Topic: Unable to remove CB550 Barrels - I need advice **SUCCESS**

[jmelche2]

The barrels are frozen and I need to get them off.  Can someone confirm there are dowels at both ends (Picture below)?  I tried heating this area with MAP gas but no luck.  There is nowhere to pry other than the little notch next to, what I think are the dowels.  Should I try heating this area with an acetylene torch?  I don't want to damage anything but I'm at a loss here.  Thanks

[HondaMan]

Those 2 dowels today are often a little rusty, making them grip the cylinders real well! The small slots you've found are there for wedging, but I only tap in a (wide as possible to fit the slot width) screwdriver to break the gasket seal with them. They are about 1/2" deep, so don't drive in very far: they are just there to break the gasket free.

If the engine still turns over, you'll just have to break the gasket to get the cylinders free to pull off. You can have a machine shop clean off the gasket (mine costs $100 for this work, though), or use a fresh razor blade, a torch, and/or gasket softener to get it free: it's been glued closed for 50 years!

[bryanj]

Freguently secret additive(crud) fills up the stud holes at the base gasket level making barrels difficult to move, also i have seen those dowells fitted updide down making barrels tight to move

[HondaMan]

..secret additive(crud)

Excellent! I've long wondered what this magic stuff was called.

[jmelche2]

I was about to give up and then came up with this idea.  I threaded this super strong rope (not sure what it is called) through the barrels and made a loop, then with a block of wood pried up on the frame while tapping with a rubber hammer.  I could hear a change in sound while tapping and knew that success with imminent.  Pictures will tell a better story. 

Now a concern with the tensioner.  I will make a new post.  Thanks for the comments!

[HondaMan]

Clever!