Topic: My pucks are leaking after 49 years... thanks Honda !

[DaveBarbier]

Also between cam cover and head on 500/550, they are used to seal the holes thar are there for access to head nuts. In UK also know as Pontefract cakes

my 73 CB 500F is leaking. Its a gorgeous bike and this sucks!

Can be fixed in a couple hours. Why live with the leaks?

I was told by a mechanic that the top end has to come off and it would cost around $1,500 as the head gasket needs to be replaced too, etc etc.

I’ll do it for $1400. Or do it yourself. Would make for some dank insta pics.

[Spanner 1]

Wait ! the head does not need to come off ( read take motor out of frame ) on a 750 to do the 'pucks' ?

[DaveBarbier]

Wait ! the head does not need to come off ( read take motor out of frame ) on a 750 to do the 'pucks' ?

I don’t have a 750, but I understand the motor does need to come out of the frame. The smaller bikes are different, you can do an entire top end job in frame.

I’ve also heard if you have the motor out in a 750, then you can install a frame kit to be able to do top end work in the frame in the future.

[seanbarney41]

To clarify on a cb750...head does not need to come off, but the camshaft and towers DO need to come out to get to the pucks, and thus the valve cover also needs to come off, which ordinarily, is not even possible with the engine still in the frame.  Of course, with the addition of a frame kit, you can remove the top end of the engine, but most owners of original or restored bikes consider this mod to be detrimental to overall value, and thus an unacceptable compromise...