Topic: What kind of wear is THIS?

[Lavis500]

I have the engine torn down with the exception of slitting the cases. I was reading about primary chains, and, noting both that the previous owner stated the bike had about 24,000 mi AND when I pulled the oil pan there was a decent amount of tiny aluminum flakes, I decided to inspect.  With my inspection mirror I looked as closely as I could, and I also wiggled the chain as much as I could.  I couldn't see any of the gnarly marks I've heard tell about, though the chain moves easily 1/2"-3/4"  (eyeball guestimate, I couldn't manage to measure where it was).  However, I did notice that close to the primary shaft on the left side as viewed from this angle there's a spot that doesn't look as clean and cast as the rest of the engine.  The circle around the bearing and the semi-triangular shaped hole are both very rough and uneven, matching the texture of some of the flakes.

If this is some kind of wear, what could have caused it??  The primary looks okay, though I wouldn't call myself an expert in the matter.  Should I still go ahead and replace?

Apologies, I forgot to mention that the engine is from a 1973 CB500 K2

[FunJimmy]

That doesn't look very good.
Sorry I can't offer more than a comment.

FJ

[Hasenkopf]

I think they all have that.....

[dave500]

its an oil passage leading to the clutch area,its roughly cast then roughly final shaped and dosent have to be nice,they just buzz the bigger burrs and dags off from the casting.the flakes are just fair wear and tear .like from the clutch basket fingers and piston skirts.

[Lavis500]

Thanks for the info.  This is my first major tear down, and while I'd like to think I'm not incompetent, I am still unfamiliar wth many of the finer points of this engine.  I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking something potentially deadly.

So should I leave the primary, or should I jump in since I'm repacing all of my gaskets, hardware, and honing the cylnders?  Just get everything over at once so (in theory) I shouldn't have to open her up again for a while?  If I don't replace the primary, there will be signs while riding of it lashing against the cases when it's too old, won't there?  Like a certain throttle lash when going at in-town speeds?

Also, thanks for putting up with my many questions!  I'm sure some of the old timers have better things to do than reading silly questions and comforting the newer, less informed tinkerers.

[dave500]

youve gone this far!ide do the primary,it dosent look like its struck the casing, and use an endless cam chain and replace every seal,how are you set for tools?you might have to buy a few like circlip pliers,have you got the workshop manual?you can really clean the cases while its apart or have them bead blasted and repaint them,,this is where plan A becomes plan B etc and more dollars spent if your ok with that then go for it the end result will be great ,but take your time.

[Lavis500]

I have a pretty decent set of tools.  Craftsman 5 million piece socket set with 1/4, 3/8, and1/2 drive, 2 sets of metric wrenches, a 3/8 drive 5-80 ft-lb tq wrench, a wide array of specialty tools, and any tool I don't have I can rent for free from the local o'reilly, autozone, etc.  I'm borrowing my dad's air compressor, and I have a media blaster bucket wth gun from HF.  Not the best, but it does the job.  My plan was to buy this gasket kit...  **looks at ebay**  that I guess the seller no longer has posted.  It was up for a few months...  maybe I can get a complete gasket kit from a dealer?  Also I want this bolt kit:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310157230514&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT  I also need to buy other things like a clutch adjuster thread (pulled it out of the cover, removed the seal, and it was in pieces), oil pressure sensor, new front and rear sprockets and chain...  and the list continues to go on as you get away from the engine.  I'vr salready purchased and received my new rings and piston pin circlips.  Buying all this stuff doesn't bug me too much, it just means it will take a nice long while to do this, as I can only allot so much money per month to my project.  Admittedly, all of my oil seals and my bearings actually look really good.  Do I really need to replace them?

For bead blasting do the cases HAVE to be split?  Then again, I guess it's probably better so you can clean them out all the way, anyways.  What kind of media would you suggest?  I've been using medium blasting baking soda for some of my cleaning and it seems to work well, though it may take a while.  I also have been blasting in the front yard, where the soda gets all washed away.  Would I still be able to do this with glass beads, or would they build up on the soil?  Also, where should I go for chains?  I've heard it's kind of a pain to get a non o-ring drive chain.

[gnarlycharlie4u]

youve gone this far!ide do the primary,it dosent look like its struck the casing, and use an endless cam chain and replace every seal,how are you set for tools?you might have to buy a few like circlip pliers,have you got the workshop manual?you can really clean the cases while its apart or have them bead blasted and repaint them,,this is where plan A becomes plan B etc and more dollars spent if your ok with that then go for it the end result will be great ,but take your time.

HAHAHAHAHA!!! ^^^^^ STORY OF MY LIFE!

[dave500]

the alloy thread clutch adjuster can still be bought new ive had a couple fall apart in my hands aswell,about 60 bucks,that internal steel one is discontinued,have you got a parts list with numbers,,its surprising if you ring a honda dealer with a number theyre happy to type it in and give availability and a price, compared to saying can i get a clutch bit that goes like this and looks like that for a 73 cb500 they lose interest,i think the parts list is here ,pm me if you want it ,its a pdf file.i just put an rk non o ring on mine,my local hands on family owned bike shop had one,i had an o ring but it was just fouling the case and left a small mark i didnt like,if the case is apart do those seals,if it leaks in 3 months its a pain,how old are the seals?still factory?they are an odd ball size and honda still have them,the bearing service cant help because of wierd sizes like 14.3 mm,.buy the appropiate taps and chase all the threads aswell,cheers.

[Lavis500]

I have every manual and parts list available.  The only one I haven't managed to nab yet is the owners manual.  Is there a free pdf for tat one, or do I HAVE to buy it?

Can I not give the honda dealer the part number for the chain and buy the stock non o-ring?

I think the seals are still factory, but they all seem pretty supple.  Can I buy a seal kit, or do I have to get them individually?  Any guesstimate on cost?

[CPHjimm]

I have every manual and parts list available.  The only one I haven't managed to nab yet is the owners manual.  Is there a free pdf for tat one, or do I HAVE to buy it?

Can I not give the honda dealer the part number for the chain and buy the stock non o-ring?

I think the seals are still factory, but they all seem pretty supple.  Can I buy a seal kit, or do I have to get them individually?  Any guesstimate on cost?

plenty of manuals in this forum : http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=17788.0   

[dave500]

i have a pdf owners manual,i forgot where i got it from.pm me if you cant find one here.