Topic: CB550: This one's a keeper. Two steps forward...one back.

[OneWheelDrive]

Picked up the bike at lunch and tested vacuum at the manifolds...Yup, we've got a leak at at least two of the intakes.  I tried tightening the 10mm manifold nuts, and seemed to help a bit, but I'm still struggling above 1/2 throttle and 5k rpm.  When I get the o-rings, I'll pull the bloody carbs again and get those sealed properly.

[OneWheelDrive]

Wow, interesting day indeed....

Had my CHP and DMV appointments rescheduled, so took the bike to work.  Still exhibiting very sluggish and apparently lean running condition.  Halfway to work, I lost nearly all power and it wouldn't stay running.  Turned out I had lost the 2 and 3 cylinders entirely!  So weird.  I was thinking coil, but checked and wiggled the plug connections, bike cooled down, and started up on all 4.  Cool.

2 miles later or so I felt a click from my clutch handle, uh-oh.  Two stop lights later...SNAP.  Lost my clutch cable entirely.  I only had about 2 miles to go, so limped there clutchless shifting but had to run a couple of left turn lights as I had no way to stop/start. 

A buddy of mine took me to a cycle shop with the cable to find a replacement and they didn't have one that matched so I grabbed one that looked close.  It wasn't quite close enough, and was about 3/4" too long.  So in order to limp the bike home, and avoid the embarrassment of having my wife pick me up, I did this:


Certainly not pretty, but functional enough to get home, or so I though...

2 blocks from the office, I lost the 2 and 3 cylinders again!  WTF!?  Pulled over and tried to think logically. A fellow rider on a CBR pulled over to see if I was OK, and to give moral support.

Ok, follow the power from the battery to the points, to the coils, to the plugs.  I checked the ignition, good, coil connections, blue, yellow, and black/white and were all good.  Plug wires all connected and twisted on firmly. Then pulled the points plate and checked those connections, all good.  Then I noticed the 6mm screw nut that holds the blue points wires to the points was loose.  Tightened it up, and that was it!!!

Not only was that the problem causing the periodic 2/3 outage, but it was making my bike run like sh*t the whole time!  That tiny screw was causing a serious misfire in all RPMS that I had misdiagnosed as a lean condition from my new exhaust and a manifold leak.  Now I can finally feel that 650 cam! The first time I grabbed a fistful of throttle from a light I had the hugest smile on my face.  With that Kerker and comp baffle, at 10k RPM it sounds like a freakin' F1 car. 

It was bittersweet, because of all my wrenching on the side of the road, I missed my CHP VIN verification appointment, again... So I rescheduled.  But then an officer called and said that once you miss two appointments, you aren't ALLOWED to make appointments, and have to come and leave it, and when they get to it, they get to it.  What a load of BS!  The guy was such a prick too.  Guess I'll have to figure that out later.  The kludged clutch cable worked fine for the ride home btw, I had to keep reminding myself that I was supposed to be limping home.  I was having too much fun with some real horsepower at my disposal though.

I still have the 105 main jets coming, as well as intake o-rings, braided brake lines, clubmans, grips, and beautiful English-made mirrors.  I can't wait to get everything buttoned up so I can enjoy riding the hell out her.  Lesson learned, however, about those points.

I hesitate to change those jets though because it felt like there were no problems with the power delivery.  I'll have to do a WOT plug chop to see if it's lean.  I don't want to be running too hot.  Judging by whomever had the Kerker installed before, and the very blued headers, keeping the main jets at 100 obviously made it run quite hot.  They are single walled headers though, so maybe the blueing is to be expected. 

[ksteve]

I missed my CHP VIN verification appointment, again... So I rescheduled.  But then an officer called and said that once you miss two appointments, you aren't ALLOWED to make appointments, and have to come and leave it, and when they get to it, they get to it.  What a load of BS! 

Hey, OnewheelDrive,

Forget the CHP. It's a myth that they have to do it.

Call your local police department for a VIN check. That's what I did and it worked great. My cb750k2 is sitting on blocks with no swingarm on, no battery, no mirrors, no gas tank, so I told them I couldn't bring it in. No problem, they said, we'll have the duty officer drop by on his rounds. It was free. That was last week. This week, in one visit to the DMV I got on the spot my temp title and my plates, title coming in mail.

Fill out your portion of this form first:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg343.pdf
Then make sure the officer fills out EVERY SINGLE BOX on his page (even the box that says "how many axles?" My officer didn't fill that out and the DMV vogons nearly made me go back.) (Also, note on this form that you don't have to have an officer do it at all; the form says an auto club can do it, which means AAA, etc.)

Then do this form:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg256.pdf
(C and G are all you need if it's a lost title bike. In G, just write several sentences on where you got the bike, when, and how it came with no title.)

Take those two forms and bill of sale to DMV and you're home free.

[Flying J]

Its hit and miss for me. I have registered my fair share of bikes the last 4 years. Only on the most recent one they made me go to the CHP to verify vin.

