Topic: Rocker shaft bolts

[70CB750]

Based on Hondaman book I assume it is safe and advisible to remove bolts that hold the rocker shaft in the same position, correct? 

The shaft can be hold in place with just the Bolt,Shaft, Stopper as CMSNL calls it and it allows the shaft to rotate and lube itself better.

See the picture/arrows.

[tool14]

yes bolts can be removed.

[70CB750]

Thank you, I just needed reassurance 

[Blitzburgh207]

I removed those rocker shaft bolts from mine last year. 5k miles later I just opened it up again (for other issues) and was pleased to find no visible wear or shifting and they seemed to be very well lubricated.

[Red Good]

But they are a little bit ticky in comparison . But there is supposed to be 2.5 hp there free for the taking !

[HondaMan]

But they are a little bit ticky in comparison . But there is supposed to be 2.5 hp there free for the taking !

That seems like a lot! IME, it's more like something under 0.5 HP? The main thing it does: during long rides at speed (like US interstates), it reduces top end temps and lets the shafts slowly roll to reduce wear. After a long time (30k+ miles), there is enough difference in friction that installing new shafts at that point make it noticeable at 70 MPH, with the engine needing more throttle to run as before.

You can improve it even more with some additional oil holes to help the shafts spin: I outlined that detail in my book, showing the ones from my own bike.

[Red Good]

Weird , I thought it was in the tips you had that it was 2.5 but any free hp is good in my book . Thanks for correcting me . Red

[HondaMan]

Weird , I thought it was in the tips you had that it was 2.5 but any free hp is good in my book . Thanks for correcting me . Red

It's a little bit relative: if you have a large cam like +30 degrees duration, the friction losses from the locked-down shafts is very high, and was said to approach 2-3 HP by folks at Action Fours and other 'soothsayers' of the 1970s. But with stock cams or those like the Megacycle 125-00 (or the once popular Yoshimura version of the same thing), it was tested to be something less than 1.0 HP loss, gained back by "freeing the shafts".

When R/C and other dragracers came into the fray, the high-lift, valve-binding levels of those monster cams (much like the Webcams we see today) bring the breakage of the shafts into question, and the use of the 5mm bolts returns. So, in stock trim, I keep with the .5 HP figure for the most part.

[70CB750]

Thank you , gentlemen.

I am all over it for the oil flow and because it just makes sense to have those shafts free float.  Horse power is good, but the bike already has more balls than myself 

[HondaMan]

Thank you , gentlemen.

I am all over it for the oil flow and because it just makes sense to have those shafts free float.  Horse power is good, but the bike already has more balls than myself 

I think I recently crossed that line, myself?