[kalincan]

Wrapping up a cam chain replacement on my 73 CB450 and realized one of the guide pin cutouts in the cylinder head gasket isnt big enough. Looking around at dime city and 4into1, im pretty sure this is the correct commercially available gasket. Can I cut the hole bigger or am I missing something here?

Pins in place

Right side

Left side doesnt fit

 

[TOOLS1]

As long as you do not damage the metal flame ring, you should not have any problem with enlarging the hole.
TOOLS

 

[brokencamchain]

I believe if you check ancientdad's 450 build, he had the same issue and just enlarged them, I think.

 

[ancientdad]

I believe if you check ancientdad's 450 build, he had the same issue and just enlarged them, I think.

I did have that problem as well, and I just carefully used a dremel to open up both holes to fit the flat O-rings. No issues as long as you don't go near the actual head to cylinder sealing ring, as Tools mentioned

 

[kalincan]

Many thanks for the replies!

 

[mx317]

I had the same problem with a Vesrah head gasket. The two right side where it oils was ok, but the left side that has one dowel wasn't cut big enough. I found an OEM gasket on eBay and used it instead.

 

[kalincan]

I found it pretty easy to enlarge the hole with some 80 grit sand paper wrapped around a bic pen. Still reassembling so havent tested yet but no obvious problems so far...