Topic: 76 cb 550 cam problem

[cecycles]

ive got a stock cb 550 that came apart but wont go back together, i have seen the way to put the cam gear back onto the cam shaft when putting together, the chain should go onto the gear then the gear&chain onto the shaft,,,Mine wont go, its about a 1/4 inch to tight, it wont budge, and the tensioners' back out the whole way, it was tight from the start but if it came apart it has to go back togther, i didnt take it apart past the head.

[Gordon]

That's not the correct method, as you've discovered.  Look in the FAQ's in the engine section.  There's a post with pictures showing how to get the cam, chain, and sprocket back together. 

[cecycles]

im doing it like the pictures say to.. really, i looked at them bout 10 times and tryed it more than that, it sounds like theres supposed to be more slack in the chain im sure that tensioner is backd off and chain guide is in right, why isnt it going back 2gther

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Is your crank at TDC for 1.4?  Is the notch in the cam shaft horizontal, aligning with the gasket mating surface of the heat (front side or back side is fine).  Notice the "Mickey Mouse" ears in the cam sprocket?  Use one Mickey ear to slip over the shaft thus lowering the sprocket just enough to allow the chain to drape ofer the sprocket. 

With this done, see if the sprocket bolt hole will align with the fixing hole on the cam shaft.  You man need to move the chain a tooth or three to get proper alignment.

[steam-powered man]

when i recently reassembled my cb550, i also did not have enough camchain slack.  got a clue by searching on this fine site.   

even though i had tried to install it correctly, i pulled the pan to double-check placement of the lower end of the camchain tensioner.  found that the lower end of the tensioner wasn't correctly seated in it's "pocket".  once corrected, just enough slack appeared at the sprocket.  just a thought, and good luck.
bobp

[cecycles]

thanks bobp i did check that, and thought it was upside down, but its seated and rightside up, sweet bike, that 550? whered u get the tail?

[cecycles]

to-Old school is cool-, i understand the alignment part, but my chain cannot be described with draping, theres barely enough slack for the job, im sure the tensioner is backd off though someone said in a post that u can pull up on it 4 more slack, but hows this possible when the bottom screw and nut is attached to it through the block.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

The cam chain tensioner is basically a spring loaded bow.  The bolt and nut that passes through the engine block connects to a pinion gear.  That pinion engages a rack on the spring shuttle that slides along the tensioner body.  By tightening the nut, you freeze the rack & pinion and the shuttle which then holds the bow in place.

That being said, loosen the nut then press the bow straight back.  Note that the bolt just spins, there is no translational movement at all, just rotational.  With the bow pressed hard to the back of the tunnel, lock it down with the nut.  That should give you maximum chain slack.

[steam-powered man]

cecyles -
seat from roccitycycles - great quality.  frame, swingarm, headlight bucket are flat black.  winter project is gloss black for the seat, side covers and tank.  thinking dk brown for the seat.  shorties, risers, drag bars, bobbed fender, etc.

iirc, with the cam in place, "hang" the sprocket on the cam as low as possible using largest lobe cutout.  then work the chain on, mine was tight too.  good luck,
bobp