Topic: CB550: building one good engine from two engines + new parts. Help me pick!

[Franky]

Great! Thanks for the advice!

rb550four: Thank you for taking your time for such an elaborate contribution.
- I'll add pictures of the cam
- I was planning to reuse the head gasket. It's only a year old and came of real easy (the base did NOT). I did a head job with new Vesrah gasket kit + new rubber discs.

SF: I wish... But it's never to late to get smarter :-) I got the bike about 3 years ago and did my cafe-like build first: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=118983.25

bryanj: Not sure what the 'cam follower' or 'rocker spindles' are, but I'll look it up :-)  You're saying I should get new rings, right?

[bryanj]

Camfollowers are the pad on the end of the rocker arm that rubs on the cam lobe. Rocker spindle is the steel shaft they pivot on and they can wear the hole in the cam cover oval and yes with that blowby I would re-ring with new

[Franky]

Thanks Bryan.

- Well, I think some of those pads have seen better days. I'll have a look at (& maybe post pics of)  all 16 I have - is it OK to mix and match or should you keep the rockers with their camshaft? I'd expect mixing would wear things down faster?

- OK, I'll try to measure the pistons to see which rings I need to get. I suppose I can search the forum for info on measurements of standard and overbores. Ouch, Honda ones are 30 Euro's pr cylinder!

[calj737]

Regarding re-ringing, you should measure the bores and the pistons to compare for wear of the cylinders. Installing new rings into bores that are worn beyond the service limit of that ring size won't solve any problems. If you do install new rings, at least hone the cylinders to insure proper function and compression.

Make sure the ring grooves on the piston are brilliantly clean before installing new rings. Grunge accumulates in that groove over time and impedes proper seating.

If you can match a useable cam to useable rockers from different motors, then you can get away with mix-match. Physical deformities of the surface are what matter more than visual. Getting replace rockers or hard weld rockers is pricey.

[bryanj]

Honing can be a bit harsh for a re-ring, Glaze busting is a better term. When i were a lad you could buy a "Glaze Buster" that looked like a Flap Wheel on a spindle

[Franky]

Slow progress...

How about these starter clutches? The one on the left, with the original looking + bolts is slightly loose, meaning it gives about 2 mm each direction when holding the base of it and twisting the top left and right. The one on the right, with the new looking unbracho bolts, is solid with no play. Should there be any? Which should I choose?

BTW: I don't use the electrical starter - it's not even on the bike. (I might use it on the doner bike later (the F), if I ever get time to build it).

[dave500]

morning franky,the right hand one might be better having been repaired maybe?

[Franky]

Hi Dave! I was thinking the same. But, I don't know, whether the part is supposed to give that little bit...

[dave500]

no it should have solid drive,no cush type damping in them.

[lucky]

This thread picks up where this left: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135314.msg1554207#msg1554207

I'm sure I need to replace the primary chain on my CB550 K3. It's loose as hell and has been dragging on the case. It's way loser than this: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=95421.0

Now, what else should I replace or check out while I'm in there? I have been reading various threads and this is what I've found so far:

Replace:
- Primary chain
- Cam chain
- Oil seals

Check out:
- Damper rubbers (primary gear)
- Transmission gears
- Shifter forks

(The top I rebuilt about a year ago: newly surfaced top, newly cut valves and seat, a few new valves, new rubber pucks).

You do not surface a Honda cylinder head on Honda motorcycles.
You do NOT do any machining on Honda motorcycle valves. Just replace.
The valves have 3 angles.

Why would you take a 30 year old engine and replace the parts with 30 year old parts?
Timing and primary chains are available.

[Franky]

Hi Lucky

I think my english is a little imprecise sometimes (not my first language)... and it looks like you did not read the whole story :-)

No, I didn't machine any valves - bought new. Also got new primary and cam chain.
The cylnder head did get a machine-job, as it was a little bent/the surface rough.

I want to use some parts from the other old engine (the F one), since some parts you either can't get new or are prohibitely expensive!