Topic: 550cam chain tensioner spring/gasket removal question

[tomasz]

hi guys,

i am working on my 550 motor and have found the old gaskets to be really baked on to the cases,it looks like they got glued on to it, are there any chemicals that would loosen it up or disolve this  ?

also, i wonder if the rubber hose that covers the cam chain tensioner spring is absolutely necessary, mine just cracked when taken off, will this adversely affect performance ? 
thanks in advance for any info...
tomasz

[Glenn Stauffer]

You can buy spray-on gasket remover which helps a bit.  Be careful that you don't mar the soft aluminum if you try scraping the gasket off.  I have had success with abrasive pads or a wire on a die grinder, but you need to be careful to avoid damage to the block or head.

I can't quite visualize the part and where it goes, but the hose is probably there to keep the spring from getting stuck on something.  Can you find a bit of nylon sleeve to fit over the spring?


--Glenn

[tomasz]

thanks for your advice Glenn, had it not been for this board and the kind people on it, I would have not been able to maintain my bike the way I did for the last 8 or so years. 
As far as the recent strip down, everything has been cleaned, tripple checked, assembled, torqued down well and the bike feels fresh.  In the end I installed the tensioner spring without its rubber housing, I gathered its only function was to reduce vibrations, and it seems to perform just fine, for now at least. 
I lapped the valves, which brought the compression to a nice and even levels - the motor had about 6000 on it - installed a mild Megacycle cam along with KPM heavy duty springs, and I got a noticeable difference in the mid and top range...  I went with stailess lines and added a steering dampner, which pretty much took care of whatever little head shake I experienced before, especially when riding hands free  javascript:void(0)
overall not a bad looking and performing 30 year old beast...   pics coming soon...  peace tomasz