[OneWheelDrive]

Already went to the DMV, unfortunately since the girl who inspected couldn't verify the year, she wrote on my completed paperwork and paid fees that a chp verification was required. Guess I've got to jump through their hoops.

[mono]

wow - glad to hear it was something that simple for you!  congrats!   

[Magilla]

Title problems suck.  I live in Mass and we have rules for our rules that are subject to new and changing rules.  I went to look at a bike 6 weeks ago and the guy could not find his title.  The bike was registered in Mass so there had to have been a title at one point.  So BEFORE buying the bike I called the RMV title division to ask about it.  After waiting on line for what felt like forever and a day, I reached a human.

I told her about the situation and she said that people lose titles all the time.  she said as long as when I buy it I get a bill of sale and a copy of the current registration (that has the title number on it) I would be fine.  With those two documents I can go to any RMV in Mass and get a new title in my name.  She was so nice and so convincing I bought the bike and trucked it home.

While working on the bike I kept in contact with the PO and after 4 weeks he said he had the title and would mail it to me.  Two week later no title and no returned emails.  Something smells fishy.  At that point I decided to forgo the PO and go to the RMV and get a new title.  This part of the story sucks...... I waited in line for 65 minutes with a 2 year old that screamed at the top of his lungs for the entire time.  It was so bad that I video taped it for my wife to hear.

When I went up to the window the lady at the RMV said I could not do anything without a title.  I explained the situation to her, told her what the title division said to no avail.  She was not going to help me. She kept asking me who I talked to at the title division.  I kept answering that I don't know her name, it was 6 weeks ago!!  Neither her nor her manager would call the title division.  I was S.O.O.L.

So I drove (kind of far) to the POs house and parked in his driveway.  When i was very late getting home my wife called and asked what I was doing.  I told her "getting a title or getting arrested".  After hours of waiting the PO finally came home.  He was shocked as hell to see me there.  In the end I got the title and did not need bail money.

So you may ask yourself, what is the point of all of this?  My point is, that there has to be a better way of dealing with not having a title.  There are thousands of cars and bikes out there that are not stolen and have no title.  All 50 RMVs here in the USA need to figure out a manageable way to deal with this.  If not we will lose countless rebuildable machines and that is a shame.  Too many bikes are being parted out simply because there is no title.

[OneWheelDrive]

If not we will lose countless rebuildable machines and that is a shame.  Too many bikes are being parted out simply because there is no title.

+1 

Lost titles are manageable in CA, as long as the bike has been lost in DMV paperwork oblivion.  This particular bike was last registered in 1979, and had no risk of a spotty record.  Using AAA for as much of the process makes it a bit more palatable, but a pain nevertheless.  The CA budget is in such shambles that DMV staff and hours have been cut significantly, resulting in pissed off patrons, and easily irritated clerks.  I think a solution is a long way off.

[ksteve]

If not we will lose countless rebuildable machines and that is a shame.  Too many bikes are being parted out simply because there is no title.

Lost titles are manageable in CA, as long as the bike has been lost in DMV paperwork oblivion.  This particular bike was last registered in 1979, and had no risk of a spotty record.  Using AAA for as much of the process makes it a bit more palatable, but a pain nevertheless.  The CA budget is in such shambles that DMV staff and hours have been cut significantly, resulting in pissed off patrons, and easily irritated clerks.  I think a solution is a long way off.

Sounds like it's case-by-case.

My experience: 2 hours and 40 minutes, and not very painful.

-30 minutes to download and fill out the 2 DMV forms;
-30 minutes with the local cop at my house as he filled the VIN form while pleasantly chatting;
-100 minutes at the Oakland DMV (with no appointment, at 3:30 p.m., so 85 of those minutes were waiting; people at the DMV were businesslike but not at all unpleasant.)

I left the DMV with new plate in hand. No one at the DMV acted like this was an unusual transaction at all. My CB750K2 was last registered in another state in 1986, brought to California and not run since. It may or may not have been registered in California subsequently.

Obviously a YMMV situation, but members in California shouldn't be discouraged from giving this a try.

[Magilla]

One thing I dint understand.  If you dint have a title, how can you ride your bike?  Do you have dealer plates?  In Mass you cant drive anything on the road until it is registered and you cant do that without a title.

[OneWheelDrive]

When I went to the DMV, they gave me a 60 day temp permit.  I still have the blue and yellow classic plates with 1979 tags on it!

[Magilla]

Here in Mass you don't keep plates with bikes.  When you sell the bike, you pull your plates.  Also no temp plates allowed here.  They make it a real pain to get a new vehicle home.

