Topic: Gear Shift Drum Cam Plate Screw dilema?

[Puffin]

Hi everybody,

Just joined the forum and posted in the introduction section.  I have been using this forum as a great resource for my CB500 rebuild and thus far I have managed to figure out most things however it's time to hold my hand up and ask for a little advice....

I am just about to spilt the crankcases so I can replace a rather saggy Primary Chain however I managed to strip the screw holding the cam plate to the Gear Shift Drum.  Photo below...

My questions are... do I need to remove this before splitting the cases or can it quite happily stay attached?  What are the implications of leaving it on verses removing it?  Can I damage the gear shifting forks by being too heavy handed whilst trying to remove it?

Now my Honda service manual says to remove the cam plate before separating the cases however the Clymer and Haynes manuals don't really mention it? 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks

[goldarrow]

I don't think you actually needed to remove that screw in order to split the cases

[flybox1]

Dont use an impact wrench on it while its in the cases.  You'll be hitting against the shift forks and such and you'll damage them.
You can leave it in.   Does NOT need to be out to split the cases. 
Drill off the head and replace the screw if it bugs you once you have the cases split and the drum in your hands.  (careful to get the birdcage back together properly)
Set the new screw with some blue locktite, and stake and edge so it wont turn out

Welcome to the forum, btw. 

[Puffin]

Great, thanks for the detailed advice. 

The potential for damage caused by using an impact wrench was what I was worried about.  Admittedly I did hit it a couple of times before the thought dawned on me so I hope I have got away with it....?