Topic: cb550 rocker arm installation

[J P Henry]

1974CB550: What would be the best cam shaft orientation when installing the rocker arm assembly?

[bryanj]

There is no place better than any other as there are always valves open, i do it leaving the cam at the timing mark. Just make certain no adjusters catch on valve stem tips

[TwoTired]

Never cared about cam position.  Back out ALL the adjusters as much as possible.  Tie, rubber band or otherwise fix the rockers in full up position.  Be careful that no adjuster tips hit the sides of the valve stems, or you are certain to bend valves when tightening bolts on the cylinder cover.

There is a warning about this in the Honda shop manual, to which, you should be referring.

Cheers,

[J P Henry]

I just want to share the solution I discovered to the original questioned I posed regarding the cam position when installing the cam shaft cover.  In trying to find the best cam position, I lined up the cover as best I could with the head, guide pins, etc. then I slowly started rotating the crank and as a result the cam shaft. All of the tappets were above and centered on the valve springs. During the rotation the left end of the cover drop to the head.  I then started two bolts/machine screws at the left end of the cover and the two bolts on the left side of the chain tower, and ran them down by hand. I then continued to slowly rotate the crank, and soon the right side dropped in place as did the left side. Being certain of the valve adjusters were in the right place is key. This method put the cover against the head without putting a wrench on the cover bolts.