Author Topic: Casting Issues with Valve Cover  (Read 601 times)

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Offline LiveeviL81

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Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« on: December 30, 2023, 05:40:30 PM »
Hello,
I am currently in the process of rebuilding my Tubo CB750A. I noticed when I installed a catch-can on valve cover that the casting for seems to have some defects/extra holes. I wonder if this is normal, and/or if it is part of the reason I have excessive vapors and collecting in my catch-can.

I highlighted what I believe are the casting defect, since these are thin and jagged. The main hole is thicker and circular. 
Thoughts?
Kaleb Tuinstra
Young, Dumb, and Broke, hoping to fix 2 of those.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2023, 05:54:56 PM »
Those sorts of holes to the upper chamber are normal: in all the examples I have here they are much larger than yours. They are a rather random size. They provide an exit path for upper chamber pressures to reach the breather tube in the middle of the top of the cam cover (pointing back toward the back of the engine).

If you're getting lots of oil in your catcher, I'd have a couple of questions to ask before offering a possible cause:
1. What kind of oil are you using? If yours has detergents in it, there's your answer. Never use oils with detergents in this engine: they foam, causing lost oil pressure and roiling oil vapors thru the whole engine, making a mess. It also eats the crankshaft bearings.
2. What is the piston-to-bore clearance? If it is more than 0.0012" with a normally-aspirated engine with cast (not forged) pistons, this makes for oil escape past the rings to the combustion chamber. In a turbo'd or supercharged engine the piston-to-bore clearance should be considerably tighter, like 0.0006"-0.0008". If you have forged pistons, which require increased bore clearance because of their heat-holding ability, the normal 0.0022" clearance those piston-makers recommend will always cause blowby in these engines, I don't have specific advice on forged pistons with turbo/huffer engines, as I've always used cast versions instead - to avoid the blowby problem. ;)

There are others here, though, who have successfully made huffer engines: maybe one or more of them will chime in with their fixes. ;)
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

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Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
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Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

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Offline PeWe

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2023, 05:35:16 AM »
Will those small holes work to relieve/ventilate pressure via breather?
Here is a K6 cover.

(I have another one, probably earlier with same sizes.)
« Last Edit: December 31, 2023, 05:41:50 AM by PeWe »
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2023, 10:58:10 AM »
Those holes are many different sizes. I think that came from the hand-set molds on the bikes before the 750K5 era.
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline willbird

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2024, 08:22:18 AM »

1. What kind of oil are you using? If yours has detergents in it, there's your answer. Never use oils with detergents in this engine: they foam, causing lost oil pressure and roiling oil vapors thru the whole engine, making a mess. It also eats the crankshaft bearings.


Since the day my K2 was new it has always had normal automotive engine oil used in it. My dad used to buy "QVO" in quarts by the case from the Sohio gas station. 55xxx miles and counting.

Bill

Offline LiveeviL81

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2024, 10:32:19 AM »
Those sorts of holes to the upper chamber are normal: in all the examples I have here they are much larger than yours. They are a rather random size. They provide an exit path for upper chamber pressures to reach the breather tube in the middle of the top of the cam cover (pointing back toward the back of the engine).

This makes me feel much better then, the jagged edges of the casting always had me worried.

1. I was using Honda GN4 10W-40, I then switched to Motul 7100 5W-40 because I was getting crazy high oil pressure on cold starts (120+psi for 5-10 minutes). I will go back to GN4, because I believe there is an issue with my oil relief system.

2. As far as I know, it was stock Piston-Bore Clearance, Though I will keep in mind what you have said about the clearances when I install Dynoman's 836 Piston Kit.
Young, Dumb, and Broke, hoping to fix 2 of those.

Offline PeWe

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2024, 11:08:54 AM »
That high oil pressure indicate an error. Or if oil pressure gauge is faulty.
The oil pump's relief valve might be wrong mounted or wrong spring used.
Remove oil pan, open the 14mm nut and check.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2024, 06:37:40 AM by PeWe »
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2024, 07:01:10 PM »
In some of these oil pumps, I have found the tunnel where the relief piston lives to be warped. More often than not it tends to make the piston stick open, causing lower-than-normal oil pressure at any engine speed, but when it is jammed closed it can act like yours. The solution, if this is yours, is to slightly ream that tunnel out where it is jamming the plunger closed. I've seen this cause 90 PSI before, not quite as high as yours!
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline bryanj

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2024, 07:24:24 PM »
A member on the uk forum had a 500vthat actually split thevfilter housing due to high pressure, turned out the nos oil pump was assembled wrong from the factory and thevrelief valve didnt work
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Offline Don R

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2024, 08:09:31 PM »
 I attempted to unscrew the hex cap from a 750 oil pump and it came right off, along with the threads and the end of the casting. Not in a vise or with a breaker bar either. With an end wrench and in my bare hands. How it didn't fail when the bike was running, who knows?
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Offline willbird

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Re: Casting Issues with Valve Cover
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2024, 03:53:48 AM »
A member on the uk forum had a 500vthat actually split thevfilter housing due to high pressure, turned out the nos oil pump was assembled wrong from the factory and thevrelief valve didnt work

There is a "rebuild kit" avail now that has incorrect springs, I have one and a spare pump I bought from Ebay, need to look into it, that was my intent when buying it. The spring that comes in the kit pretty much prevents the pressure control valve from working.

Bill