Topic: 1975 CB550 Sat since 1983

[TwoTired]

You could try taking 1/8 inch off the end of #2 wire to get it tight.  But, I doubt that's a problem.

Has all the routine tune up stuff been done?

[saxamaphone]

I've done all the routine tune up stuff other than vacuum sync the carbs.  I've been waiting until after the ignition timing is set well.  Just got hold of a working timing light so got to it last night.

One problem is that I'm not exactly sure how the engine is supposed idle and wether or not an occasional hiccup is ok.  Knowing the sound of a good one would be a great asset.

I really appreciate the advice.

[TwoTired]

They idle fine when its all set up right.  But that means everything, including carb sync.  (Can't have one cylinder being commanded to work at a different speed than the others.)

[saxamaphone]

True enough.  I'll keep going then and see if it persists.

Thanks again,

J

[DustyRags]

Yes! I had the same problem. It would be awesome to have a high-quality recording of what a properly tuned bike sounds like at idle and at various RPMs!

[saxamaphone]

Hi guys, I'm planning on getting this bike inspected this week.  It's from another province so that's how it is.  I keep wondering if there was something I've missed.

I was wondering if normally all four turn signals come on when you turn on the headlight?
With mine, only the front left turn signal comes on when you turn the headlight on.

Other than that, the turn signals work perfectly with the turn signal switch.

The bike is smoking a bit too which concerns me.  I changed the oil when I got it in June but decided to change it again today.  The 3 month old oil (the bike has barely been ridden) came out pure black.  No metal flake that I could see, and no gas smell.  Maybe it needs new rings.  Hopefully not. 

Cheers

[Tews19]

The front two have running lights. Those two should be on. You need to have them ground properly and proper light bulb.

[saxamaphone]

Thanks Tews, I'll check the ground.  The turn signals work but the right running light doesn't work I guess. 

[saxamaphone]

I finally got the lone stuck valve/tappet cover off.  I'd tried everything I could find to get it off, including lock-tite's 6 point socket and even Gibb's brand.  Finally came across this last night and it worked like a charm:

Know you got them off already, but for the future and for others if you have to go at them with vise grips, clamp onto the outside diameter of the covers rather than the hex, that'll give you more leverage.

mystic_1

It got pretty chewed up by the sockets, vise grips, then pipe wrench.


Today I'm going to go see if I can find a Led 1157 for the tail light and a 1034 for the turn signal.  So far I've had bad luck finding the right bulbs at the stores around here. 

[saxamaphone]

Good luck today.  I was able to find 1034 bulbs and all the lights seem sorted now.  I had trouble with the tail light not working when turning on the lights but it turned out to be the ground connection under the seat.

 

[saxamaphone]

The smoke from the exhaust is much worse than it was when I took those videos I posted earlier and it's scaring me a bit.  It's become darker as well.  I put in brand new plugs two weeks ago and this is how they look today:






1 and 4 were pretty carbon fouled and dry. The other two were similar but not as bad.  I've barely been running the bike in the last couple weeks and when I did, pretty much only idling or going up and down the alley in 1st and 2nd.  Could that be it?  Bad mixture (air screws are at 1 1/4)?  Bad rings? 

I checked the compression of each cylinder today but realized this evening that I didn't have the throttle or the choke wide open.  They were all the same at least.  I'll do it again tomorrow.

Something new started yesterday as well.  Going into neutral is a bit harder.  The bike acts like it's in neutral but the light doesn't come on.  A slight movement with the gear shifter and  I can find neutral, but it feels different.  The PO thought it might need a new clutch cable so hopefully that's it.

[saxamaphone]

Here's a short video of what the smoke looks like when you rev it.  It's not too bad at idle. 

Smoke Check CB550

[HeavensSatans]

Running Rich I would guess?

[saxamaphone]

I was just reading your thread!  Great looking bike.  Same as mine but the paint is in better shape.  It may be running rich.  Had the air screws out 1 1/4 turns but I could try farther out.

[HeavensSatans]

I was just reading your thread!  Great looking bike.  Same as mine but the paint is in better shape.  It may be running rich.  Had the air screws out 1 1/4 turns but I could try farther out.

Both having problems eh? I keep my air screws at about 2 - 2 1/2

[Bankerdanny]

You are definitely running rich.

I wouldn't be too concerned about a little smoke. You may find that once you put some miles on her that the smoking lessens or goes away. The rings could be a little sticky, the seals a little dry and actual use will loosen up what is tight and circulate some fluids that help the seals swell up a bit and seal better.

[TwoTired]

Here's a short video of what the smoke looks like when you rev it.  It's not too bad at idle. 

Smoke Check CB550

That "smoke" is likely water vapor, particularly of you haven't gotten the exhaust to operating temp and held it there for 20 minutes.  Water condenses out of the humidity in the air.

This engine and carb set up MUST run rich at idle, and using choke makes it even richer.  The plugs cannot self clean unless the combustion temps go up to where they would be on a freeway run, hence the carbon build up.  If you keep operating it at low power and low RPM, the spark plugs will foul and you will lose spark ignition for that plug.

If you can't get out and flog the motor occasionally so it can make some heat in the combustion chambers, best get a different bike with fuel injection.

That said, the idle is kind of "burbley" which is an artifact of unbalance, being to rich, and/or plugs beginning to foul out.  A vacuum sync should make all the plug deposits exactly the same.  If not, then there are other issues to address in the tune up check list, or the carb internals.

Cheers,

[saxamaphone]

I got a chance to do a few things over the weekend. 

I had to get the bike inspected due to it being from another province so I got the same mechanic to do that, sync the carbs and put the new tires I bought on there.  Finally got it plated!  Felt very good.

When for a good ride and it was running great.  Seemed like a good amount of power but I don't have much to compare it too.  One of the pilot jets might still be dirty or been filled with a spec from the tank.  It was a bit jerky when going slowly in first but responded very well when I pulled on the throttle.

Also replaced all the lights except the headlight and turn signals with LEDs.  I bought them from Super Bright Leds.  They are really great.  Much brighter than the standard lights and hopefully I won't have any charging issues.

The only bad news is it snowed a lot here yesterday. 

For the winter I'm planning on cleaning up the bike (frame, all the parts, rusty bits) and ordering more little parts that are either missing or need replacing. 

One thing I don't know yet is whether it's ok to run the bike much without what they call the "element cover" at cmsnl.com: 


I've been looking for one since July but no luck yet.

[mono]

There was just a thread about that.  Replace with a piece of filter foam.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[SohRon]

There was just a thread about that.  Replace with a piece of filter foam.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=114107.0

[saxamaphone]

Thanks a ton guys.  I missed that one.