Reassembled it, rode it, and then...

[DimitriT]

I just put the finishing touches on a top end strip down on the 550 to fix a base gasket
failure.

I reassembled, did the valve clearances, synced the carbs one more time and rode it
for about 50 miles. It ran better than ever.

Later that day I was cleaning up the workshop when I noticed sitting on my bench the
front cam chain plastic tension/cushion bar. That's the plastic/metal bow shaped bar that
fits forward of the cam chain and is partly held down by the valve cover.

I guess its supposed to dampen vibration on the chain? Don't know what its for. Bike
seems to run fine without it.

But, being the type, I had to get it back in there. So next day off came the carbs and
cams and I had to repeat all kinds of work.

[tkent02]

Hey, at least it's easier the second time, hopefully there won't be a third.

[BadBillyB]

Later that day I was cleaning up the workshop when I noticed sitting on my bench the
front cam chain plastic tension/cushion bar. That's the plastic/metal bow shaped bar that
fits forward of the cam chain and is partly held down by the valve cover.



But, being the type, I had to get it back in there. So next day off came the carbs and
cams and I had to repeat all kinds of work.

Been there done that. Back when I was drag racing pretty heavy, the motor came apart 3 or 4 times a month. I forgot that thing so many times I started calling it the "dip **** stick".......I guess it keeps the chain from rubbing on the block under hard decel in gear.....By the way, nice picture, you must be the guy on the far left........Billy