Topic: '76 550F camshaft questions

[motorhead55]

I am new to this site as I found it searching for a new cam for my 550F.  I am NOT new to Hondas as I am now 56 yrs old and have messed with and owned Hondas since 1965.
 I bought my 1976 550F NEW in 1978. It is Orange with brown seat.
I separated the head from the cylinder to replace the head gasket and leaky Oil Orings. I checked my cam and it has some wear pitting. The bike only has 9800 miles since new. I am trying to find a NOS cam. I read here about guys using the SOHC CB650 cam in their engines. Does this work good and are they available from Honda?
I bought a Vesra gasket set to replace my head gasket and orings. Any GOOD way to insure the orings sealing good?
Any help to find a NOS stock cam appreciated. I will post some pics of my bike when it is back together.

[bryanj]

NOS are rare and expensive when found and it fitted ought to have NOS rockers as well.

These cams look worse than they actualy are can you post some pictures?

If head is off its a good idea to remove cylinders and replace base gasket and "O" rings as they will tend to leak later.

Make sure all gasket surfaces are "Mirror Finish" clean and head nuts run free on threads also make doubly sure that NO crap gets into the oilways and especially the base gasket dowel holes if you you remove the dowels as the dowels have tiny restictors in them.

Finaly read the manual carefully about re-fitting the cam cover as its easy to bend valves on th 500/550

[motorhead55]

Thanks for the info. I spent several hours online looking for a cam. I will take a picture of the cam and post. How about the CB650 cam fitment?

[bryanj]

If you fit the 650 you loose the tacho as the drive is different

[d3buttz]

the 650 cam wont have as much of a punch unless you do some mild porting/jetting from what i think ive read here.

[motorhead55]

OK.... I have built alot of Vw engines and know of which cams work and ones that don't. I am a little "Green" on what the 550 will tolerate. The engine is a Virgin. I owned and maintained it since new.

[d3buttz]

the 650 cam is a direct drop in(same cast,degreeetc), im doing one right now on my 550.  the lift is the same(or close to it) and the duration is longer hence the benefit.  there is a hybrid how to on the forum that very informative on here that im following, use your 550 cam gear. sometimes the casting on the head is sometimes restrictive, just remove material where the lobes hit if it does. other than that its plug and play.

[bwaller]

The Webcam 58a (as another replacement option) is a mild street version. It appears to maintain all the good stock powerband characteristics. There is no piston/valve interference and will run fine with stock carbs & exhaust although some minor jetting may be required.

The down side is if you go with a hardweld cam it is better to start with new rockers or get them hardwelded. (twice the price of NOS)

[motorhead55]

I called WEB cam and it is $300 for the hardwelded cam and $60 EACH for the rockers to be hard chromed! If I owned a '69 sand cast CB 750 then It might be worth it.
On a side note... I am really suprised at the lack of resale $$$ the 550's have.

the 650 cam is a direct drop in(same cast,degreeetc), im doing one right now on my 550.  the lift is the same and the duration is longer hence the benefit.  there is a hybrid how to on the forum that very informative on here that im following, use your 550 cam gear. sometimes the casting on the head is sometimes restrictive, just remove material where the lobes hit if it does. other than that its plug and play.

Are these cams available new from Honda??

[d3buttz]

im not sure on if u can get one thru honda, but from distributors that do oem parts for a 550/650 cam new are even more$ than web cam.   im all about being as cheap as possible for bang vs. buck.   junk yard bikes are usually there due to title issues not running/motor problems, i got a perfect 650 cam for my build for 30$. if you do go junkyard 550 cam route, i recommend getting a cam with the cam cover rockers complete so the wear patterns the same. thats my opinion-theres alot more informative guys on here that can give you more ideas tho.

[bwaller]

motorhead contact Dynoman. They'll give you a better price than Web.

[kayaker43]

The 650 cam has more lift and duration, its a very worthwhile upgrade and should require no jetting changes. I agree that the cam and rockers wear together so go all new or keep used parts as matched sets. You will either have to go without a tach, or swap the drive gear and tach from a 650

Lots more info if you do a search..