Topic: Trouble with 450 Cam installation

[imbob05]

Long story short I had to replace my cylinderhead after it cracked. I'm putting everything back together, and now I'm having trouble getting my cam chain and sprocket onto the cam. I'm afraid to use a certin technique, the one used to get drive chains on bicycles, because it involves me using my body weight to turn the flywheel to pop the chain on and damage something in the lower end. That method did work once, but I dont think it's the correct way to get my cam installed; I beleive I lucked out on nothing being damaged.

The chain tensioner is pulled all the way up, and the adjuster is loosened all the way. Does anyone have a clue as to how I get my cam chain and sprocket on?

Bob

Btw if your wondering my ride's a 1985 CB450SC nighthawk.

Hi I'm Bob! I'm 17 and I've ridden my 450 everyday from mid June to Mid October, for the most part.

[oldbiker]

Bob, I've a cb400f but I guess the method is similar.:-
Hold the cam chain and the sprocket side by side. Slide the camshaft in through the two of them till it is in place in it's bearings. Next locate the cam-chain onto the sprocket and finally push the sprocket onto it's seat (always keeping one eye on the timing). put the two bolts to hold the sprocket in place and you are done.

[imbob05]

Thats where my problem arises. There's not enough chain slack to get the sprocket onto it's seat.

[oldbiker]

In that case, I can only think that the tensioner is not fully slackened off. But as I said my bike is a cb400f so I might be giving you bad information. The only other thing I have heard of is when the camchain was not properly seated on the sprocket on the crankshaft. Sorry I could not be of better help.

[SteveD CB500F]

Last time I did this was 30 years ago on my 500, so your bike may not be the same.

The cam sprocket has a kidney-shaped cut-out in it that allows the chain to be installed.
Locate the cam through the sprocket and onto its bearings.
Move the spocket down (ie loosen the chain) on the cutout.
Fit chain over sprocket.
Bolt up sprocket onto cam.

Many people here use new cam chains with links - easy then as you just feed the new chain round and replace the link pin.