Topic: Questions about putting a 550 cylinder head on a 500 engine

[Desert Dan]

So I know this topic has come up a few times and everything Ive read on the forums seem to say that a 550 head is a direct replacement for a 500. I have a 73 cb500 that has a bad head, so would it be better for me to install a 550 head and will any 550 head work or are there a certain model years of the 550 that would work better than others? Along with the head swap would it be a good Idea to use a 550 valve cover and cam with the 550 head or can I use the 500 cover and cam that I already have? Im not trying to win any originality contests with this bike, all Im trying to do is get it back on the road in time for spring with parts that will work as well or better than the originals.
Thanks for your help.
Dan

[Desert Dan]

Sweet, I was hoping I wouldn't have to track down a cam and valve cover too, and thanks for your'e recommendation of getting in touch with Springer for the cylinder head from my other post.

[Duanob]

If you go that route you might look for a newer set up: 1976 and newer for the updated cam cover.

[Desert Dan]

If you go that route you might look for a newer set up: 1976 and newer for the updated cam cover.

So the 76+ cam cover is better than the older ones? In theory say I got a 550 head, cam, and cover that would be better than using a 550 head, and the 500 cam and 500 cover?

[Flyin900]

Get a 550 head cam and cover and use said unit together. Trying to mix and match can be a bad idea. The wear on the cam journals and cam and rocker fit will be different between any two units.

Honda used to line bore the cam journals for the later DOHC units, so switching parts could sometimes be problematic. Others on here would know if this is the case on these SOHC models.

They may work as poster #1 suggests, or you may suffer premature wear with the mismatched parts or worse if the clearances are way off and something seizes. Just not worth it IMO, just track down a 550 matched set.

I can't speak to which is better later or earlier models of the 550.

[Desert Dan]

See post #1 for your answer. Get a 550 head cam and cover and use said unit together. Trying to mix and match is a bad idea. The wear and cam and rocker fit will be different between any two units.

They may work, or you may suffer premature wear with the mismatched parts or worse if the clearances are way off and something seizes. Just not worth it IMO, just track down a 550 matched set.

I cant speak to which is better later or earlier models of the 550.

That's what I was thinking but I wasn't positive because with only having the 550 head swapped in the only unmatched wearing would be the cam journals in the head.
On a different note would a 550 cam work with a 500 speedometer or would a 550 speedometer be needed?