Mike's CB550 Project

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I put mine in the Ultra Sound Cleaner - then just made sure they looked clean.

[Nurse Julie]

They have no moving parts in them Mike. Give them a good clean out, don't make the holes any bigger though as they restrict flow to the head which gives the oil priority to the crank. Making the hole bigger reduces the priority to the crank.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Thanks both, that sounds very straightforward.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Another beginner query. I have been trying to get my brain around how the airbox assembly goes together and I think I get it apart from the connection of breather tubes. What I have understood is that: 1) the breather tube from the rocker cover should connect to the horizontal spigot on the bottom of the airbox but can actually vent direct to the air passing it between the carbs and dangling it behind the swingarm pivot; it only vented into the box to comply with US emissions regs. 2) there should be a drain pipe from the plenum which vents to the air but it should have a pinch valve at the end - a sports drinking valve (Camelbak) can be bonded on the end to make this as the original one is no longer available 3) the drain from the bottom of the airbox can vent to the air along with the other 2 but needs something like open cell foam in the output end to prevent crud ingress. Is this right and if so should I plug the now unused spigot in the airbox?

Any thoughts, corrections or general ridicule at my interpretation welcomed. Cheers, Mike

[DomP]

I recommend using the parts diagrams on CMSNL, great fir things like assembling airboxes etc

[Nurse Julie]

Both the plenum vent tube and tube from the airbox can be a length of open ended tubing Mike. Most owners only fit the OEM type if they still have them, the rest of us just use tubing and they work perfectly.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Thanks to help from the forum I now have all my O rings identified and sorted, the oil control valves clean and the cam chain tensioner adjuster nut running smoothly on the adjuster stud. My mate is coming over at the weekend to help me put the top end back together (an extra pair of hands as opposed to any more experience than I have). One of the tasks that I am concerned about getting right is locating the bottom end of the cam chain tensioner assembly in the right place.

Can anyone give me any advice as to how to ensure that this is fitted correctly? The engine bottom end is in the frame; not on a bench/stand.

Thanks, Mike

[Johnny4428]

Make yourself familiar with the location of where the bottom end of the tensioner arm sits before you put anything together then when you have fitted it you will be able to shine a light down the camshaft chain tunnel to view whether it is in the right place or not.

[Mike_Berkshire]

I had a go at that today Johnny and I couldn't see much peering down into the crankcase even without the barrels in place. from what I could see there is an angled tang down below that the tip of the tensioner slides against and into it's 'pocket'. I guess if I can see this tang when installed then I am on the wrong side of it? Or maybe I wasn't seeing clearly; I have had a look in the parts book to see if that helped but couldn't see anything. Is the pocket it sits in machined into the case itself?

[Sesman]

Mike, also try checking by looking via the sump plate.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Mike, also try checking by looking via the sump plate.

What an excellent suggestion, thanks! What should I be looking for? I'll have to use the camera on the phone as the engine is in the frame and I don't have a lift.

By sump plate do you mean the sump pan with the oil drain plug in it or is the sump plate something else?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

It's the bottom sump with the oil drain plug screwed in it..
A mirror and torch beam should be as good as a phone.

[DomP]

Mike, also try checking by looking via the sump plate.

I had to do this to put my mind at rest after my engine rebuild, it's possible to get a good enough view.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Thanks everyone; I’ll let you know how it goes at the weekend.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Due to my mate falling ill and not being able to come over at the weekend I did some work on the bike today. I think I made good progress getting the barrels and head on, refitting the camshaft and doing the cam timing. I bought a powerful penlight torch which helped me see down the cam chain tunnel and check the tensioner seating was correct - a super useful little tool.

I am still a bit confused about the timing marks though. I have attached a picture of the alignment of the timing marks I used for setting the camshaft and the position of the camshaft end notch whilst the timing marks are aligned. Does it look like I have done this right (its the timing mark for 1.4 cylinders you can see)?