Topic: Cylinder head cover how to get the set screws out?

[Mooshie]

I am replacing the pucks in Dash and want to use the “improved” cylinder head for the 1976 CB550. But I have no idea how to get the screws out which stop the rocker shaft from spinning (#3 in picture?). I need to change out the rockers so need to get the shaft out. Has anyone done this before I cannot believe I am the only one concerned about pounding it out
Thanks for your help gentlemen



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[goldarrow]

I’ve not done it. But from the look in the pic, bolt is only held up by one nut. Might just need small tap tap with plastic screw driver handle.

[calj737]

They are pulled out from above.

[DaveBarbier]

Those rocker retainers come out from the bottom. If you don’t have a press you can hit them with a hammer to have them come out.

If the two locating pins that guide the cover on the head are still in the cover, remove them. Do this so the cover can sit completely flat on the bench. Unscrew the 10mm nuts but keep them threaded on a bit so when you whack it with a hammer you don’t damage the threads. Before you whack it, hang the cover over the edge of the bench just enough so the rocker retainers can fall out, but it’s still well supported. Or you can drill a hole in your bench

Heat the cover with propane around where the rocker retainers are to help unbind and expand the aluminum a bit. These things are very stubborn! At least mine on the few covers I’ve had were.

Install and use blue loctite on the threads. DO NOT OVER TORQUE! I cracked a cover using a torque wrench going to just 7ft/lbs. Do it by hand and be careful.

[scottly]

If the two locating pins that guide the cover on the head are still in the cover, remove them. Do this so the cover can sit completely flat on the bench. Or you can drill a hole in your bench

Rather than removing the locating pins or drilling a hole in the bench, I would support the cover on strips of wood. A plastic faced dead-blow hammer might be easier on the threads than a steel claw hammer...

[flatlander]

i loosened the nuts but left them in the top threads, then gave them a good (within reason) blow with a hammer to loosen the pins without damaging their threads. then removed the nuts completely and then, the pins came out with an easy tap.
locating dowels were removed but if you keep them in the cover, do as scottly says.

[Mooshie]

So that is how the shop manual says to get them out?  Smack with a hammer?  I can’t find a shop manual for the later 550 to save my life.
I find it hard to believe that is how they designed these to be removed so the locked rocker shafts could come out.
But maybe that is the case. 


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[jgger]

Mooshie, as it says in someone's sig on here........if you can't fix it with a hammer then the problem is electrical.

If you do find it in a shop  book it will probably say to use a press.

[DaveBarbier]

If the two locating pins that guide the cover on the head are still in the cover, remove them. Do this so the cover can sit completely flat on the bench. Or you can drill a hole in your bench

Rather than removing the locating pins or drilling a hole in the bench, I would support the cover on strips of wood. A plastic faced dead-blow hammer might be easier on the threads than a steel claw hammer...

That’s another method

A plastic mallet wouldn’t have done it for mine. It needed the shock from a ball peen.

[dave500]

ball hammer and brass drift,the bolts are a tapered profile like on old bicycle cranks.

[Little_Phil]

+1 what Flatlander said above. Did it on the side of a really solid wooden bench over the leg support last week. Warmed it up with a hand blower and used a slightly larger bolt on top to pound onto. A couple were stubborn.

[Mooshie]

Mooshie, as it says in someone's sig on here........if you can't fix it with a hammer then the problem is electrical.

If you do find it in a shop  book it will probably say to use a press.

That is what I was thinking using a press and not a mallet. Does anyone have a shop manual that could explain what they say? 

[dave500]

a press is a gentle increase of pressure on the bolt until it pops out hopefully without damage,smacking with a hammer is a lot more of a sudden shock with all the energy at once,dont be scared to knock them out,plenty of other parts are like bearings and bushes and shafts,its not being ham fisted that helps.

[riverfever]

I’m replacing my cracked 76 cover with a 78 cover. I’m using the same cam. I am going to swap the rockers. How do you remove the shafts that the rockers are on from the 78 cover?

Got them all pulled. The first two were very tight. Not able to thread a bolt in the end of the shaft and pull them by hand.

[crazypj]

They are pulled out from above.

That's a quick way to destroy rocker cover.
If I remember right they have a taper to lock shaft so slight tap on top pops them out (haven't done rockers on 550 since the 80's)

ball hammer and brass drift,the bolts are a tapered profile like on old bicycle cranks.

Should have known Dave would get here before me 
As he says in second post, a smack works way better than a press, the shock pops them outa press can snap the cover or at least distort it so it no longer fits/seals

[Mooshie]

Thank you got them out.  Used a press but super slow and lightly.  Did the trick.  Now to get the camshaft out.