[hillbillymike]

I discovered an oil leak around the tach gear box. When I pulled the cover off to replace the gasket the long screw, I think it's the cam follower shaft, also came out. I did remove the locking nut first but it came out anyway. I heard something fall. Is this something a greenhorn can fix or should I forget about riding until I can get it to a shop?

 

[66Sprint]

Yep...You messed up!...What fell is the cam follower (rocker) , and possibly the cam itself...and you'll have to remove the valve cover plate and the cam chain tensioner at MINIMUM to retrieve the loose piece.... You may/probably will have to "break" the cam chain and remove the exhaust camshaft itself with all that entails (breaking the cam chain, etc, etc...Retiming the cams, etc.... Not hopeless... BUT, don't even spin the engine for now....
Let's wait for Bill to offer his opinion first before you panic.....

 

[tbpmusic]

What Steve says is correct - you did something that's always very risky.
However, I think the follower may be too large to drop down into the engine (fingers crossed), so it could still be (with luck) just lying right there in the top area.

If the follower (tappet) has fallen down into the engine, you're screwed - you'll have to pull the engine and tear it down. Pull the front tappet cover off and see if you can retrieve the tappet before you do anything - leave the bike on the centerstand and do not tilt the engine, or that tappet could fall down "the hole". A flexible magnet might help here - the front cam chain "roller" might just stop the tappet from falling all the way down into the crankcase.

With luck, you can follow Steve's outline and recover. It's very unlikely that you'll be able to get that bearing/tach cover back in place without somehow getting some slack in the cam chain. Remove the tensioner first to get what slack is available, though it still may not be enough, and you may still lose your cam timing.
Do NOT turn the crankshaft or cams until you're dead sure that the valves are all safely closed and the cam chain has been broken. Those valves get bent in a heartbeat. If either of the exhaust valves were open when you did this, you're probably screwed, you'll never get enough slack to put the bearing back on.

On a customer's bike (or my own), I would never attempt this - but it is your bike, so it's up to you.....

Good luck, Mr. Phelps - if you're captured, HondaTwins will deny all knowledge of you.... :shock: :?

 

[66Sprint]

Well Mike.... Looks like we have our work cut out for us.......
If you don't feel up to the task...Let me know now.......I'll try to guide you step by step, but as Bill said, it might be better to disassemble somewhat and then rebuild/time/set-up.....
I have successfully removed and replaced the other side journal on the exhaust cam without complete disassembly (to replace the seal behind the advance unit), but it IS tricky.....and fairly involved......
Your decision......

 

[hillbillymike]

I think I'm in way over my head. I guess it's off to to the shop when I can come up with the money. Thanks guys.

 

[tbpmusic]

Hang on Mike - I think one of our Moderators (Bill44cars) is not too far from you????

 

[hillbillymike]

That sounds great, but I think we are about 300 miles apart.

 

[hillbillymike]

I am still without a ride. Had a man lined up to fix this mess, but he backed out on me. Can't find anyone else for at least 100 miles that will work on a bike this old. So it looks like its up to me. I know absolutely nothing about the internal workings of a engine. I would probably be better off just to sell the bike and be done with it, but I love this bike so I'm going to try. Please help!! The cam follower is lying in the top of the motor. I've tried and there is not enough room to get it out or put it back in place. I've attached a pix(I hope) so you can see what I'm looking at. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tbpmusic]

You get to pull the engine, break the cam chain, then take it all apart and put it back together.

sorry.........

 

[uhohferris]

hillbillymike...

i've been in the same boat, TWICE! if i remember correctly, one time i was able to CAREFULLY remove the follower completely and then put it back in upside down- yes i said upside down and THEN flip it over in it's correct position and thread the adjustment rod through. this was the right-side intake follower. the other time i was just lucky and was able to "wire coat hanger" the follower into position and again thread the rod. this was on the left-side exhaust follower. both times i was lucky enough to to NOT have to break the cam chain.

the tools i used made ALL the difference. a set of LONG armed, curved-needle nose pliers and a wire coat hanger. bend that coat hanger every possible way you can to get that thing in a position where you can put the follower shaft back in. be careful and go slow. no guarantees of course, but i've gotten my bike running after these disasters and this might just be some inspiration. good luck.
-seth

 

[uhohferris]

i forgot to add that i DID have to remove the engine the first time. but that (14 bolts or something) -versus taking the top end off was a real "eureka" moment. good luck.