Author Topic: Brief Introduction, and my problem with my 1975 CB550K FIXED! (Read 8133 times)

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #25 on:** October 08, 2012, 03:27:37 PM »

Quote from: DustyRags on October 08, 2012, 02:52:36 PM

I built a new exhaust crossover out of a beer can and a hose clamp. It ain't pretty, but it was cheap and works. Cut a circle out of a beer can (or soda if you don't drink), so you have a solid round strip. Flatten one side and slip it between the crossovers so you've got the circle around it. Pinch it together and fold the excess around, and then put a hose clamp in it. Voila! Crossover. Details: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=110973.msg1269654#msg1269654

Fixed pipes, crowbared em back to where they should be and resealed them using the rubber and clamp

DustyRags · « **Reply #26 on:** October 08, 2012, 03:47:10 PM »

Well played. Mine needed some "persuasion" as well. We used a 14" crescent wrench

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #27 on:** October 08, 2012, 03:53:08 PM »

Could the fact that the exhaust wasn't "together" of played on part in this? It seems to be running a little bit better now that they is back together, took it for a ride around the hood and noticed some improvement, still bogs down though when I am opening up the throttle.......could I be running rich?

DustyRags · « **Reply #28 on:** October 08, 2012, 03:57:54 PM »

Well sure, the busted crossover would act like a hole- an exhaust leak. Could you have another leak from where the pipes bashed?

bollingball · « **Reply #29 on:** October 08, 2012, 04:08:08 PM »

You are getting a lot of good help here. Problem is you could be bouncing around. I think the best thing to do is what TT said in reply 3. Start doing a 3K tuneup in the correct order. Plus take off the bowls on the carbs. You could ride several miles before that main fell out.

Ken

RFogelsong · « **Reply #30 on:** October 08, 2012, 04:12:15 PM »

Could you take your in line filters out and try it real quick? I had a similar problem on my 75 550 at one point and it ended up just being not getting enough fuel. The original socks do a pretty good job actually.

Scott S · « **Reply #31 on:** October 08, 2012, 05:20:57 PM »

When's the last time the valves and cam chain were adjusted? Just out of curiosity...

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #32 on:** October 08, 2012, 05:53:41 PM »

OK after pissing with it I may have found somehting worth noting, it runs better with the lights on, with out the lights it runs and idles like crap....I can get higher rpms and less backfires. I don't know when the last time the cam chain was checked. As far as I having it I have redone the carbs, new battery, new fuel filters, new oil, a few gas treatments, and when me and Keith put it back together is was done right. The PO didn't have it in great shape, it was basically a bike in a box.

So with the lights on it runs better, and I think I am starting to narrow it down to something electrical mayhap :?

goofy3392 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 08, 2012, 06:25:36 PM »

I'd check the carbs out, make sure no jets came loose etc. Do plug chops too, do it on a safe back road, cruise at a steady speed and then open full throttle then hit the kill switch and look at the plugs, they're probably lean, I'm guessing you need to up the main jet size which would be why you can't get past 40 and does the throttle do anything after 1/4 throttle? Start to bog down? If it bogs down around 1/2 its the main jet and you can try changing the clip position on the needle. Also check for vacuum leaks on the o-rings on the intake manifold and intake boots, spray with fuel injector cleaner and if there's a leak the rpm will change.

Oh ya check your airbox for cracks and the boots in the airbox, the should be squishy and no cracks, and how's your air filter?
Sent from my LG-VS700 using Tapatalk 2

TwoTired · « **Reply #34 on:** October 08, 2012, 06:47:05 PM »

Look at the ignition wires and connections in a darkened space. Is there visible external arcing?

Measure the battery voltage before and during the "problem.

Have you looked for loose wiring/connectors?

Checked the harness ground lug where it mounts to coils?

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #35 on:** October 09, 2012, 06:16:05 AM »

Going back to work on her right now, I am going to check all electrical wires and what not and see if I can get to the root of the problem.

TwoTired · « **Reply #36 on:** October 09, 2012, 07:56:43 AM »

You don't have a mulimeter?

