen if you don't hold the rockers back with rubber bands during install...That's a bummer

[TwoTired]

It's not the valves that get damaged, it's the rockers or the cover take the damage.

Not so. It's just the opposite.

If nearly any side pressure is applied to the valve stem, they bend pretty easily.  The shop manual warns specifically about NOT doing this.

If you stopped tightening because it felt the cover bolts were taking too much force to turn, and the misalignment at the valve stem was present, then you bent one or more valves.  The Cb500 and Cb550 are intolerant of this.

[bryanj]

There are so many warnings on here about reading the manual CAREFULLY before fitting the top cover, cheapest option is now a used complete head as when the valves get bent guides frequently break

[LesterPiglet]

It's not the valves that get damaged, it's the rockers or the cover take the damage.

Not so. It's just the opposite.

Sorry about that.

[bloglos]

Ok, Thanks everyone for the help.  It's appreciated. I feel like an idiot.  I read the manual carefully and understood about making sure everything lined up, but I guess I missed a couple

I have a spare 73 CB500 engine, which from reading the forums I understand I can swap the head and the cam cover.  Please correct me if I'm wrong!

My question is, can I use a top end gasket set for a CB550 once I swap out 500 head and cam cover? 
Like this one for example?
http://www.z1enterprises.com/Gasket-Set--Honda-CB550-7479-Top-Set-2003.aspx

Again, I really appreciate everyone's advice, I did do a search, and it seemed that the gasket set should be the safe, but it was unclear if I needed to use a different head gasket.

[bryanj]

550 on 500 is OK as thats all Honda sell now, 500 on 550 check that the hole is bigger than the bore