Topic: Crush Washers for cylinder head cover on 1974 CB550

[DBRider]

Good day! I recently removed the cylinder head cover on my 1974 CB550 to fix an oil leak near #3 exhaust and have been chasing a couple of other small issues down while I’m in it. One issue deals with the use of crush washers. I am not the first person that has been into this engine and based on past experiences with it, I’m not sure it has been assembled correctly. Still, the little bit of riding I have done has been great and it’s running smoothly.

The pictures of these parts at cmsnl.com don’t specify material, so I can’t tell if these are aluminum or steel. In the attached image, 29 and 32 are in question. If I am not mistaken, 32 should be aluminum or copper. Number 29 is what? Right now they are stainless steel that was installed with the stainless hex bolt kit that came on the bike. Are there any other crush washers that need to go on the head cover area?

As always, thanks in advance.

Justin

[calj737]

I have always used steel for #29.

[DBRider]

I haven’t had any issues with steel for 29. I’m pretty sure that 32 is this number 90452-323-000 and aluminum. I don’t have these.

To refresh my memory I watched some videos on the head cover installation and valve adjustment adjustment and saw one where he’s using copper washers on everything that is a number 29 and I’m curious if I’m missing something and 29 needs to be a crush washer.

[calj737]

29 is a steel washer. Should not use a crush washer there. If you look at the parts list at cmsnl, you can clearly see it is steel depicted and not listed as a crush washer.

[DBRider]

Yeah, I’d rather ask the experts here a question than rely on a picture - even on a site as good as cmsnl.

I’m inclined to agree that they (29) are steel. As I said, I watched a YouTube video where the dude was using copper washers and I’ve seen a couple of random comments alluding to some sort of aluminum washers for number 29. I am not the first that has the head cover off this motor and I’m doing my best to put it back together right.

Perhaps Honda thought that a crush washer would prevent any  oil leaking around the bolts that pass through the center of the head cover? There are no other gaskets to prevent it. Unlikely yes, but I’ve had no problems with stainless. I’ll just have to replace number 32. They’re mangled.

Thanks.

[flatlander]

32 is meant to be a crush washer to seal against oil (you can use copper instead of the harder to get and more expensive OEM one), but 29 is steel as others have said.

[DBRider]

Perfect. 32 is elusive, so copper it is. Everything else is ready to go back together.

Thanks.