What's a good price for a CB550 engine?

[eight0]

Hi All,

Given that my engine has seen better days, although it is repairable, I will have to at least buy a piston kit, new Cam, tensioner, seals, chains and gaskets.

There's a 550 Engine going on Ebay which looks a lot cleaner than mine  (on the outside anyway) and the seller says he's had it apart to replace the tensioner. He said the pistons are original but did not have a compression tester to give me any readings.

I'm thinking, rather than spend lots of time and money with my current engine, I buy this one to get me on the road and maybe build my original engine up over time.

My question is, whats a good price for an engine that is 'apparently' in good order?

Maybe the seller is a member.. who knows

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264769230680?ViewItem=&item=264769230680

[Bryanj]

Thats a good price if all inside is good

[K2-K6]

The betting odds would be good that it needs a primary chain too,  full split to complete as he's not mentioned. 

Doesn't look bad at that price,  but as above,  internals are everything.

[eight0]

Well,

I know I need a camshaft and a new tensioner as I had to cut through the bolt. A new tensioner assembly from DS is 150 and a replacement camshaft around 30-50.

I guess even if I can make one good engine out of the two it wouldn't cost me much different and I'd have spares.

[Trigger]

Never trust someone with a ebay name like Rober 

It is very hard to find a good engine these days. After 40 years they, all require work 

[florence]

you would have to look inside to be sure.  In 1995 I bought a low mileage engine for about that price from DK.  They sent me three altogether, I kept stripping them and sending them back and in the end they sent a very good one which is still going now.  You can tell in a few minutes just by popping off the rocker cover and the sump pan.

Without being able to do that it is very hard to tell.  If the big end shells have picked up crud and the cam and bearings are cheesed it's an expensive rebuild.

[Safo]

Have a look at his other items for sale

[Bryanj]

Why do you need a cam? And whats wrong with the tensioner, most mechanisms can be fixed so yo only need a blade

[eight0]

Why do you need a cam? And whats wrong with the tensioner, most mechanisms can be fixed so yo only need a blade

I had to cut the tensioner bolt off because the end of it was broken.

The cam I have has pitting on the lobes, there's pictures of it on my project thread.

[Laverda Dave]

Try Newman Cams before trying to find a decent s/h one that could be as bad as your existing one. I have found Newmains to be very good on two of my previous cams. Ask specifically to speak with Mike Newman for advice.

[JamesH]

Graham didn’t even pay 99p for his last 550 engine...

[eight0]

Try Newman Cams before trying to find a decent s/h one that could be as bad as your existing one. I have found Newmains to be very good on two of my previous cams. Ask specifically to speak with Mike Newman for advice.

Thanks for the tip. Well I guess better the devil you know..

I messaged the guy to see if I could talk to him over the phone about it but no response. I'll preserver with the engine I have.

[Nurse Julie]

Try Newman Cams before trying to find a decent s/h one that could be as bad as your existing one. I have found Newmains to be very good on two of my previous cams. Ask specifically to speak with Mike Newman for advice.

Thanks for the tip. Well I guess better the devil you know..

I messaged the guy to see if I could talk to him over the phone about it but no response. I'll preserver with the engine I have.

It's showing as Sold, I assumed you had bought it.

[eight0]

Ah well that will be why they never replied!