can you just remove the cam covers?

[schaubster]

This is definitely a nooby question:


Can i remove the cam covers easily to polish them? I started to try and take one off until i realized it was probably holding the cam in place. (ie. why it was so hard to pull out).


So can you just pull these out and slide them back in the engine.

 

[joeyputt]

Which engine are you asking about Brother?

 

[schaubster]

1973 CB 450.


Just like a noob to forget something like that.

 

[joeyputt]

That is ok Brother and that is the engine I thought you were asking about I just wanted to make sure.

Removing the front and rear cam covers only requires removing the eight bolts on the front cover and the eight bolts and breather line on the rear cover.

As for the four side covers they are actually the cam bearing housings and the cams ride in them, unless you have a lot of experience with the CB450 engine I would not recommend removing them just for polishing.

On the left front cover you can remove the outer ignition points cover for polishing easily by removing the two screws that hold it in place however removing the inner cover requires the removal of the rocker shaft lock nut, the four screws, the points plate, and the advancer.

The right front cover requires the removal of the tach cable, the rocker shaft lock nut, and the four screws however when you remove this cover there is a tach drive shaft and washer behind it that fits into the camshaft that will come loose also.

The two rear side cam bearing housings only require the removal of the rocker shafts lock nuts and the four screws on each cover.

In between the cam bearing covers and the cams are washers which are in place to adjust the end play of the camshafts so if you were to remove any of the cam bearing covers and reinstall them with new gaskets you would have to measure and adjust the camshafts end play and naturally once all of the covers are installed you would also have to adjust the valve lash on all of the valves.

I would recommend removing the screws and locknuts and polishing the covers on the engine.

 

[schaubster]

wow! really appreciate the help!

 

[Flugtechnik]

Listen to Joey. I took the points housing (left front cam cover/bushing) off to replace a gasket and bent a valve putting it back on. Two years later, my bike is running again. If you really know the engine well (like I do now :/ ) it can be done. Otherwise, it is very easy to screw up the timing of the engine.

 

[schaubster]

I began to slide the rear right one out but stopped when i realized what i was doing. I got it out maybe a cm, then bumped it back in. Think i did any potential damage?

 

[Flugtechnik]

Most likely not. The problems come when you take it all the way out and the cam is allowed to drop down. What happened to mine was the cam follower slid off the valve and sat next to the valve. When I put the cover back on, it hit the follower and pressed sideways on the valve, bending it. What would most likely happen when the cam drops down is that the cam chain may skip a tooth on the sprocket and you will mess up your cam timing.

If you are worried about it you can take the back valve cover off and look and make sure every thing is where it should be. Just pulling it out a little shouldn't have done anything.

 

[clutch]

Holy crap, glad somebody brought this up. I have the head off to hone the jugs and stuff. Was going to "pop" those covers off since I'm polishing everything else but forget that. I'll run the whole thing under the buffer and do the rest with the dremel...thanks guys!

 

[Flugtechnik]

Clutch, not that big a deal since you already broke the cam chain. You will have to reset the cam timing when you put it back on anyway. Just have the valve covers off when you put them back in so you can see what your doing. Also be aware that there are sometimes thin washers ( shims) in-between the cam covers and the cams. These are there to take up side to side slop. Make sure you don't lose these or let them drop into the engine.

 

[mechengstud1122]

So I am the noob who actually removed the cam cover and pulled the cam all the way out. Pretty sure the follower dropped.

I have a 1974 Honda CB450K7. Is it easy to fix or should I just suck it up and have a mechanic do it for me? What is involved and how much time would it take a mechanic to do?