Author Topic: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal  (Read 6894 times)

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Offline Pain

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CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« on: June 27, 2011, 09:17:00 AM »
I feel like I'm going to break this thing, so I assume I'm doing it wrong... someone please explain how to get these rocker arms out.





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Offline TwoTired

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2011, 09:36:24 AM »
The 8 shafts slide out towards the out side. (Early type.)
See the threads in the shaft. Screw a bolt in there and they can be pulled out.

If the cover is a newer model (probably is), there are pinch bolts holding in 4 shafts.  There are four nuts on top of the cover, that are loosened and the pinch bolts tapped downward, which release the four shafts.

Interesting you ask for information without providing make, model, and year of the engine.

Why are you taking it apart?  You need to keep the the tappet /cam lobe association.  So, put them back exactly where you found them.
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
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Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2011, 11:31:59 AM »
so are you saying i shouldn't take it apart? i figured it would be easier to polish with the rocker arms out, and i was also considering switching these rocker arms with ones from a different engine that was cleaner. i guess it would be easy to transfer the other ones in, in the correct order.

this engine is in pieces also, i'm completely rebuilding it.

i put the make and model in the subject. sorry if u missed it. it's a 76 cb550.

i appreciate your response
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2011, 12:50:46 PM »
so are you saying i shouldn't take it apart? i figured it would be easier to polish with the rocker arms out, and i was also considering switching these rocker arms with ones from a different engine that was cleaner. i guess it would be easy to transfer the other ones in, in the correct order.

this engine is in pieces also, i'm completely rebuilding it.

i put the make and model in the subject. sorry if u missed it. it's a 76 cb550.
The subject just says: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal.
I could tell it was from a Cb550.

Somewhere in 76 Honda transitions from the 8 floating shafts to 4 pinned shafts.

If you are going to coat it with polishing compound, probably best to take it apart.

The cam follower faces are wear matched to the cam after break in.  Essentially they polish each other.  Changing mated surfaces begins another break-in cycle, which wears off more metal.

Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline dave500

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2011, 12:54:28 PM »
yours has the four shaft locking bolts,they are wedge shaped where they meet the shaft and may need to be knocked out,when you replace them dont over do them as this can easily crack the cover,,those followers look rusty anyway,or is that a grease coating?your bottom photo shows the threaded area to get a 6mm bolt into so you can pull it,it also has a slot so you can align the flat section to marry up to the shaft agian on reassembly.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2011, 12:56:45 PM by dave500 »

Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2011, 01:04:36 PM »
oh boy. this sounds like i'm getting in over my head! i'll try to get a pic up in a couple minutes of my other top to see if it's the same. also, i'm putting a new cam in if it matters.

thanks for the help guys.
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2011, 01:08:12 PM »
A brand new never used cam?  Or, a new to you cam?
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
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Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2011, 01:16:41 PM »
brand new from webcam.

they are different...

i should still be able to swap these rocker arms out to use the clean ones with a new webcam right?



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Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2011, 01:18:07 PM »
u can also pick up why i'm swapping them... some douche talked me into sandblasting all my parts that i wanted to polish and charged me $100.
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #9 on: June 27, 2011, 03:56:00 PM »
If you have a brand new cam, then use the rockers with the best or least wear pattern on the cam follower faces.
Cam lube is also recommended.  I assume some came with the new cam?

Do you have stiffer valve springs for the new cam?
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

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Offline Greggo

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #10 on: June 27, 2011, 04:21:46 PM »
Good info in here.

Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2011, 04:24:28 PM »
ok. yeah i have new heavy springs and the cam did come with new lube. but other than that i'm good to go? i'll just transfer those other rocker arms out and put them in the empty slots in the same order.  or should i pick and choose between both sets for which ones are least worn?

i agree. this is great info. i just got the iphone 4 and added photobucket to it. it really makes it fast and easy to post with good pics. i'll probably start a detailed build thread soon now that it's that easy.
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Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2011, 04:28:42 PM »
moreover, the rocker arms are identical other than wear, correct? as in it doesn't matter which one i put where if i'm swapping them with another set and using a new cam.
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Offline Greggo

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2011, 05:27:58 PM »
All rocker arms should be identical.

Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2011, 05:37:42 PM »
amen brother.

now to find a 6mm bolt...
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Offline dave500

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #15 on: June 28, 2011, 01:51:52 AM »
as tt pointed out select the best looking less worn rockers,if any look a bit sus find new ones,these parts have a great deal of pressure on them at any revs and any signs of rust or pitting or hard face wearing off and they shouldnt be used on your brand new cam,,idealy the rockers should all be replaced with the new cam,,no one would ever run worn lifters or visa versa on say a small block new cam,you can get away with it a little more on these engines though,little being the operative word,sure plenty will chime in and say how they have mixed and matched these parts,so have i,but for a new cam i myself would run new or rebuilt rockers(hard face welded and reground)

Offline TwoTired

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #16 on: June 28, 2011, 09:38:11 AM »
Almost certainly your new cam has more lift, and that coupled with the heavy springs means there will be significantly more pressure on the cam followers and cam lobes than in stock form.  This leaves less margin for mismatched matings surfaces, as before the wear in, the loads will not be spread evenly across either surface.  It's those high pressure points that you hope will wear down smoothly before galling occurs.  Once galling starts, the result is often the cam lobe rounding down to a smooth, perfectly round bearing surface that no longer moves the valve off the seat.  BTDT.

New parts are best, but you can sometimes get away with using the best looking used parts.  You should certainly be able to feel your fingernail slide across the surface with no snags or irregularities felt.

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

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Offline Pain

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CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #17 on: June 28, 2011, 09:40:03 AM »
not what i wanted to hear, but glad i heard it
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Offline Greggo

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #18 on: June 28, 2011, 09:46:13 AM »
BTDT. 

???

New parts are best, but you can sometimes get away with using the best looking used parts.  You should certainly be able to feel your fingernail slide across the surface with no snags or irregularities felt.

Cheers,

That would be ideal, but even DSS only has 3 in stock. 

Offline TwoTired

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #19 on: June 28, 2011, 09:51:56 AM »
Been There Done That
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

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Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #20 on: June 28, 2011, 10:07:12 AM »
i emailed dynoman.. i'll post their reply
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Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #21 on: June 28, 2011, 01:07:45 PM »
from dynoman:

Unfortunately the rocker arms for the CB500-550 are no longer in production, however we can have them hard chromed and re-ground for $59 each. This is a hard chrome process and is much stronger than the flash chrome that came on them from the factory.
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Offline dave500

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #22 on: June 28, 2011, 01:31:39 PM »
silvers might have three in stock but see if they can get more,they dont list it as no longer available from honda.

Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #23 on: June 28, 2011, 04:46:21 PM »
twotired: you and i have completely different meanings of the word 'tap'...

for anyone in the future that does this: i had to beat the hell out of those bolts before they budged. i used a socket screwdriver with a small socket on it to stay on the bolt and a rubber hammer. once you get those 4 bolts out, a 6mm bolt (6m -100 machine bolt at lowes - $0.92) can screw in a few threads to pull out the shaft. the four shafts came out really easy - just using my fingers.
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Offline dave500

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #24 on: June 28, 2011, 05:29:04 PM »
a bolt from elsewhere on the engine would work also.

Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #25 on: June 28, 2011, 05:43:43 PM »
quit tryin to make me look dumb haha

the rest of my engine is in pa right now, i'm in oh

thanks for the help on this though guys
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Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #26 on: June 30, 2011, 07:14:48 PM »
i'm having a lot of anxiety about this now... i didn't budget for new rockers..

here's some pics of the other rocker arms i want to put in... the engine had about 3,000 miles on it...

if possible, please tell me what you think..

also, the number 324 on these stands for the part number (14431-324-000)... but the'res another number.. 2 digit.. but varying between the rockers..some are 42.. some are 46.. some are 47.. and one is indistinguishable but does not look like it could've been a 40-anything.. but what does this two digit number mean?





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Offline TwoTired

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #27 on: June 30, 2011, 08:45:24 PM »
I'd use those rockers.  I'd also use some cam lube for break in.

Don't know about the numbers.

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #28 on: June 30, 2011, 09:03:26 PM »
thanks twotired... your opinion is valued at just over $300 haha..
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Offline dave500

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #29 on: July 01, 2011, 12:56:52 AM »
ill agree those look good,i was picturing those rusty looking ones you had?the other numbers might refer to the forging die,,so if they have a quality fault the die can be tracked?and any product from it?

Offline Greggo

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #30 on: July 01, 2011, 03:07:08 PM »
I'll have to pillage all three of my rocker covers to get a set like that.  Those look nice.

Offline Pain

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #31 on: July 01, 2011, 03:10:33 PM »
ooOoooOooo!  ;)

haha.. that's good to know greggo. you guys had me really nervous at first though. i'm glad i can continue this summer now with enough money to eat.
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Offline FridgeRaider

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Re: CB550 Rocker Arm Removal
« Reply #32 on: March 30, 2014, 08:50:08 PM »
Get thread, I was able to get my rocker arms out because of it  ;D
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