Topic: I can't get my head off.........

[clarkjh]

I can't seem to get the head of my 74 CB550 to come off.  It's loose , rocks back and forth a little bit but will not slide up .  The gasket cement that some PO used is holding the head on good but leaked like a cive.  Any advice on how to get this thing apart without trashing the head.  I have been trying for two nights to get this thing off and have had to give up before I lost my cool and used the BIG hammer, (18 lbs) .

thanks

James

[eldar]

Well you could get a flat spreader about 1 - 2 inches wide. It is soft metal so it should not damage anything. Put it in between where the gasket is and tap with a SMALL hammer, no big hammer for this! It should break up the cement. You will have to clean the cement out but if you are pulling things apart, you know this.

[clarkjh]

eldar

Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try after the news.  If it works you will have saved my sanity and my little 550.

James

[eldar]

That stuff can be a pain when it is old. Screwdrivers will damage the seats for the gasket but if you are careful, this should be ok.

[clarkjh]

I keep repeating "I will Not use the BIG hamer".  Man this head is STUCK good, thinking maybe gasket cleaner might help soften things up.

[Bob Wessner]

Must be the change in weather today, but how's this for another hairbrained idea. If you are sure all fasteners are out and all that is holding it on is the gasket an/or any sealer used, what if you chilled the head with some bags of ice for a while to eliminate adhesion, then gently gave it some taps around with a block of wood and hammer?

OK, I'm prepared for any ridicule. 

[clarkjh]

Bob

At this point I'm willing to call in the local witch doctor if it would help.  My kit should be in today or tomorrow and I'd like to be able to ride this weekend.

James

[bryanj]

Are you sure you got the two small bolts one in front one in back. Also the bolts out of the cam chain tensioner? Its the cylinder that is usually the awkward one as crap blocks up the holes at the bottom and the threaded part at the top of the stud dont want to go through.

[oldbiker]

I had this problem when I removed the head of my cb400f. Turned out it was crud or corrosion in one of the  tunnels that the head studs pass through. Squirt some WD40 (penetrating oil) into the tunnels to soften the crud.

[cben750f0]

you havent got some rusted in dowels??... just a thought, i had trouble getting the head off the 750... and it was because the dowels had rusted in.... i just kept wobbling it till it came free.... just a though....peace

[clarkjh]

I'm starting to think it's a combo of crud and the cement that was used.  I can wiggle the back and forth, but I can't get any up/down movement.  I also have be spraying liberal amounts of penetration oil to no avail.

bryanj
all bolts are removed, including the one on the front and back.

Still with the engine in the state its in right now, it just wants to make me cry .
I also knew that this would be a project in motion.

James

[mnb70405]

i can recal on the fours as it has been a few years since i sold of my cn750, but on the twins the timing chains runs to the top of the motor around the cams and around the bottom main shaft. Did you "break" the timing chain?

[clarkjh]

On the 550, you remove the timing cog then the chain slide off and you pull the cam out.  Just don't drop the $@!#^% chain down in the case, no I didn't, but I have on a GS400 DOHC engine, its a pain in the ass to get back out.

James

[clarkjh]

Bob, Sherrie

I'm a Moron.

Thanks to all who replied with advice.  I got my head off finaly.   The problem seem to be I can't count.  While taking out the washers with a grapper tool I found a nut I was sure I had removed.  Man is the head carboned up bad.

Thanks again for all the help

James

[Bob Wessner]

Glad to hear you got it off. Now on to the rest of the work, eh?

[clarkjh]

Bob

You said it, it's gona take a month of Sundays to get the crap off head, valves and pistons.

James

[cben750f0]

WOO HOO good to hear old son!!!... peace