Topic: 1977 CB550K Cafe Racer Build

[lucky]

Better not let a car repair place do the valves.
Honda motorcycle engine valves have multiple angles on the valve face. For different harmonics at different rpms.
The factory tool was inserted into the valve guide and turned 1.5 turns to recut the seat.

If you do not have the factory tool  The car repair place will do the "car thing",and just cut the seats at 40º on a car valve grinding machine and call it good - and it will smoke forever.

Did you get new valve guide seals?

[illrational]

that exactly what im having....more beer than lasgna though....finding this threw me for a loop

[illrational]

i got new valves, deals and guides and now i find out i need to ream guides n that isnt cheap

[illrational]

the crank....matt keep me posted...whats the link to your build?...now im ready to take a nap

[lucky]

Lucky, could i soak in carb cleaner to get rid of most of teh carbon and wash it down with water put it through the parts solvent cleaner wash it off with water again and then hit with grit blaster?

Yes you can soak the piston as you did in carb cleaner overnight.
But NEVER leave a CARB body in carb cleaner over night. There reason is that there is sometimes brass plugs glued inside of some passages and the solvent can cause the adhesive to come undone. Also on some carbs now there is a special coating sprayed on the carb so fuel does migrate to places it should not be by capillary action.

[lucky]

came across a thread dealing with Pamco ignition and think i may get the kit....have to pick up some calipers tomorrow so i know wether im just buying rings or a complete piston kit...crossing my fingers it will just be the rings...was so sure i was going to buy a tank seat combo from benji, that pinas design is gansta, but not reading all teh issues im not too sure. Anyone that replaced their piston rings did they need any specialty tools?Right now i just want to have her running by the end of september.
Things to do:
Measure pistons: in tolerance replace rings or out of tolerance replace pistons and then i probably should go with bigger size to get more power decision decisions
Measure head: check for distortion
Replace valves
Adjust tappets
Put carbs back together
Replace strainer in oil tank
Oil change

WHOA....Don't just buy any calipers.

You want 6 inch calipers all metal NOT PLASTIC, and they should be 0-.100 in one revolution. 
Otherwise the most common and often used type.
Remember all metal .

You cannot use Calipers to measure the piston walls. It won't work.
Only at the top perhaps, if there is NO ridge.
You can use the calipers to measure the piston ring lands,thickness etc.,.
Use feeler gauges for the piston ring end gaps. Do it the right way.
It takes a special set up with a micrometer to measure the bore for the pistons.
Let a machinist do that for you.
Like I say let a machinist help you with the piston and bore measurements.

[illrational]

I got some nice calipers all metal and ordered cylinder bore gauge to measire the bores

[lucky]

i got new valves, deals and guides and now i find out i need to ream guides n that isnt cheap

It is normal practice to have to ream valve guides. And this is another place to let a machinist that works on MOTORCYCLE engines help you because some times the valve guide may protrude too far down into the combustion chamber. Usually they are pre measured but it is something to beware of.

You need a machinist to help you with the cylinder head and the cylinders.
Once the head is clean and has the new guides in place then you can assemble it yourself.

[lucky]

I got some nice calipers all metal and ordered cylinder bore gauge to measire the bores

That is good as long as they were not Harbor freight.

[lucky]

One more thing.

Be careful about using a cotton fluffy rag on engine parts. If the little cotton threads falls on a bearing surface it is like sticking a rag in a moving bearing. Bad news.

Otherwise keep lint out of the engine.
VW and other companies put new engines together in dust free rooms and cotton rags are not allowed.

See any rags laying around?
Click on photo to enlarge.

[Mcwilliams570]

How is the build going.. All engine parts have finally come in I should have mine together in the next 2 weeks or so if all goes to plan ..

[illrational]

Matt-
Everything and i mean everything is apart....i sandblasted the entire case on saturday and i think i screwed up my bearing journals ill post pics of the journals when i get a chance...i ordered some more parts last night...cam chain and some misc oil seals that i missed on my first go around...going to cost me about 300 to get head milled, valve guide seats done and valve guides reamed...good luck with putting everything back together...i had planned on taking all the necessary measurements today but got lazy