Topic: Source for CB550 exhaust valves

[daytonajoker]

I bought 4 new OEM intake valves off e-bay for $85 incl shipping....Exhaust Valves are $80/valve from my local Honda Dealer....anyone know of a less expensive source (in the US)....I've got 3 slightly bent exhaust valves

[bryanj]

I think Dave Silver charges £10 per valve

[kdmi]

I just ordered from shop.readyhondapowerhouse.com and picked up 4 intake and 4 exhaust valves for $135 CAD, including shipping and taxes (purolator ground shipping was $35 and tax was $13) I don't know what shipping to the US would ad but this is way cheaper than anything else I've found with many others wanting up to $50 per exhaust valve

I resorted to Google searches of the OEM part number rather than CB550 valves etc that I had been searching

[crazypj]

Check if Kibblewhite still lists them
Pretty sure they listed a 'Black Diamond' exhaust valve for 550

[MRieck]

Check if Kibblewhite still lists them
Pretty sure they listed a 'Black Diamond' exhaust valve for 550

They do have them and they are a relatively new addition to their catalog. They also make 1mm OS intakes as well as the stock size.

[kdmi]

Check if Kibblewhite still lists them
Pretty sure they listed a 'Black Diamond' exhaust valve for 550

They do have them and they are a relatively new addition to their catalog. They also make 1mm OS intakes as well as the stock size.

Any thoughts on where to find them, the page on the Kibblewhite site of valvetrain parts for the cb550 doesn't list any valves, they have spring kits, guides etc. but no valves listed

Also just got an email from the supplier I ordered from saying my valves were back-ordered with no ETA, so now I'm looking for a source and not sharing one (I knew the price was to good to be true)

UPDATE: decided to order a single exhaust valve (was going to replace all ex and in but only really "needed" this one) the company I had ordered was able to provide a Honda single exhaust valve for $39.74 + tax - I still can't believe how tough these are to find

[crazypj]

They are not hard to find,just hard to find at price your prepared to pay 

[Duanob]

Either way they are not cheap. Neither are the guides. I bought a used set from a member here for $50 and thought that was reasonable at the time.

FWIW the valve cover was not installed properly, hence the bent valves. When installing use the rubber band trick when reinstalling the cover.

[MRieck]

I sell OEM 550 exhaust valves for 51.99 + shipping. List from Honda is 66.93

[CoachDoc]

Either way they are not cheap. Neither are the guides. I bought a used set from a member here for $50 and thought that was reasonable at the time.

FWIW the valve cover was not installed properly, hence the bent valves. When installing use the rubber band trick when reinstalling the cover.

I have filed this away and will definitley use your rubber band trick when the time comes, which will likely be sooner rather than later. Thanks for reposting it.

[Maraakate]

Either way they are not cheap. Neither are the guides. I bought a used set from a member here for $50 and thought that was reasonable at the time.

FWIW the valve cover was not installed properly, hence the bent valves. When installing use the rubber band trick when reinstalling the cover.

This is a huge necrobump but I would like some more info on the rubber band trick.

[robvangulik]

When you type " rubber band trick." in the search bar on top of the sohc4 bikes page, you get 3 pages with 78 results.

[Maraakate]

Yes, but I am referring to when do you let the rubber bands back down, was this always common knowledge back in the 70s?  The service manual mentions nothing about being careful with the valves during reassembly.  No warnings or even a passing remark about it.  I believe it to be true, since so many people have mentioned this trick here, but just want to know more detailed information about it.

[robvangulik]

Yes, but I am referring to when do you let the rubber bands back down, was this always common knowledge back in the 70s?  The service manual mentions nothing about being careful with the valves during reassembly.  No warnings or even a passing remark about it.  I believe it to be true, since so many people have mentioned this trick here, but just want to know more detailed information about it.

That manual also doesn't mention anything about not dropping the engine on your toes, but you wouldn't do that, would you? Ofcourse you must be careful not to bend any valves, or your bike won't run. For me that falls in the category of "do not dry your cat in the microwave".
I've never used the RB trick, but its very simple, with the valve cover removed, hook a rubber band under the rocker through the opening, stretch to the opposite valve and do the same there, repeat with all valves, and they will be kept out of harms way while you screw the cover in place.

[Maraakate]

Yes, but I am referring to when do you let the rubber bands back down, was this always common knowledge back in the 70s?  The service manual mentions nothing about being careful with the valves during reassembly.  No warnings or even a passing remark about it.  I believe it to be true, since so many people have mentioned this trick here, but just want to know more detailed information about it.

That manual also doesn't mention anything about not dropping the engine on your toes, but you wouldn't do that, would you? Ofcourse you must be careful not to bend any valves, or your bike won't run. For me that falls in the category of "do not dry your cat in the microwave".
I've never used the RB trick, but its very simple, with the valve cover removed, hook a rubber band under the rocker through the opening, stretch to the opposite valve and do the same there, repeat with all valves, and they will be kept out of harms way while you screw the cover in place.

Couldn't you simply remove the adjuster stud and nut instead and then put them in once you have everything else tightened down or no?

[robvangulik]

You probably can, it is meant to keep rockers and valves out of each others way while screwing the cover on. Some people just take the cover and screw it in place, and then find they bent a couple of valve stems because they didn't really knew what to look out for.

[HondaMan]

PartsNmore.com, here:
https://www.partsnmore.com/parts/honda/cb550k/?filters[category]=engine&filters[fitting]=custom
Their part number 73-0982, $17 each.

[Maraakate]

PartsNmore.com, here:
https://www.partsnmore.com/parts/honda/cb550k/?filters[category]=engine&filters[fitting]=custom
Their part number 73-0982, $17 each.

Hey HondaMan, I bumped an old thread, but that is a great link.  I see the valves are a good price on there.  They even have the kibblewhite valves, however CycleX appears to have those cheaper at ~$37 a valve.

Another thing I noticed is the valve guides say for intake and exhaust, but there's two different part numbers on the microfiche.  Does it not really matter?  Even CycleX sells it as a complete set and they appear to be the same.

[bryanj]

Fitting guides is not that easy a job as after carefull fitting they need reaming to an exact size that car reconditioners dont understand then the seats need re grinding to size and shape

[Maraakate]

Fitting guides is not that easy a job as after carefull fitting they need reaming to an exact size that car reconditioners dont understand then the seats need re grinding to size and shape

Yeah, I figured as much.  If the time ever comes where this becomes necessary for me I'd ask on here for suggestions of trusted places to send it out to.

Interestingly enough, the service manual makes it sound like it's pretty easy to swap the guides out.  The special removal tool is still available from Honda.  The reamer is not but I see that there are parts number close to it and they are 5.5mm.  So I would guess as long as the reamer length is the same or longer it should work as long as it is 5.5mm for the CB550?  Either way, I would send it out.  Not worth trying to do it myself with such tight tolerances.