Topic: cb550 first start oil distribution

[valleycb]

Hey, I hope to attempt a first start after a full tear down and rebuild on my 78 cb550 this weekend before too much more snow flies.  I've seen some folks concerned about oil distribution for the first start.  Any advice on a startup procedure?  Turn it over a few times without fuel and look for oil in the top end by removing a tappet cover?

[strynboen]

yes put a battery drill on the generator  bolt...and take plugs aut..and rotate to the oil light goes off..or oil komes to the cam...you can prime the oilpump..remove the oil pressure unit..and fill some oil in there

[valleycb]

Awesome.  Thanks for the reply.  How much turning does it normally take before the oil light goes out and/or oil makes it to the cam?

[BomberMann650]

first rotation on a drained motor can take up to ten seconds.

best to fill the cam tunnel manually with some oil before cranking too much.

[strynboen]

the cam tunnel dont need any oil...its just a chain...the cam lobes is the hot part..if any thing need pre lube its that..but plugs aut..and fill a bit oil through the valve adj plugholes..its fine..it can take up to 1 minut to get pressure..specily if the oil filkter housing are dry...

550 is the easy one ..750 is far harder to get pressure up..pgs its extern oil tank..edit...dont use the ignision bolt to turn the engine..its just a 6mm threddet bolt vho holds the unit on