Topic: 1978 CB550K Rear Wheel Bearing retainer removal...HELP!!!

[Caymen]

I have a set of wheels for my 1978 CB550K. I can not figure out how to remove the bearing retainer. I tried everything I can think of. I made a spanner tool to remove it, but no luck.

I am about to scream. This should not be this F---ing hard. This is Bulls--t!

Any pictures or a how to? I have to be doing something wrong.


Tom

[sneakypete]

I went through something similar yesterday with my 750.   What worked for me was heat and Deep Creap penetrating oil.  I drilled the staking and then it spun out using a couple drifts and a bar.  I saw conflicting reports of left-hand and right-hand threading but mine was righty tighty, lefty loosy.

[MCRider]

You must drill out the staking dimples first, or they'll never turn. Also, one of the rear retainers on the 550 is a left hand (reverse) thread. Don't know which one, someone will chime in I'm sure.

[Caymen]

Anyone got pictures? I had spokes break (the reason I HATE spoke wheels) and I need to replace the wheels. I can not ride my bike until I get it fixed, so I need to get this taken care of ASAP.

I got a set of wheels for my CB a while back. The bearings need changed. Been pussyfooting around getting them swaped out, but since my original wheels gave up theit ghost sooner than I expected them to do, I need this fixed ASAP.

Anyone in the NE Ohio area that can help me?


Tom

[IndyFour]

I don't have any pics, but when I changed my bearings last summer, I did it without the special tool.  After drilling out the stakes, I used a large old flat headed screwdriver to spin the retainer loose by tapping in the holes in the direction of loosening it.  Like MCRider said, it is Left-hand threaded.....so you will want to tap/turn clockwise to loosen it.  When the bearings were replaced, I used some thread-locking compound (not the permanent kind) instead of restaking the retainer.

Do you have a Clymer manual?  I usually find the Clymer manual to be either wrong or confusing....but in this case, it was pretty clear.  The Honda shop manual has a little info on the rear axle with an exploded view.  I think you can find a download of it in the FAQ section.

Edit...  Just found this thread from a while back where a guy had the same question.  There are a few pics here....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=58147.0

[Caymen]

Indy,

Thank you for the link. That is exactly how my wheel looks. I did soak my retainer with plenty of PB Blaster. I will try again tomorrow. I may have to use a large impact socket to see if I can get it to budge. It had me all pissed off today. I got my bike sitting in the driveway with 90+ degree heat trying to get this apart. I started to question whether I was looking at the correct retainer. I drilled out the stakes, but still no luck.

Will make another try tomorrow. If I have to, I will cut a socket and work it from there. I will get it apart. As of right now, my bike can not be ridden. I need to ride my bike. I almost just said "eff it" but the one bearing is just rough feeling. I would hate to put new tires on a wheel with bad bearings.

I am looking foreward to my new Michelin tires instead of the Chinese Cheng Shin tires the bike has on it now.


Tom

[Caymen]

I got that effing retainer off. Made a tool and with an impact wrench, it came off. Now it is time to remove the bearings.

Thanks for all of your help so far.


Tom

[Gears]

I just saw this thread. Figure I'll chime in since I'm doing something similar. I'm getting my hubs powdercoated, so I figured I might as well pull the bearings(to inspect them) from my K5 CB750. As far as I've seen, the bearing retainers on the K5 are standard threading(Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey and all that jazz).

I didn't know about the staking as somebody called it, and that you drill it out. I just used a screwdriver and hammer to get the retainer moving to the point were a spanner wrench would work. So they can move without drilling them out MCRider... It just f---s up the retainer and the threads. 

I already ordered a new retainer, and hopefully It won't be to hard to fix the threads.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I already ordered a new retainer, and hopefully It won't be to hard to fix the threads.

I make it a policy to replace the retainer ring (and all seals) when replacing bearings.  To fix the threads, use a 1.25 pitch tap to "thread file" them clean.  double check that the threads and the tap match pitch-wise.  My memory isn't what it used to be.

What were we talking about?

[BobbyR]

Take a look here on how to restore hub threads http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=64781.0

If you use the search function you will find it is all in here. Best of luck on the cleanup!