« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...  (Read 2003 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline kippstakes

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« on: February 18, 2014, 10:37:26 AM »
Went to put my head cover back on the bike today and it seems to be sitting up on something inside just to the right of the cam sprocket near the shaft. It will tip back and forth on this mystery thing producing a gap of about 5mm.
The seal's in place, and the head and cover are free of warping (it was on/came off with no issues a month ago). The cam shaft is facing the correct direction and is seated as it should be. The dowels easily slide into their sockets.
I have scoured the head and cover for anything that could be causing this phenomenon and am stumped.

Running out of ideas and becoming concerned that something went wrong in prior assembly steps.

Ideas??

Thanks
Logged
Strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others.
-J. Conrad

Offline goldarrow

  • one day, i'll be an
  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,361
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2014, 10:43:15 AM »
how are you putting the head cover back on?  did you use the rubber band trick?  pictures will help seeing things
Logged
Life Is Full Of Challenges - And My Backyard Is Full Of SOHC4's

CB550 K0
CB750 K0, K2, K23 JDM, K45, K5
And the little ones z50r, xr50r, st90


750k5 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=114817.0

Offline LesterPiglet

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,046
  • 1977 CB550F2
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2014, 10:50:49 AM »
I hope you have the tappet covers removed and all adjusters backed out.
Put your finger in each tappet inspection hole and lift up the tappets. When you get it right the cover should just drop into position.
Logged
'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 TwoTired

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 21,805
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2014, 10:52:36 AM »
If you did not heed the Honda shop manual warnings, then you have probably bent a valve stem or two.

The adjusters are best backed out all the way, and some method for holding then as far upward as possible, is required to prevent damage during the bolt tightening process.

Logged
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline CBGhia

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,347
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2014, 10:55:56 AM »
Guys, he is putting on the head, not the tappet cover, I think.

There are guides in some of these holes.  Check to make sure that the head is going down straight so that the guide can slip into the hole. without binding. You might try tapping side to side, front and back with a rubber mallet, gently.

Edit:  nevermind,  he is talking about the camshaft already being in place.  More info please, or a picture.
Logged
CB550 Cafe, GL1000, Buell Ulysses
Quote from: dave500 on February 14, 2014, 03:53:33 AM
if you dont trial spin the camshaft in the head and cover you are a novice,with no natural mechanical appitude,destined for destruction.
"The cleaner the dipstick, the closer to God." -Rev. Horton Heat
“Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.”  - Hunter S. Thompson

Offline LesterPiglet

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,046
  • 1977 CB550F2
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2014, 10:58:12 AM »
Putting on the head with the cam installed?
Logged
'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 kippstakes

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2014, 11:01:03 AM »
Sorry was just signing on to mention that I did rubber band the rockers up, and backed out the screws.
I am putting on the cover, the head is already installed.

Thanks for the lightning fast replies!
Logged
Strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others.
-J. Conrad

Offline LesterPiglet

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,046
  • 1977 CB550F2
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2014, 11:04:44 AM »
Quote from: kippstakes on February 18, 2014, 11:01:03 AM
Thanks for the lightning fast replies!
Some of us don't have a life.   :P
Logged
'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 dave500

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 17,019
  • WHAT?no gravy?
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2014, 01:43:12 PM »
try rocking the tacho drive back and forth.
Logged

Offline Duanob

  • Bold Timer
  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,009
  • Gotcha!
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2014, 02:06:26 PM »
Or turning the motor itself, moving the cam shaft and lobes a bit.
Logged
"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

  __o
_- \_<,
(*) /' (*)

Offline kippstakes

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2014, 02:32:17 PM »
I've tried putting slight pressure on the cover while hand cranking the engine- didn't seem to make a difference or move the cover in any way.
When I get off work I'm going to check all the screws to make sure they all got backed out completely- seems like an easy thing to overlook .
Logged
Strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others.
-J. Conrad

Offline goldarrow

  • one day, i'll be an
  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,361
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2014, 02:41:26 PM »
make sure the two dowel pins on the cover are lined up to their holes, may feel little tight going in. 
Logged
Life Is Full Of Challenges - And My Backyard Is Full Of SOHC4's

CB550 K0
CB750 K0, K2, K23 JDM, K45, K5
And the little ones z50r, xr50r, st90


750k5 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=114817.0

Offline kippstakes

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2014, 07:03:22 PM »
Okay prob solved. There were still a few screws that hadn't been backed out all the way- was just enough to catch the valve ends and keep the cover from going flush (thankfully I didn't torque any bolts down.. yikes!). Even with them all out one of the rockers barely snuck by- there was almost no wiggle room. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be when the lobe is vertical. Whatever, time to adjust those pups down.
Thanks for all the advice!
Logged
Strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others.
-J. Conrad

Offline dave500

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 17,019
  • WHAT?no gravy?
Re: cb550 '76 Unable to get head cover on, seems to be sitting up on something...
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2014, 07:34:14 PM »
dont put any real pressure on those front four with the little lugs untill its nearly down firm,theyll snap of easy.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »