Author Topic: Oil Leak Cylinder Head  (Read 2388 times)

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Offline felicious

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Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« on: February 24, 2014, 12:01:10 PM »
Hi,

I've had an oil leak for a while and decided to clean my bike this weekend to find the source.
Took me 4h and it felt like I cleaned 35 years of grime off but it was worth it to finally see the engine in its original color.  :)

Here are the pictures of the leak. Can anyone take an educated guess how much trouble that is to fix?
The bike ran maybe 3-4 minutes at this point. I rode it home and had some oil all over the fins but couldn't see anymore oil at the cylinder head cover.




Thank you,
Felix

Offline flybox1

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Re: Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2014, 12:08:17 PM »
looks like a valve cover leak.
if thats a 500/550, i think you can replace it without pulling the engine.
the 500/550 guys will be long shortly...
'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
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"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mineā€¦"

Offline felicious

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Re: Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2014, 12:17:28 PM »
Yeah I forgot the most important info. CB550 '78

Offline Untold

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Re: Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2014, 12:22:46 PM »
Pretty easy fix. I recently did it myself.  Just get a new valve cover gasket, and do a search for the procedure. Most importantly, make sure to back out your tappets and use the elastic trick to keep them out of the way, lest you bend a valve.
1976 CB550K

Offline goldarrow

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Re: Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2014, 12:29:05 PM »
Valve cover seal is no longer available from honda.  Since you're going to open it up, might as we'll check the rubber picks and replace them.  $5 a piece from honda and will need 6 pieces.  Get a tube of hondabond also. 
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 felicious

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Re: Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2014, 01:06:15 PM »
That's great news.
How much time would you guys estimate for this job (including the rubber pucks)?

Offline goldarrow

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Re: Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2014, 01:10:53 PM »
If have everything on hand, i would say few hours, but plan it for a day, or a weekend job.  You don't want to rush it. 
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 felicious

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Re: Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2014, 01:33:38 PM »
I found this video that seems to show the rubber pucks and the gasket installation.
SocoMoto: 1976 Honda cb550 Cam Cover Installation (part 4).m4v

You put the Hondabond on the gasket for better sealing?

This looks like an OEM gasket? Does this work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-1978-Honda-CB-500-Four-CB-550-K-CB550F-Top-End-Gasket-Set-Kit-A-OEM-NOS-/310856728523?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

Sorry for the noob questions.

Offline goldarrow

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Re: Oil Leak Cylinder Head
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2014, 01:41:13 PM »
the gasket set is overkill, search feebay for cylinder head cover gasket part number 12391-323-000, use hondabond on the rubber pucks, not on the cover head cover gasket.
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