Topic: 550 Engine Disassembly/Cam Chain Servicing Pics?

[jidai]

Hi, I just found this forum today and it looks like an excellent place. I have some questions about this bike I'm attempting to fix and the general purpose moto forum I'm usually just wasn't helping.

Anyway, I recently bought this 1976 CB550F. I got it for a song because there's something wrong with it and the owner doesn't want to fix it. The bike is in great cosmetic condition and it's been sitting for less than a year, which still might be major. I know a thorough carb cleaning and drainage of all the fluids is in my future but I have to fix the primary problem first:

The engine won't start. It won't start because some part of the cam sprocket or tensioner or something in there (I'm rather new to moto repair, can you tell?) is loose and the cam chain is gettting no action. The owner says he believes the cam sprocket itself is somehow not correctly attached. My first thought was that perhaps it is merely not correct adjusted and this guy hasn't a clue on how to do that. This could still be the case however I won't know until I pick up the bike tommorow. I also wonder if perhaps the sprocket has come out of its little groove and the entire camshaft is off or damaged.

Anyway, I know there's no solution other than to try to adjust it all together as if it were regular maintenance and if this doesn't work I'm going to have to pull the top of the engine off to take a look at what's going on. Now, I bought a Clymer but it is uncomfortably silent on several issues. One is that I want to service the cam chain and it's rather vague and pictureless (at least for the 550) on how to do this. I'm wondering if someone could direct me to a step-by-step picture (or even sketched shop manual) guide on how to take off the top end of the engine so I can take a look at the sprocket and chain in there.

Any linkage to that or any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I realize I'm kind of diving into moto repair but I'm determined not to give up a pay some guy to do what I can learn to do and be better for it, let me know if I'm way off base in thinking I can fix this or not, I'm really taking a leap of faith on this but for the price this bike was it was an offer I could not refuse

[Ernie]

your not off base and welcome to the forums ,you'll find them to be invauble as i did in the future.as for your cam problem i'd wait till you get it and start checking thins out then post your findings and you'll be getting tons of replys im sure maybe start by pulling of the tappit covers and visually make sure the rockers are moving while turning the motor over with the kick starter if so check the timing if the timing is ok i wouldnt think you have an issue with the cam chain,after that go with the basics compression spark and fuel

[Tim.]

http://www.webshots.com/user/cb550f

In my Webshots albums you'll find the complete Honda Service Manual and Parts Manual for your bike.

Post pics - is it the F or K model (Supersport = F)

[bryanj]

If the cam is not turning there will be at least one and usually two bent valves so the head will need to com off, I agree the clymer is not the best at describing the cam timing but it is fairly good on how to strip down to base gasket level and at least you dont need to take the engine out for this.
Start, as suggested, by removing the tappet covers and seeing if they move as you rotate the crank, if yes do a full service, if not start at the top and keep going down.

WARNING

As i have said before, and has been repeated in a different post(But NOT STRESSED ENOUGH in the manual) YOU MUST hold up all the rocker arms as you fit the cam cover or you will bend valves/damage guides. Its not easy BUT MUST BE DONE

[jidai]

Ok, thanks for the advice so far, I am much reassured. I had envisioned the inside of the engine as something terribly complex that a simple misstep could cause a feedback loop of some sort that would tear the bike apart. This is not the case as it turns out and the shop manual linked above (as well as some great pictures of the cam I found in the FAQ's forum) will help me out a lot.

I'm picking up the bike today and I'll post pics and a new thread with what the suggested testing yields.

The bike is a CB550F (Super Sport) in the Flake Sapphire Blue. The real tragedy is that before this cam problem the guy had just bought new tires, new drivechain, and new front a rear sprockets and a cherry looking stock seat. Hopefully when I have it up and running it'll be a real beaut.

[Tim.]

Where's the tragedy?  Are you getting it for a song because of the possible engine failure?  If so, I see no tragedy there 

Just don't even try the kickstarter until you have the cam cover off - once the cover is off there is no pressure on the valves (or at a minimum take the 8 tappet covers off and back off/remove all the tappets).  You don't want pistons hitting valves in the open position, if that hasn't happened already.

[jidai]

The tragedy is that he bought all this new stuff for the bike and then it broke. And I agree, to me it doesn't seem a tragedy at all.