Topic: CB550 Safety inspection didn't go well....

[Peter From Barrie.]

This is the sum total of the leakage 'on the ground' after an hour's ride. And I rode 'er hard and put 'er up wet!

[Peter From Barrie.]

One last post...this is the sprocket and shifter. I saw a lot of grunge (since cleaned)  from when I oiled the chain, but no leakage from the shifter itself.

[Peter From Barrie.]

Exhaust side on cylinder 3, Cal.  The gunk is long gone and the chain inspected. It's nasty and needs to go.

The new chain and sprocket are on order!

Thanks!

[Peter From Barrie.]

Here's a picture of the valve cover. The bolt cracked off is outside the seal, so it's possible you may not get a leak there. (pic 1)

Picture 2 is the right side, the "plug" you describe that's weeping oil over #4 intake. Someone less stupid than I will have to tell you what it is or why it's there.

That's good to know, Cal. Only worry would be structural integrity, but that bolt's been gone a while...

I'd hardly classify you as stupid! 

[Jimsun]

The crack u
Mentioned is to be a place where a phillip head goes to hold the cover to the head if im not mistaken. You may or may not beed it depending if there is a leak or not

If you need a bolt or something let me know. I may be able to help you.

The circle were you think theres a missing bolt is incorrect. Theres suppose to be 2 of those. One on each side by 1&2 and 3&4 re allignment dowels that sits between the head and the cover.

[Stev-o]

Fork seals are easy to change, you don't need no stinkin mechanic.

[ekpent]

Is that a crack just to the top slight left of that allen head bolt ?? Blow up pic to see better.

[Peter From Barrie.]

That's just crud, ekpent. It had me fooled too!

[Peter From Barrie.]

It's not the difficulty, Stev-o, My Delta-9er hath decreed -no more oil/fluids on the garage floor!

[Peter From Barrie.]

Thanks Jimsun! Much appreciated!

[Peter From Barrie.]

Found the top oil leak!

I thought it was the 'circles' I mentioned earlier. Turns out it's the cover (indicated with the red star) in the picture.  I thoroughly cleaned the head area and then ran the bike. Oil pooling as indicated by the red arrows.

Pulled the cover, saw that there were two lugs with O Rings. The Rings were flattened,  I replaced them, re-tightened the cover and tested her again. Dry as a bone!

On to the next problem...

Peter

[ekpent]

That's just crud, ekpent. It had me fooled too!

Actually I was alluding to another spot above the phillips screw shown in your pic north of your green arrow but glad you may have solved the leak. On to the next issue eh.

[Peter From Barrie.]

Yep, just more crud - since cleaned. Had 'er out this morning, still no leak. Fingers crossed...

[Peter From Barrie.]

She's D O N E!!!! Passed certification today!
I found a licensed mech who knows old bikes, especially Hondas.
So, final tally is:
-front brake pads, bleed and refill.
-front brake switch fixed (was intermittent) - surprised the other guy didn't catch it...
-front fork seals, clips and fluid.
-didn't need it, but changed the front sprocket and chain. (Better safe than sorry!)
-clutch interlock.
I'm going to expose my dumb-assery here, but I thought pre 1980 bikes didn't require them! Mech said NFW, and fixed it.
Parts&labour Plus cert <$500!!!!
I'm in NYC today, so no ride , but I am picking up a NOS CB550 rear brake spline (to replace the CB750 kluge that was on my bike) and a gently used centre stand that I had shipped to relatives here! Gotta love ebay!
Since I was last here, I nailed the oil leak down to the O rings on the lifter covers and the seals on the oil filter.
The seal on the plate directly behind the engine and above the shifter was cracked, I made one with my loctite rig.

So, (as you've probably figured out from the profusion of exclamation marks) I'm a happy camper!!!
Thanks to all concerned for the sage words of wisdom, cogent advice and for reading the whining of a noob about his 'free' 74 CB550!!!!

[brooze72]

Congrats Peter.  Gotta love having a US address to ship to from fleabay!

[mrbreeze]

In the automotive world we use dye to find pesky leaks. I've had more than my share of hair pulling trying to track down some of them and when you add dye and hit the area with a black light you will find them so easy. They have dye for oil based, coolant, and a-c. I bought a black light on Amazon for $20.....like a mini mag light. Works fantastic. Glad you found and fixed your leak.

[lucky]

Im not sure how it will hold up with motorcycle vibration. Are you 100% its cracked? Any pictures. I live in toronto and I can give you a spare head cover gasket. I just finished my top end rebuild. Hoping to ride her soon

Many owners on this forum thought they had a crack and it was only a casting imperfection.
Clean it throughly and inspect with a magnifying glass.

[albertaboy]

I just came across this thread today. Glad you made it through inspection. I too had a safety certification problem here in Alberta.  I took in a then, 35 year old bike that had all the safety components working.  It had years of dirt, minor slow seeping oil leaks that contributed to the dirt, surface rust here and there. It looked old. Anything that was black, was now grey.  Anything shiny was dull.  With that, off to the inspectors I went. 

The "certified inspection facility" told me my alignment was out 3/4 inch. They claimed the frame must be bent.  Could not tell me where the bend was. Could not see any collision damage. They wanted 10 hours labor just as a start to find and fix it.  I went for a second opinion. The second shop telephoned the first one and came back and agreed that the alignment was out 3/4.  I called BS and packed the bike away.  Maybe you could have said the fork seals were leaking. In terms of safety, yes, fork fluid can cause front brake failure, therefore, proof of repair should of given my bike a pass.


3.5 years later, I had done a complete restoration of the bike. I checked the frame with help of the many good members here, restored the bike and proceeded to get a passing inspection just a week ago.  Realize, all I had done in terms of alignment, or frame straightening, would be equal to a super duper, amazing out of this world, spit polish and shine.  Besides fresh paint, fresh fork seals, a clean and painted engine and other polished parts, and suddenly the alignment became straight. All other safety components ie signals, tail brake light, headlight worked as they did before.

One can draw his own conclusions.

[Jimsun]

Im not sure how it will hold up with motorcycle vibration. Are you 100% its cracked? Any pictures. I live in toronto and I can give you a spare head cover gasket. I just finished my top end rebuild. Hoping to ride her soon

Many owners on this forum thought they had a crack and it was only a casting imperfection.
Clean it throughly and inspect with a magnifying glass.

after he posted the pics it was 100% imperfection an not a crack. I stated the above because he did say there was oil seeping out through the area

[Peter From Barrie.]

Damn.  MrBreese and lucky I wish I'd have thought of using dye! That casting had more dirty wrinkles and (what looked like) cracks than Methuselah's ass!
Albertaboy, as I've stated before, I think the first mech was more interested in a payday than in the actual road worthiness of my bike. That being said it's their ass if they fast roll a cert. You did the right thing and walked. Congrats on getting your bike certified!
Time to hit the bike shops here in NYC to see what other goodies are around. I've already found a 5qt jug of 10W40 on sale at wallyworld for $10.