[knowsnothing]

Hey Magilla,

I am also a Mass guy and have had to deal with the title crap.  I bought a bike in NH that only came with a current registration and bill of sale.  I was able to register the bike in my name with those two documents after paying the required bull#$%* small fees.  They did make me come back a second time because the computer system was down and they couldn't figure out how much excise tax i owed 

Another bike I bought was in MA that i was going to use as a parts bike.  After talking to the guy selling it, it sounded like the last time it was registered was in MA so I payed $5 and did a vin search.  The DMV sent me a print out with the name of the last person whom the bike was registered to.  After a little detective work, I got in touch with him with the hope of working with him on a lost title request on my dime.  He seemed like a really nice guy and agreed to do it.  To my surprise, he called me back in 15 mins saying he had just found the old title and was going to sign it and mail it me.  I used up all my luck then, haven't won crap in vegas since. 

[Magilla]

Hey Magilla,

I am also a Mass guy and have had to deal with the title crap.  I bought a bike in NH that only came with a current registration and bill of sale.  I was able to register the bike in my name with those two documents after paying the required bull#$%* small fees.  They did make me come back a second time because the computer system was down and they couldn't figure out how much excise tax i owed 

Another bike I bought was in MA that i was going to use as a parts bike.  After talking to the guy selling it, it sounded like the last time it was registered was in MA so I payed $5 and did a vin search.  The DMV sent me a print out with the name of the last person whom the bike was registered to.  After a little detective work, I got in touch with him with the hope of working with him on a lost title request on my dime.  He seemed like a really nice guy and agreed to do it.  To my surprise, he called me back in 15 mins saying he had just found the old title and was going to sign it and mail it me.  I used up all my luck then, haven't won crap in vegas since.

No one likes a show off. 

[lucky]

good-lookin' job so far, OneWheel!  that "cafe" build that you linked is a real piece of inspiration for me too.

Let us know the outcome and i will add it to my database.

Lucky, do you have this database posted on the forum?

No not yet.
Many people do not report back about changes they made or the results.
I try to follow the "cases".

You can do a google search for jetting on your bike and read a lot of older posts.

[OneWheelDrive]

Progress update:

I got the 105 mains from Jets-R-Us and got them installed without having to remove the carbs (thank god).  The thing absolutely screams now.  No flat spots at all.  From a 20 mph roll in 3rd gear, if I give it WOT, it pulls smoothly all the way to 75 mph and idles happily at 900-1000 rpm. 

To recap:

Stock airbox
Uni foam filter
Kerker exhaust with comp baffle
Stock 40 pilots
Upjetted mains to 105 (from 100)
Idle screws 3/4 turns out

[OneWheelDrive]

Also got a bunch-o-parts installed.

I ordered EMGO black clubmans from Z1.  Took longer than expected to get here, but they're nice quality and were just what I was looking for.  Also got a set of Wessell British-made cafe mirrors from ebay.  A bit pricey at $65 apiece, but also good quality and the look I wanted.





Now for the bummer...I went ahead and ordered Slingshot stainless braided brake lines, as my front brake was squishy.  You could see the lines swell under pressure.  I got the lines this week, and installed them, only to find that BOTH fittings on the lower line are leaking under pressure.  I have been trying to reach Shaun, but he's out of town for 10 days..... 

I also ordered a right hand control (my starter button disintegrated, and wiring is BOTCHED) and a stock seat pan from another member.  My plan is to build a fiberglass seat using only the part of the stock pan with hardware and that contacts the frame. 

I also have Bridgestone Bt45s in "my cart", but need to get paid before I can spend the dough.  I'm gonna run 110/90/18 rear and 100/90/19 front.

[RAFster122s]

If the stainless lines are leaking it is likely the crush washers (aluminum or brass) not sealing. You've got one on each side of the banjo fitting?

Congrats on the progress its looking good in the pics.

[OneWheelDrive]

Yeah, I wish it was the crush washers. Here's a video of the leakage...

[Tews19]

I am liking this build! You work as fast a microwave heating up left overs!

[lucky]

Progress update:

I got the 105 mains from Jets-R-Us and got them installed without having to remove the carbs (thank god).  The thing absolutely screams now.  No flat spots at all.  From a 20 mph roll in 3rd gear, if I give it WOT, it pulls smoothly all the way to 75 mph and idles happily at 900-1000 rpm. 

To recap:

Stock airbox
Uni foam filter
Kerker exhaust with comp baffle
Stock 40 pilots
Upjetted mains to 105 (from 100)
Idle screws 3/4 turns out

Where were the clips on the needles? The only piece of missing info.

[OneWheelDrive]

Progress update:

I got the 105 mains from Jets-R-Us and got them installed without having to remove the carbs (thank god).  The thing absolutely screams now.  No flat spots at all.  From a 20 mph roll in 3rd gear, if I give it WOT, it pulls smoothly all the way to 75 mph and idles happily at 900-1000 rpm. 

To recap:

Stock airbox
Uni foam filter
Kerker exhaust with comp baffle
Stock 40 pilots
Upjetted mains to 105 (from 100)
Idle screws 3/4 turns out
Needles in stock position (middle)

Where were the clips on the needles? The only piece of missing info.

Stock airbox
Uni foam filter
Kerker exhaust with comp baffle
Stock 40 pilots
Upjetted mains to 105 (from 100)
Idle screws 3/4 turns out
Needles in stock position (middle)