I have the two allen screws out as well as all the other bolts/fasteners that the Honda manual mentions need removed in order to remove the head... but it seems as if its welded down! It may just be that its heavy AND I'm nervous to pry on anything before I am POSITIVE I have it all undone and am not causing damage. The caps the cams lay on were a tight machine fit too and once I knew I could tap them they popped right off but being slightly new at this I work SLOW and CAREFUL and always check with the experts on here before trying something on my own... where do you suggest I pry / lift to pop it free and not damage anything?

 

after i took out all the bolts, my head was stuck on the block also.

I saw that there were places where the head protrudes over the block. i then held a wooden piece at these areas as i gently tapped the wood with hammer upwards as to slowly lift the head. Once i saw the head slightly off the block i then used a flathead(wrapped in a cloth in order to avoid scratching the head) to carefully pry the head off.

also, in my case billman was definitely correct, the head was mostly stuck down at the front due to Honda's Ultra Flange Sealant surrounding the chain case.


good luck!!!!

 

Okay, you went from saying you couldn't get the cam "pillow blocks" off to you can't get the head off. So first, about the cam pillow blocks. They have to be pried a little at a time. If you look on the intake front side of the blocks you can see where you can rest a screw driver on the head while you pry on the pillow block. Just a little here and a little there. It'll drive you nuts, but it will come off eventually. Alternatively you can flip the cam followers up on the intake side (there's more room there) and pry carefully against the followers while resting on the valves.

As to getting the head off, screw in the four corner head bolts about 10 turns. Then put the spark plugs back in and crank the motor over. That chould "pop" the head off.

All the best,

Jim

 

^^ Or use a rubber mallet and tap the head at an upward angle to break the gasket cement once everything is unbolted.