Forum

[Bullet Whisperer]

Yes.

Got the bike last year with no compression on the left. Replaced the inlet valve and put it together.
Some lunatic, I won’t mention who.... ahem... then bent the right exhaust valve when rotating the exhaust camshaft to attach the camchain when obviously in hind sight, the right cylinder was at TDC.
I see what I did wrong, I mean I know what the idiot did wrong!
I should have known by the pressure I exerted when turning the camshaft.

Stupidity, I’ve leaned my lesson.



ANOTHER... reason to love OHV


John

Easily done - I learned that with mine about 30 years ago. I still have the bike and have covered over 60,000 miles on it. Tip - never let the camchain get too slack before adjusting it. Great bikes, not a lot of people know that ...
Another tip - If you have a Haynes manual for it, ignore the procedure for camchain adjustment and buy a Clymer manual. Do not buy the factory manual - it will cause sleepless nights!

[Daiwiskers]

As we're talking about CB500T's don't drop the cam chain soft link when joining, it will drop and wedge itself in the bottom end and no amount of tipping it upside down and shaking it will move it

Take care all Dai

Edit Clymer nearly always better than Haynes

[windmill john]

I love my Clymers for my Airheads and Oilheads when I had them, but the one for the 500 has a number of mistakes; I’ve got one.

I also have a digital copy of the workshop manual which shows the correct procedures.

Did drop the chain once! But got lucky.

What is interesting and you’ll have a view as well, is valve clearances. An ex dispatch rider said to run virtually clearance free.....
Common Motor suggest slightly looser than the recommended as it is very small, 0.03mm, .0012in. .05mm was suggested and for my test, I tried this. Started well. I’m aiming for a snug .05mm feeler.


John

[Bullet Whisperer]

John, there are more mistakes in the Haynes book, the Clymer gives better info for crank / piston positions for camchain adjustment, but the pictures are not great. Valve clearances are supposed to be 0.001", but a 0.002" feeler was the smallest I had when using this bike frequently. I found, however, the clearances can be set with the engine ticking over, just take up any play gradually on the eccentric spindles, but if the revs drop, you have gone too far and need to back off. If the valve gear gets a bit clattery, you have gone too far the other way. Have fun!
Regards, Paul.
PS - here's mine ...
https://youtu.be/NP8OgWLPA0g

[windmill john]

Very nice Paul.

Hats off to you for having it so long. I’ve changed bikes a lot and am trying to stop. I love them all!

Handy what you said about valve clearance, as a .05mm fits in with your .002in.

Here’s mine. Enjoy the cleanliness , because once I start riding it, I maintain it, ACF50 it, but don’t go mad with the polishing.

[Daiwiskers]

It was back in 79 or 80 I do remember the clearances were tiny to what I was used to
The owner of the bike sold it shortly after I rebuilt it the new owner has had the bike since
Now it's a show bike that does very few miles but he did say he had put 30.000+ miles on it before restoring it apparently I was the last person inside that engine as it has not been apart since he bought it all those years ago

Thanks for the memory Dai

[Bullet Whisperer]

Very tidy bike there, John.
Here is a little known fact about something they have in common with RE - the bore and stroke are the same as on the Meteor Minor models [within a few thou on the stroke].

[windmill john]

Well here’s something that surprised me! (we’re off topic now!)

All Honda camchains are the same one! Apparently the one in mine, CB500T, is the same as the 750/4, 500/4 etc.

Haven’t looked into it, but it came from a good source.

[Bullet Whisperer]

Same chain, but different lengths - the one in the 500T is about 4 feet long!

[windmill john]

So when they advertise the part number and list all the bikes, are they expecting you to reduce the length to suit your bike?

Ignore that, there must be two or three lengths as the 750 fits the 350. Makes sense as they are SOHC and not DOHC.


John