Topic: Hot and Knocking! - CB550

[Romhog]

that subject is left for interpretation ... but in my case it may not be a good thing

I just got my 1974 CB550F SuperSport on the road over the weekend and of course after completing my tappet valve clearances,  carb rebuild, new oil, filter, battery, I took it out.
After about gosh... 3-4 min I noticed a slight knocking sound. never got worse or better, but looking at my spedo, I was going over 60mph and it read 20... so I thought it might be  gear issue with that. another knocking sound is when I roll the bike around, (with it off) it has a clanking around the gear chain, so I thought it could just be one of those factors. 

BUT when I got back home I noticed that the engine was REALLY HOT. So naturally I challenged the oil pressure switch first, which passes the test. Of course that still may not be to trust, but after looking around the oil pump. I noticed a bit of leaking around the seal. NOW, one would think that if the pressure switch is working, which it is, and pressure was an issue, I would know about it.  (again the leak around the seal is there, but its very slow). in fact I hope I didn't provoke its failure doing some of my carb tweaking. Some gas made it's way down there a few times...
But anyhow. I will be honest, but I didn't get the "motorcycle oil", and that's a classic subject around here but am starting to wonder, if that may have something to do with it....
I'm about to drain the oil and take a look at things, but another factor abot this bike is, it sat for 10 years and the oil it had in it almost spoke to me when I took it out months ago when rebuilding. as well as the carbs, etc.

this is probably too much info to really narrow down what I have in front of me, but just wanted to throw it out there. bottom line is. still not sure on source of knocking, (which happens shortly after start) and why the heck my motor is sooo hot. I never remember my 750 I had years ago being that hot. but it's also been a long time ago.

Thanks in advance!

[dave500]

id change the oil and filter again,,its had a good flush now,did you have the bottom end apart?

[luap]

Did you check your chain by chance? your not running a O ring or X chain. how hot is hot  did you put enough oil in 99% sure 3.2 quarts

[dave500]

these air cooled engines do get really hot,i doubt you got it "too" hot?

[Romhog]

thanks guys for the discussion. I will admit, I can't remember the exact amount of oil I put in it. I think i had part of a 4th quart added, but I know the dip stick is right on. Even the oil still looks clean as can be that I can see from the dip stick. I will also admit that my judgement of what is hot, may be a bit "sensitive" with all the other things going on. If I have to pull the oil pump off ill start over with new filter and oil for sure.

now on a side tangent.. I tried to troubleshoot this further form the oil pump and light / electronics side and am a bit baffled to why I get the results I do.

scenarios:

- turn the key and red light show on. (Normal)
- start the bike, red light goes out (Normal)
test the continuity when the key in the on position with bike off to ground, PASSES.
start the bike and rev it up a few times, check continuity on the pump to ground... Still PASSES. (Not normal)
- ok.... disconnect the wire and test the screw on the pump to ground with engine running and not, still passes continuity...

confused.   

[bollingball]

You seem to be blowing off the chain noise this could cause you big trouble. Can you put a gauge on the oil port?

Ken

[Romhog]

sorry, I wasn't intending to blow off the chain question. right now I think the answer is no? its an origional chain from what I can tell. I'll have to look at it when I get home. don't all chains have to be either one or the other? Not a big chain expert. :O

Thanks again guys!

[bollingball]

The problem with chains on your bike is if they are too wide they rub on the engine. Then you will be looking for new cases or a whole engine that is why it is so important to look into it. Don't roll it any more until you ar 100% sure.
its an origional chain from what I can tell This is not good enough
Ken

[Romhog]

The problem with chains on your bike is if they are too wide they rub on the engine. Then you will be looking for new cases or a whole engine that is why it is so important to look into it. Don't roll it any more until you ar 100% sure.
its an origional chain from what I can tell This is not good enough
Ken

 I understand now what the concern was about. chain rubbing. Nope, no issue with that. Good thing to check but no, it's nut rubbing on anything. that was a better way of explaining it, thanks!

PS: I wanted to thank everyone for the ideas. I finally figured out the combo of problems.

1:) Engine is now not running hot and the pinging was actually a very stupid mess up on my part. After doing my Tappet adjustments, I don't know how but one of them was WAY off, huge gap. went ahead and re-set the gaps on all of them.

2:) Air fuel mix was off under load due to my air intake setup, all I needed to do was open those up a bit more and now it's running almost perfect.

oil pump light still has me scratching my head on why the continuity test didn't pass the way I expected but I confirmed I have oil pressure.

Case closed!

again thanks everyone for the brainstorming!