Topic: Cylinder head STUCK!

[rocco]

Hey guys,

So I'm trying to get the cylinder head off of my 78 cb550.
I removed 12 head bolts and 2 flange bolts and soaked the seal/crack in wd40.
It wont budge at all, ive been hitting it with a rubber mallet as well.

Am I missing a bolt? Not hitting hard enough? Need a better lube?

Any tips or tricks?

Thanks,

Reilly

[Don R]

I'm not familiar with that engine but patience wood wedges and heat might help.

[DaveBarbier]

Does it move at all? You could try putting the 1-4 at BDC then feeding rope into the cylinders from the spark plug hole. Put a bunch in then crank the motor clockwise using the big bolt on the rotor with a wrench (not the points side, that will break) That might push the head off. There also might be pry points on the ends of the motor at the seams. I don't remember if it does or not.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[rocco]

Cam is out, tensioner is loose but the manual says to remove it after I get the head off.

It doesn't budge at all. There are no pry points for the cylinder head, only the block.
Youre saying fill the piston space with rope and crank it and hope the force under pops the top off? With the large bolt on the left side,nthe points cover is on the right I believe.

How much heat is safe?

[DaveBarbier]

Cam is out, tensioner is loose but the manual says to remove it after I get the head off.

It doesn't budge at all. There are no pry points for the cylinder head, only the block.
Youre saying fill the piston space with rope and crank it and hope the force under pops the top off? With the large bolt on the left side,nthe points cover is on the right I believe.

How much heat is safe?

As long as the bolt in the head holding the tensioner is out then that'll be fine.

Feel free to post a couple pictures but I am 99% sure there are only 10 nuts and 2 small bolts.

If you're using propane I don't see any damage happening as long as you keep the heat moving.

And if you're hitting it, use wood in between the hammer and head.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[rocco]

Bolt in head to the tensioner has been removed so thats not in the way. I definitely had 12 bolts and 2 screws. Can't post pictures at the moment,  the lady came over so im out of the garage for the night haha.

I'll definitely try the rope trick but I have a torch here as well, may do both.

Quick question, with the cam out and chain loose, it's safe to rotate the motor? The chain can't get caught on anything when it's loose?

Maybe stupid but how do I find BDC with the cam out?

[DaveBarbier]

Bolt in head to the tensioner has been removed so thats not in the way. I definitely had 12 bolts and 2 screws. Can't post pictures at the moment,  the lady came over so im out of the garage for the night haha.

I'll definitely try the rope trick but I have a torch here as well, may do both.

Quick question, with the cam out and chain loose, it's safe to rotate the motor? The chain can't get caught on anything when it's loose?

Maybe stupid but how do I find BDC with the cam out?

Crap, I mean 12, not 10. Yeah you're right. 14 fasteners total. Unsure about the cam chain, but I always like to keep tension on it just in case. I hold mine with a bungee cord hooked to a rafter. The hook holding the chain is plastic on mine so the chain rotates easily. I could see it binding on itself if left completely loose.


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1978 Honda CB550K