Topic: CL450 Question: Are the Camshaft Damper rings necessary?

[jessezm]

So I just brought home a 1973 CL450, basically in a box.  It had been disassembled by the PO and never put back together.  Classic, "it ran great when I took it apart" story.  Anyways, I pulled the valve cover and there are 2 big plastic o-ring-type things just hanging loose on either side of the sprocket.  On closer inspection it is clear these are the "Camshaft Damper Rings" that are supposed to be sitting in a groove underneath the camchain.  They were both misshapen and brittle, and could not be worked back into their grooves (they both broke and I pulled them out).  I checked the front camshaft and they are in place as they should be on the front side.

Anyways, I was hoping not to pull the engine apart...   Does anybody know anything about this bike, like--is it stupid to button it back up and run it without this two plastic pieces on the rear cam, or is this really common and not a big deal?

Just thought I'd ask here first!

[MoMo]

I've run one without, think I faced the same scenario as you.  No way was I taking the motor apart...Larry

[jessezm]

Music to my ears!

[tbpmusic]

You'll hear both sides of the story on this issue.
The bike will definitely make a little more top end noise without them, and it may induce more wear on the cam chain.
But these cam chains are incredibly tough, much tougher than they look - I've never actually seen one that "broke". I've seen plenty of them get worn and loose, and cause substantial damage in their flopping about.
And they're (the "rings") not plastic, but some sort of neoprene I think - when new they're very flexible.
They cannot be installed without tearing out the cams.

[jessezm]

Thanks for the additional input.  I'm still trying to decide where to go with this bike--whether just to bolt it all back together, make it run, and sell it, or to go the meticulous, clean every nut and bolt, paint the frame, etc., route...

I bet if I just spruce it up a bit and get it running at minimal cost I could sell it locally and make a few hundred bucks in short order, whereas if I go the other route we're talking lots and lots of elbow grease, cost of replacement parts, powdercoating, etc. etc., and I'd probably barely break even if I did let it go.

Decisions, decisions...

[grcamna2]

Hi Jesse,
How's that 400F,you still own it?  You could possibly run the bike 'as assembled' but a few checks on different things inside like the clutch pack,possibly pull the right sidecover and clean all that area(oil pump screen,etc.)out nice first.

[jessezm]

Hey man!  haha, I was wondering if anyone would remember/notice me on here  :-)

Yeah I've still got the CB400f - matter of fact I just pulled it out of my dining room (where it lives) to take her for a ride today, and found I have a strange electrical gremlin--inconsistent spark and not running on all 4 at once, even though all 4 have fired (thought it was a coil problem, but I think it's just a pinched wire or bad connection, maybe?  It's getting gas).  Anyways I guess no ride today :-(

Sounds like a good plan with the CL450--I just know how I am, and once I start digging into stuff there's no telling when I'll stop, and then I'll dump a bunch of blood sweat and tears into it and not want to let it go, which was NOT the plan!  I guess we'll see...

[grcamna2]

I was wondering how you were doing  ,Good to see you back on the forum !