SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550
camchain tensioner
DomP:
Would it be fair to say the 500/550 camchain adjuster is the weak point in terms of design on these engines? When I rebuilt my engine i now wish I'd replaced the whole assembly, the slot in the adjuster screw is a bit chewed up making it hard to hold still while tightening the 10mm nut.
Bryanj:
Not really, its fine till its abused by somebody trying to remove any slack by turning the screwdriver slot.
If used solely as the manual says there are no problems.
The 500 primary chain does eat into the main oil gallery in lower crankcase but the 550 was a slightly different casting.
The most common fault on 500 was centre selector wear and on the 550 one gear can shear the dogs off but cant remember which
deltarider:
--- Quote from: Bryanj on August 02, 2025, 11:03:46 AM ---Not really, its fine till its abused by somebody trying to remove any slack by turning the screwdriver slot.
If used solely as the manual says there are no problems.
[...]
--- End quote ---
IMO, it's by far the shittiest part on the CB500/550s. What Bryanj doesn't tell, is that the mechanics at Honda dealers in Europe have been instructed by their resp importers on how to perform the adjustment best. That differed from what a customer reads in the manual. As it is sooo easy to damage the camchain tensioner assembly - it was designed far too fragile - Honda had done better not to give any instructions in the Owner's Manual on this, but to advise owners to have it done by a dealer.
Seabeowner:
Whatever method you use Bryan's method. your Euro method or the manual, as long as you don't wreck the screw head the worst you get is maybe a slightly looser cam chain, not the end of the world.
bigmockuk:
hi guys,im not long finished building the engine back up,decided to strip it back down and fit rubbers to camchain tensioner,but no joy! rattle is still there,the camchain guide is fine and i dont believe the chain is worn,after fitting chain to the sprocket and sprocket to camshaft i loosen adjuster nut when no1 cylinder is on commpression stroke and advance spring is in alignment with timing notch then the tension on the chain seems fine,nothing loose.the only thing i have`nt checked on the top end is to see if there was a broken inner valve spring which i doubt.i`ll upload a short video i took of the noise to youtube and post the link,again,cheers for allyour input on this.
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