Topic: Hello from Seattle!

[Dmitry]

Hey guys, my name is Dmitry, and I'm writing from Seattle.

I recently (about a month ago) bought my first bike, a 1976 Honda CB550K (with 4 pipes).
The guy that sold it to me did a lot of work to the bike: he swapped the engine from a 1977 with only 7-8k miles on it, replaced most of the worn parts and did multiple tune-ups on the bike.

I bought the bike as a daily commuter. I am going to college right now, and parking for a car at the University of Washington would cost me around $500 each quarter VS $60 for the motorcycle parking permit. I got the bike without prior knowledge on how to maintain it, (it is my first bike), but I have a Clymer manual, so I've been reading it. What do you guys do on monthly basis to your bikes? As I see - I should be lubing the chain, checking the break fluid, oil changes every 2 months or 2,000 miles, checking tire pressure.

I haven't had any big issues with the bike so far, but I have some minor stuff that bothers me:

1. Oil leaks on the engine block from the main gasket and the top left cap. Happens only at high rpms (5500-6000 when going 60-75mph). Nothing too bad, I think it is normal considering the age of the bike. Already bought some motor oil, will check it and add some later this week.

2. Idle rpm's are 1200-1300, not 1000 as it says in the manual.

3. Downshifting from the second to first while rolling is rough sometimes. I'm talking about a loud click and a couple times there was a grinding sound. It happens while the clutch is squeezed. I have no idea what it can be - I should probably check the transmission oil level and the condition of the clutch plates.

After reading up and getting excited about the whole cafe-racers movement, I want to slowly, over the period of a couple years - customize the bike. The first step would be to get rid of the stop light and replace it with an LED strip. Later, I want to change the headlight, switch the wheels for the ones with tubeless tires, maybe replace the front fork and get a better front brake... I really like the original cb550 look, so I don't want to change the the look of the bike, except for the rear light.

I don't have any tools, but I'm planning to get all the stuff needed to maintain the bike in good health. I live in an apartment complex with underground garage, but I don't think the property manager would care if I changed oil in the garage.

Is there anyone here from Seattle area? I am looking for a good bike shop that would do some diagnostics on the bike and tell me what needs to be done. So far I've found Twinline Motors, going to call them tomorrow to see what they charge for a check-up.

I'm already planning on engine rebuild (to be done with the oil leak; already bought all the gaskets).

I'm attaching pictures of the bike. You can see it has a cafe-seat already.

[MikeKato]

Hi Dmitry

You have a nice looking bike and a manual for it. There are some great people on these boards that'll help you through your problems as they arise. My overall feeling after reading your introduction post is you may be a bit of a Honda hypochondriac. You started out saying "I haven't had any big issues with the bike so far, but I have some minor stuff that bothers me" and ended with "I'm already planning on engine rebuild (to be done with the oil leak; already bought all the gaskets)." , I would slow down and not get too worried until you're sure you have something to worry about.


 1) If it's leaking from the valve cap it could be as easy as a retorque of the cap screws.

2) You could See "idle adjustment screw" in your manual but you said the previous owner "replaced most of the worn parts and did multiple tune-ups on the bike" so your idle may be set to where your bike idles best. You could adjust the idle down to the 1,000rpm that your 1977 manual specifications call for to see how it idles,both warm & cold. (I assume you bought the 1977 manual rather than the 1976).

3) Check your manual for the clutch adjustment on your handlebars,could be an easy fix.  I would get out of the habbit of downshifting into first gear unless you're going less than 5mph rolling up to a stop sign,or better yet,at a complete stop.

You've said that you have no tools and very limited knowledge of how to maintain a bike so please don't be in a big hurry to spend all that parking savings. These boards are loaded with project bikes that have been apart for years;I was "that guy" once,don't be "that guy".

Did you call Twinline Motors or any other bike shop for the check-up you were talking about? If not,I wouldn't jump the gun on that either,I'm sure there's plenty of people on these boards from your area that would take a look at it much cheaper. Maybe the previous owner might help you out with some of your concerns.

GL!
Mike

[Dmitry]

Thank you for your post, Mike.

I took the bike to a bike shop, where they changed oil and the filter, replaced the chain, and took off the annoying blinker beeper. It cost me around $230 bucks, but I feel it was worth it, because the technician showed me all the work he was doing. He showed me how to change the oil, where oil filter was, how to tighten the chain and gave some advice on how to maintain the bike.

1) If it's leaking from the valve cap it could be as easy as a retorque of the cap screws.

Yesterday I replaced the small rubber rings on the valve cap screws - I figured they were to blame for the leak. Haven't ridden the bike since then yet, but hope it will help. There is still a leak on the main gasket at high rpms - when going 60 and faster. I am trying to estimate how bad it is, but definitely planning on the engine rebuild some time this summer when I have more time and money.

2) You could See "idle adjustment screw" in your manual but you said the previous owner "replaced most of the worn parts and did multiple tune-ups on the bike" so your idle may be set to where your bike idles best. You could adjust the idle down to the 1,000rpm that your 1977 manual specifications call for to see how it idles,both warm & cold. (I assume you bought the 1977 manual rather than the 1976).

I know where the idle screw is, and at this cold weather I have to adjust it before it warms up, and then tune it down at first red light or stop sign, so that the idle would be at around 1200-1300 rpm. If tuned to idle at lower rpms it idles poorly, the engine works very unevenly and there is significant amount of vibration.

The technician at Twinline Motorcycles told me it was normal for older bikes to idle at higher rpm's.

3) Check your manual for the clutch adjustment on your handlebars,could be an easy fix.  I would get out of the habbit of downshifting into first gear unless you're going less than 5mph rolling up to a stop sign,or better yet,at a complete stop.

I got in a habit of doing that, and yes, there are no issues with shifting anymore.
Also, I bought some tools - pliers, wrenches, screw drivers - and last night I learned how to adjust the clutch, with the allowed free play as described in the bike manual.

You've said that you have no tools and very limited knowledge of how to maintain a bike so please don't be in a big hurry to spend all that parking savings. These boards are loaded with project bikes that have been apart for years;I was "that guy" once,don't be "that guy".

Did you call Twinline Motors or any other bike shop for the check-up you were talking about? If not,I wouldn't jump the gun on that either,I'm sure there's plenty of people on these boards from your area that would take a look at it much cheaper. Maybe the previous owner might help you out with some of your concerns.

GL!
Mike

I am definitely not going to spend much more money on servicing the bike at the shop, except for may be replacing the tires. I think most of the work is doable with simple tools in the garage.

The battery that the bike came with was pretty much dead, so I replaced that too, last night. Now, starting the bike takes no effort at all, takes less than a second, feels very nice.