Topic: 1973 CB350F "Freakshow Build" completed! Stay tuned for updates...

[mattcb350f]

I have the cylinder block and head back on.  I am now trying to recall how that cam chain tensioner assembly goes back together.  Anybody have any good pics of that?

Matt, that little u shaped plastic thing you mentioned.  one side of the U is slightly thicker than the other...  any idea if orientation of this little bugger matters?  Thick side in towards the cam or thin side in?  

I put the thicker side away from the cam chain, but I don't know if it really matters.

Mine seems to work fine that way.

 Matt.

[Tim in Ohio]

Thanks Matt,
That is a nice diagram, where did it come from?  I think I need to add a reference book in addition to Clymer.
Well, considerable progress made today fellahs.  I think I may even be riding tomorrow.  Check it:
First, I put that loose stud in with some BLUE thread locker.

[Tim in Ohio]

Nextly, the re-install of the cylinder block.   
I applied Gaskacinch to both sides of the gasket that the block sits on:


Getting those pistons to slide in with the new rings compressed took longer than I anticipated.  I took my sweet time and made sure each ring made its way in just right.

[Tim in Ohio]

With a little patience,  I got the block back on.

[Tim in Ohio]

Sorry, pics a little out of order.  (I just got back from Texas Roadhouse where I had a great steak and possibly enough beers to make this posting thing a little challenging  )

Here is the pic with the base gasket:

[Tim in Ohio]

You've already seen the photo with head gasket on.
Here we have the head back on.  Be sure to follow the criss-cross tightenting pattern specified in the manual.

[Tim in Ohio]

Next it is time to install the cam and cam chain tensioner.  Here is a pic of that U-shaped plastic piece that MattCB350 was talking about:

[Tim in Ohio]

I was sort of pressed for time at this point, so I didn;t snap a pic of every step along the way, but I reinstalled the cam, cam sprocket and cam chain tensioner. 
Making sure to orient the marks on the cam sprocket so that they were aligned with the horizontal surface of the head and the mark on the points plate (thru the peephole) was aligned the the T for cylinders 1 and 4.

Then, I hauled this engine back over to the frame and put the mounting hardware back on.

[Tim in Ohio]

Feeling pretty good about where she stands right now.  I am hoping for no whammies tomorrow and hopefully will be riding by day's end tomorrow.

[mattcb350f]

MAN YOU WORK QUICK TIM! 

...and when you aligned the cam sprocket, the lobes for #1 were both down right

If they were up, than the cam is 180 degrees off. Some folks here have made that mistake, although the book doesn't really make it clear so it's an easy one to make.

The picture I got was from the online microfiche at www.westernhillshondayamaha.com.
I think service honda also has the same ones, as well as bikebandit.

Just save the pics on your PC for reference. I had that one from my build.

 Matt.

[Tim in Ohio]

Matt.  Thanks for mentioning the lobe position.  I had to run out and check.  The answer is...  Yes.  They are both down for #1.  Purely got lucky, I didn't know to look for that.

[Spikeybike]

no whammie , no whammie , no whammie  STOP

[mattcb350f]

Matt.  Thanks for mentioning the lobe position.  I had to run out and check.  The answer is...  Yes.  They are both down for #1.  Purely got lucky, I didn't know to look for that.

..and I forgot to mention it

At least we checked before the cam cover went on or we'd add a half dozen more pages to this thread of troubleshooting 

 Matt.

[Tim in Ohio]

Going to finish putting this old girl back together today. I just had a thought.  I probably still won't be riding today even after reassembly.  I don't think I will be lucky enough that those carbs will magically behave for me.  I am going to need to synch them and alas, I find myself without a synching tool.   Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?   

[kghost]

Going to finish putting this old girl back together today. I just had a thought.  I probably still won't be riding today even after reassembly.  I don't think I will be lucky enough that those carbs will magically behave for me.  I am going to need to synch them and alas, I find myself without a synching tool.   Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?   

If you bench syc them they'll be close enough to fire it up for a spin round the block..

Go Tim GO

[Tim in Ohio]

OK...  I got in a little work this morning then I had to break for my dad's 70th b-day party.  I am back at it now.
DOH!  I did run into a whammy today.  Check this out, I went to put the cam cover on and noticed that the four "inner bolts" that are positioned under the breather cover weren't an exact match.   It was one of those Sesame Street moments... remember, "One of these things just doesn't belong here..."
See, I used the old cardboard trick to exactly note where all of the bolts came from so that I could put them back in the same holes (no problems with the technique... it is great):


But if you look a little closer...  Hmmm?  what's this.  One is different!:


Side view:


And it goes downhill from there friends. 

You see, this is what might be called 'A Tale of Two Knuckleheads.' 
Knucklehead #1... the previous owner (po) for using one bolt that didn't match the others when he apparently lost the original.
Knucklehead #2...  Yours Truly (me) who noticed that the head was different, but failed to notice the length difference until...  WHAMMY!

I went ahead and started tightening those bolts down, using a criss-cross pattern like a good boy... and then a crappy thing happened.   The long one tightened down with the head flush to the surface no problem.  But the standard length bolt that was opposite the long one started stripping out threads as I tried to torque it down?!? 

[scunny]

hey Tim, the PO might have had the non standard bolt which is longer in the stripped thread hole.

[Tim in Ohio]

Hi Scunny.
That is pretty smart thinking.  Good detective work.  I think after what I did I may need to perform another helicoil operation though?:

[kghost]

Try it and see how many threads engage...bout 6 threads minimum....

If your not getting any threads...helicoil time

[Tim in Ohio]

Let's say I end up helicoiling.  Should I try to find a "standard bolt" to complete the foursome, or should I just helicoil the hole to the proper depth to accomodate the different bolt and get on with life. 

[kghost]

Let's say I end up helicoiling.  Should I try to find a "standard bolt" to complete the foursome, or should I just helicoil the hole to the proper depth to accomodate the different bolt and get on with life. 

Long as the bolt is the proper grade and length it doesn't really matter...

However I'm anal and would want them all to match...but thats me...you might not lay in bed at night thinking about that one bolt that doesn't match....

[scunny]

a tip that I use. put a piece of wire in a hole to measure how long a bolt you can use without bottoming out

[Tim in Ohio]

OK. I determined that helicoil will be necessary.  So, I pulled the engine again.
Again, the unexpected.  Now, I have removed the cam and cam chain.  I removed all twelve nuts that are holding the head on the block (in the prescribed criss-cross pattern).  When it came to the cam chain tensioner assembly  I was able to remove the "slipper" (the part that had the plastic "u shaped" damper on the end) but the other piece (the cam chain guide) is stuck in there tight.  This is different than the first time I disassembled the engine.  That time it came out real easy.  Ideas?


This thing being stuck in there is preventing me from lifting the head off the block.  In fact, when I pull real hard, it almost wants to lift both the head and block together.  What do I do?

[Tim in Ohio]

 

[scunny]

can you pry (carefully) the top up and out of its retaining groove, this "may" help