Topic: Oil Leak from Cylinder Head Side Cover

[TheHulk]

Hey all. I am experiencing a small oil leak coming from the left Cylinder Head Side Cover. I can see some oil dripping on to the cooling fins pretty much every time I ride. This side cover is at the top of the engine, held in by 1 screw, with two O-Rings inside.

Does anyone know where to source any slightly oversized O-Rings for the Side Covers? I got these O-Rings from a 4into1 rebuild kit. Thanks!

[bryanj]

It would help to know WHAT BIKE but lets guess its a 500/550 in which case the oil leak at that point is not from the O rings but from the bolt holding the steel bracket on which is supposed to have a soft alloy crush washer between the bracket and cam cover

[TheHulk]

It would help to know WHAT BIKE but lets guess its a 500/550 in which case the oil leak at that point is not from the O rings but from the bolt holding the steel bracket on which is supposed to have a soft alloy crush washer between the bracket and cam cover

Sorry about that! It's a 77 CB550F. I think I know the exact bracket you are talking about. Is it a specific honda OEM crush washer? Or could it be something sourced through an average hardware store?

[bryanj]

Originaly it is a thick alloy washer but i have in the past used a 6mm "Dowty Washer" as they are called in UK.
These are the alloy washers with a rubber insert seal used on hydraulics equipment

[DaveBarbier]

Any hardware store crush washer would work. Aluminum or copper. But try and get as close as you can to original size. And there are TWO crush washers. One below the bracket and one above. For god sakes, don’t over tighten that screw. But it is possible that the o-rings are leaking too. They will drip oil. Those are 6mm ID X 3mm cross section. Don’t get oversize, get the proper size.

Look on this parts fiche, it’s for a ‘78 but these parts are the same. You COULD get OEM Honda ones but if you want aftermarket be sure they are Buna N nitrile or viton. What I do is search “Honda (part number)” in eBay.

https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k-1978-usa_model7222/partslist/E++01.html

[TheHulk]

Any hardware store crush washer would work. Aluminum or copper. But try and get as close as you can to original size. And there are TWO crush washers. One below the bracket and one above. For god sakes, don’t over tighten that screw. But it is possible that the o-rings are leaking too. They will drip oil. Those are 6mm ID X 3mm cross section. Don’t get oversize, get the proper size.

Look on this parts fiche, it’s for a ‘78 but these parts are the same. You COULD get OEM Honda ones but if you want aftermarket be sure they are Buna N nitrile or viton. What I do is search “Honda (part number)” in eBay.

https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k-1978-usa_model7222/partslist/E++01.html

Got it! I will do some searching. Thanks for the tips.