Need to know more about the camshaft or cam chain on your Honda CX500, GL500, CX650 or GL650? Check out our articles below!
Camshaft
The camshaft sits above the crankshaft, driven by a chain from the crank. The 22 degree twist of the cylinders prevents a standard overhead cam design, so the twisted twins use a pushrod setup.
The camshaft is actually a two-piece unit which is an interference fit – the water pump end piece is separate to the rest. We’ll see if we can get one apart to show this.
The camshaft looks like this on a CX500 and GL500:
…and the 650s look like this:
We don’t have a photo of a removed Turbo camshaft but here’s one of the end of an installed unit (thanks Joe!) – it’s notably different!
Here’s an infopic showing the various aspects of the camshaft for a CX500 and GL500
- A closer look at the CX650/GL650 tacho drive/camshaft holder cover
- A comparison between the 500 and 650 camshafts
- A closer look at the camshaft
- How to remove the camshaft holder (on front of engine) – CX500, GL500, CX650, GL650
- Changing the camshaft holder/tacho drive oil seal, gasket and O-ring
- How to reinstall the camshaft holder
- How much does the cam cover weigh?
- Camshaft oil seal info and pictures
- Camshaft profile differences
Camshaft part numbers
Click here for a list of the camshaft part numbers for the CX and GL models.
Camshaft removal
Info to come.
Camshaft damage
Cam Chain
The cam chain is something rather a lot of CX500 owners are familiar with – it’s one area where attention is required to prevent major engine damage. As a point of curiosity as the cam chain wears the ignition timing is retarded slightly.
- An overview of the cam chain tensioner systems and their components
- Checking the cam chain with a mirror
- How do you assess how much life is left in the cam chain with an auto tensioner?
- How do you assess how much life is left in the cam chain with a manual tensioner?
- Examples of damage from a loose cam chain
- Examples of broken cam chain links
- More examples of damage
- A closer look at the manual cam chain tensioner adjustment bolt
- Removing the auto tensioner
- Broken tensioner and guide damage
- Where is the manual tensioner bolt located?
- Installing the auto tensioner rebuild kit
- Auto tensioner differences
- Removing the cam plate – auto models
- Where does the cam chain get oil from?
- Replacing the manual tensioner bolt O-ring
- Manual and auto tensioner blade/guide differences
- Auto tensioner blade differences
Recall for 1978 motors
The early 1978 motors had a recall due to a fault regarding a cam chain guide bolt backing out – for more information see this page.