Topic: Here's the inside of my CB550

[arncruz]

I decided to take my engine apart and see where the metal shavings and the leaking oil was coming from.  This is what I found so far after taking out the breather cover,  cylinder head, and cylinder.  Inspection of the top end so far was actually good.  No significant metal wear and tear.  The cylinder are actually pretty smooth.  NO deep scratches.  Other than the soot on the valves and piston heads, there does not seem to be much problem up top.  So where's the metal dust coming from?  Bottom end most likely.   For now I'll clean what I have thus far.  I will need to do the measurements and see if the cylinders need boring.  Hopefully not.  This is my first attempt at trying to rebuild an engine.  It was nice having my pops lend me a hand today.  He's old school but his tricks helped get some stubborn screws out.  Thanks Dad.  Now if only I can get my son interested in helping me too.   If anyone can take a look at these pics and see if they see any problems on the top end.

[dave500]

you always have metal glitter,show us a close up of these shavings?heres a filter from a just rebored 550 with magnets on the filter to show the shedding that goes on about 500 kays later,there will always be metallic sparkles in your old oil unless you change it once its jet black?

they'll normally look like this,if it hasn't been done for a while youl have more sparkles.

and heres how the magnets looks clean.

the oil will always have some metallic particles you can see,if you have chunks now that's different,shavings sounds bad,was the engine smokey or over rattley?

[arncruz]

there was smoke from the oil leak and there was some chattering in the engine as well.  Gears appeared to shift without problems although I only got up to 3rd gear cause I was afraid to take it any faster since the breaking on my bike was kinda weak

[Tews19]

Chatter sounds like the usual cam chain. Did you properly adjust prior to teardown? The chain will rub the cases if not properly adjusted. Look in the cam chain galley to see if you have rub marks