Author Topic: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps  (Read 2808 times)

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Offline redrider736

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550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« on: August 04, 2015, 08:34:28 PM »
Planning to swap out my 78 550 Cam to a 79 650.. Have read everything I can about doing this swap, but can't seem to find the steps to remove my Cam Cover off of my 550.. (550 motor is in bike and 650 Cam is in hand)

Don't want to jump in before knowing the steps..

any links or help would make my summer holidays !
78' CB550k (Not Run'n / Basket Case Project)
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Offline calj737

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2015, 03:55:12 AM »
Start by removing the 8 tappet covers. Then release all the tension on the rockers so you don't bend a valve during the swap as the rockers are attached to the cover.

Remove the breather cover, the screws below it, and work from the outside, all the screws around the circumference of the cover. Remove the tach gear.

Swap the covers. Reverse install. When you replace the cover, use a rubber band looped over the rocker on the intake side, stretched over the cover to retain the exhaust rocker. This prevents the rockers from pinching the valves during install.

After all the screws are tightened, adjust your valves per manual spec.

I presume you know how to replace the cam since you didn't ask?
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline flatlander

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2015, 04:32:47 AM »
what cal says... and look here: http://manuals.sohc4.net/cb550/
part 2 for the process
part 1 for torque specs

Offline redrider736

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2015, 09:08:00 AM »
Believe it or not, but I did remove the cam out of the 79' junk'd 650 with out issue... I wasn't sure if I needed to loosen or take the tension off of the  CAM Tensioner adjustment bolt/nut ?? and I wasn't sure if I needed to Rubber Band the Valves during the "Removal" ??

Just wanted to ask and make sure I was completely understanding the steps before tearing in..

Cheers Boyz !
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 09:14:17 AM by redrider736 »
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Offline redrider736

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Opppps.. Houston We have a issue?
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2015, 05:36:15 PM »
Fingers crossed I didn't screw up too bad here ??

Well See the Pics..





78' CB550k (Not Run'n / Basket Case Project)
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Offline redrider736

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2015, 05:39:49 PM »
Read all the great info above and read the manual going into this and feeling ok about it... Took my time had a few Capt&Coke(s;). I swear every bolt, screw, nut was finger tight from the PO.. The removal went great until the the Tac gear ??

Any help here?? what do I need to do at this point ??
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 05:52:32 PM by redrider736 »
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Offline calj737

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2015, 06:01:18 PM »
Needle nose pliers, pull the remnant from the rice housing. That's the end of the cable snapped off in there. Beyond it is the actual gear itself that interlocks to the cam drive gear. Not a big problem really, and a good indication your tach probably didn't work, or was about to quit working.
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline redrider736

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2015, 06:23:58 PM »
Needle nose pliers, pull the remnant from the rice housing. That's the end of the cable snapped off in there. Beyond it is the actual gear itself that interlocks to the cam drive gear. Not a big problem really, and a good indication your tach probably didn't work, or was about to quit working.

ThX calj737 .... It may have been broke before I got my hands onto it ..? Who knows, just was worried it my have been a big deal... Broken bolts and such scare me..
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 06:46:46 PM by redrider736 »
78' CB550k (Not Run'n / Basket Case Project)
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Offline redrider736

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2015, 07:12:27 PM »
Needle nose pliers, pull the remnant from the rice housing.

Yep.... I just need to chill out... LOL.. That was easy! Install tomorrow... ThX !
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 07:14:11 PM by redrider736 »
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Offline redrider736

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NO Slack or TIME ! :(
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2015, 07:58:46 PM »
Had a few spare minutes tonight to try to pull out my 550k Cam.....
Can't seem to get enough slack to get the Chain off/over of the Cam Sprocket ??  I backed off the Cam Tensioner Nut (Bottom), removed the 2 bolts from the Cam Sprocket....

Messed with it for over 45min with no luck....or Slack..

Any ideas or help ??
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Offline calj737

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2015, 08:29:17 PM »
Remove the sprocket bolts, then slide the sprocket off the cam, then slip the chain off the sprocket. Then slide the cam out, remove the sprocket, and restrain the chain from the dropping into the engine.
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline flatlander

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2015, 11:49:00 PM »
like this:



and this:


Offline redrider736

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2015, 08:47:19 AM »
Wish it was that easy ... But there is NO SLACK to move anything..

The Sprocket is off the Cam, I have no movement to either Slip the chain over the Sprocket or move the Cam (Which I am not sure is possible)

« Last Edit: August 07, 2015, 09:14:42 AM by redrider736 »
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Offline flatlander

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2015, 11:21:39 PM »
which way did you turn the cam chain tensioner screw? to slacken the chain it's clockwise.

Offline calj737

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2015, 04:03:53 AM »
What he said^^^^ just remove the tensioning bolt altogether and release the chain. You should be able to slide the sprocket over to the side just enough to let it drop down and off the cam by a bit, this creates more slack still. Then lift the chain, and slip it off the sprocket altogether. Then everything comes away-
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'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline redrider736

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Success at last !
« Reply #15 on: August 10, 2015, 01:05:05 PM »
Took some fidle'n with, but in the end she finally came off ! Had to hold/push in the "Adjustment screw, and fully tighten down the "Adjustment nut" to create that small added slack needed.. (http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=67091.0 )

Thanks to dualitymike,  flatlander, and calj737 !!










78' CB550k (Not Run'n / Basket Case Project)
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Offline flatlander

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Re: 550 Cam Cover Removal steps
« Reply #16 on: August 10, 2015, 02:58:12 PM »
congratulations, well done!