Final drive sprocket off when taking out engine?

[alexdecker]

Hey all

The manual says to remove the final drive sprocket and the chain when removing the engine. Can I just remove the chain? Can’t for the life of me get those nuts loose for the final drive. Any tips appreciated!

- Alex

[Oddjob]

You can leave it on but at some point those bolts will have to come out. Plus there is a risk you'll cut yourself handling the engine out of the frame on the sprocket if your hands slip. The bolts go into the sprocket so if they snap it's not a big deal, you could try a little heat to see if that loosens them up. Just be careful you don't melt the seal behind it unless your replacing that of course.

[Bryanj]

Should have undone them whilst chain was on using brake to stop wheel

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

A good cordless impact driver might shift them.

[philward]

If you have got the engine out already (not sure if you were making enquiry prior to taking it out), you could use the chain as a wrench on the sprocket with a large screw driver through links to hold it while impacting bolts

[alexdecker]

I got it off, not without a decent amount of sweating and swearing. My god, hope this is not a taste to come.

I found this on the floor when I was done with dissassembling the engine from the frame. Can't think of anywhere on the bike this goes. Is it a left-over of some other project in the garage, or is this a CB550 thing?

[Johnwebley]

  is it metal ?

  at first glance it looks like the press top of an aerosal can.

[murdock]

looks like a speedometer or tachometer nut

[Oddjob]

Looks identical to the internal cap on the speedo drive, someone looks to have drilled it to pull it out when it just knocks out from the drive side.