Topic: 78 CB 550K motor rebuild

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Thought you dealt with the tranny bearing locating dowels. I assumed these were different.

Yeah, I'm not surprised that they look that good. I'm luck enough to know of Mike's work first hand

Me, too.  Mike's work is second to none.  Everything he does for a customer he does like he's doing it for his own bike with high quality work and meticulous care.

[MRieck]

Thought you dealt with the tranny bearing locating dowels. I assumed these were different.

Yeah, I'm not surprised that they look that good. I'm luck enough to know of Mike's work first hand

Me, too.  Mike's work is second to none.  Everything he does for a customer he does like he's doing it for his own bike with high quality work and meticulous care.

Thanks brother. Much appreciated. Is it part #37 on this fiche?
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k-1978-usa_model7222/partslist/E++15.html#results

[AlekStooge]

Thought you dealt with the tranny bearing locating dowels. I assumed these were different.

Yeah, I'm not surprised that they look that good. I'm luck enough to know of Mike's work first hand

Me, too.  Mike's work is second to none.  Everything he does for a customer he does like he's doing it for his own bike with high quality work and meticulous care.

Thanks brother. Much appreciated. Is it part #37 on this fiche?
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k-1978-usa_model7222/partslist/E++15.html#results

Aww man I thought that was it but that was already there.

[AlekStooge]

Wow I don't know how this happened but that pin goes into part number 8 and is part 10.
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k-1978-usa_model7222/partslist/E++16.html#results

I was pulling the primary shaft when that pin flew out at me and that is in the lower case not the upper like the shift drum shaft??? I noticed only four pins and didn't see a space for the fifth so it most go in there. Photo 1

Anyways couple of things. I going to refer to the photos in this post.

Is the pin in the top right (photo 2) supposed to stick out to block the sprocket star (photo 3)?

Is there a certain way the sprocket needs to sit when installed?

Part 24 appears to be missing unless it's recessed somewhere and I can't see it but that pin appears to not be there (photo 4). I don't see how it could have fallen out. http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k-1978-usa_model7222/partslist/E++14.html#results






 

[AlekStooge]

Nevermind I was mistaken. That pin that belongs in the hole was attached to the shaft. I'm trying to get the other pin out now.

I decided I'm going to move on.

[DaveBarbier]

Did you figure out where that dowel/pin is supposed to go?

[AlekStooge]

I didn't. Honestly can't find what it could have been.

[DaveBarbier]

Did you measure it with calipers in metric?

[AlekStooge]

I measured in inches then converted it to metric. I don't have calipers or measuring metric tape. I converted it from a quarter inch to 6.xx.mm. I don't remember the exact measurement but it was 6mm.

[DaveBarbier]

Ok, well if it were me I'd have measured it with my metric digital calipers and then taken to the parts fiche to then rule out the obvious. Then anything that's similar I'd open up and check.

I, along with most (all?) of the forum I'm guessing, am completely against leaving parts out of a rebuild. If you're comfortable with leaving small bits out and feel the bother of trying to find out what part this is is worse than the chance of a motor not working correctly once buttoned up and having to split the cases and deal with the possibility of broken bits, then by all means, onward and upward.

[AlekStooge]

Dave you absoultly make a lot of sense. I took the time to look at each parts fiche that are in or nearby the cases. I will try one more time, maybe I'll write all the parts numbers and place that part next to it.

[AlekStooge]

I've looked at everything over again and even bought calipers. I don't see anything that is 4X7 in any of the parts fiches. Really scratching my head here.

http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k-1978-usa_model7222/partslist/

Number 24 is missing so I'll have to order it. http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k-1978-usa_model7222/partslist/E++14.html#results

You have to take a circlip off to get to where that part sits. I only just recently took that apart and didn't see it sitting in there. No idea how that could happen.

[DaveBarbier]

I can't think of anything else other than maybe the sprocket cover alignment dowels?

Calipers are good to have, you'll be happy you own them

I've been looking through the schematics for your bike too, haha. It doesn't help that not all dowel pins/knock pins aren't labeled with a measurement. I'll keep thinking...

[DaveBarbier]

I'm not even sure what #24 does in that diagram. Does it align parts #11 & #5?

[AlekStooge]

24 is a head scratcher. Like I mentioned there is a circlip keeping all those peices together. I open it up and no 24. I didn't drop it on the ground either.

[AlekStooge]

This question is particulalry geared towards Mike. By any chance did you included 3 different sets of the same dowel? I have one that came with spark plugs, I'm guessing that's for the head. The other set of the same size would be for the cases and I already have one for the block which is a different size? Also anyone know where this clip could go not seeing anything thats is half shapped like this one?

[DaveBarbier]

Can't tell the size, but are they all solid? The dowels for the cases and cylinders are hollow.

The one on the left, just because of the rust characteristics, looks like it goes between the head and valve cover.

Edit: Did you bag and tag every single little part during the teardown? I can't think where an e clip like this would go.

[AlekStooge]

You're right the one on the left was with the spark plugs so yes it's the one in between the head and valve cover. Based on the photo I can assume the darker one is the one in between the cases.

They are all the same size when you put them up against each other.

I bagged and labeled lots of parts but I guess I didn't do a good enough job doing it.

What I'm most surprised about is I can't find these in part fiches. I look through them a couple times before I ask you guys.

[DaveBarbier]

Ah, I thought the dowel for the case halves were hollow but I was wrong. I was thinking of the 650.

[MRieck]

This question is particulalry geared towards Mike. By any chance did you included 3 different sets of the same dowel? I have one that came with spark plugs, I'm guessing that's for the head. The other set of the same size would be for the cases and I already have one for the block which is a different size? Also anyone know where this clip could go not seeing anything thats is half shapped like this one?

There are 2 solid dowels (10X16) for the head to cam cover. That clip looks like a carb needle clip. I can't recall one like that anywhere else in the engine BUT that doesn't mean it doesn't.

[AlekStooge]

The clip is from the kickstarter.

[AlekStooge]

I cleaned the all the parts with denatured alcohol, wiped them dry and put assembly lube after putting in oil seals. I think I'm done with the bottom case, just needed to put the dowel in and wipe the cases surface.

Take a look see if everything's good to go.

Tomorrow I'm cleaning the top case, installing rings, then Honda Bond and torqueing it all down.

[calj737]

Use Acetone, not Denatured Alcohol to clean your cases. Acetone is a solvent and it dehydrates on its own afterwards. Might choose to wear some nitrile gloves because it does turn your hands to cemetery tissue after a while-

[DaveBarbier]

You said, "just needed to put the dowel in..." The case uses two locating dowels. Not sure if you just missed an "s" .

And yeah, I use denatured alcohol as a final wipe down on bearing shells and case flanges but if you're actually cleaning oily parts acetone is better.

[AlekStooge]

One dowel in the top case, one in the bottom case. Ok, on the Acetone.