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #37 on:** October 09, 2012, 08:57:13 AM »

No I don't, I am what you would call a ghetto mechanic....I had most of my tools stolen by my ex a few years back (she sold them for drug money) so I am making due with what I have, and I believe I am making some progress. Took the headlight off while inspecting wiring, found 2 connectors that don't go anywhere. One is green and has 2 one is brown and has one. Should these be connected to anything?

Duanob · « **Reply #38 on:** October 09, 2012, 11:15:01 AM »

You can be a ghetto mechanic but up to a certain point you're going to have to buy some tools for this bike. They aren't too expensive and worth their weight in copper if you're going to keep the bike. :O

One great tool is a float level hose. It screws into the drain hole on the carb bowl and tells you where your floats are set at when installed on the bike. $14 on ebay.

Another useful tool is a K&L carb cleaning kit. A series of cleaning wires, the smallest one fits the pilot jets. $14 on ebay or elsewhere.

A vac sync kit for 4 cylinder bikes is a must but maybe you can borrow one.

A timing strobe light.

As for your problem I think its fuel delivery. Have you checked the flow from the fuel tap? Shut it off, pull the fuel lines, put a bowl or cup under it to catch gas and turn it on. Do you get a good even flow from both drains? You will be surprised at how even a low tank of fuel will affect the flow. Also there is a sock filter inside the tank mounted to the top of the fuel tap, make sure its clean. You can get crud build up towards the bottom of the screen and even when you think you have enough fuel in the tank it will not flow good through the tap.

next, as said before get rid of the filters. This bike is a gravity fed fuel delivery and filters can cause more problems than not having them. If there is a low spot in your lines than that can cause problems as well.

After that if you still have problems then its time to dig back into the carbs.

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #39 on:** October 09, 2012, 11:22:06 AM »

Quote from: Duanob on October 09, 2012, 11:15:01 AM

You can be a ghetto mechanic but up to a certain point you're going to have to buy some tools for this bike. They aren't too expensive and worth their weight in copper if you're going to keep the bike. :O

One great tool is a float level hose. It screws into the drain hole on the carb bowl and tells you where your floats are set at when installed on the bike. $14 on ebay.

Another useful tool is a K&L carb cleaning kit. A series of cleaning wires, the smallest one fits the pilot jets. $14 on ebay or elsewhere.

A vac sync kit for 4 cylinder bikes is a must but maybe you can borrow one.

A timing strobe light.

As for your problem I think its fuel delivery. Have you checked the flow from the fuel tap? Shut it off, pull the fuel lines, put a bowl or cup under it to catch gas and turn it on. Do you get a good even flow from both drains? You will be surprised at how even a low tank of fuel will affect the flow. Also there is a sock filter inside the tank mounted to the top of the fuel tap, make sure its clean. You can get crud build up towards the bottom of the screen and even when you think you have enough fuel in the tank it will not flow good through the tap.

next, as said before get rid of the filters. This bike is a gravity fed fuel delivery and filters can cause more problems than not having them. If there is a low spot in your lines than that can cause problems as well.

After that if you still have problems then its time to dig back into the carbs.

I will be buying tool on my paycheck. As for the fuel filter, there isn't one,I was reading another post todcay and seen a diagram of what it should look like after the petcock, no filter :/ . I am going to try later tonight to take the inline filters off and see if it runs better with that. I have to get it to work right now, gonna be a crappy ride but oh well, lol.

Also would like to give a shout out to all who are postin here and on the fourm. Yinz are a great help and the knowledge base here is amazing. I have never worked on a bike before, but its not rocket science, lol. I'll keep yinz posted on how this is coming. I can't wait to get it back to 100 %

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #40 on:** October 09, 2012, 12:49:05 PM »

Quote from: RFogelsong on October 08, 2012, 04:12:15 PM

Could you take your in line filters out and try it real quick? I had a similar problem on my 75 550 at one point and it ended up just being not getting enough fuel. The original socks do a pretty good job actually.

Just did that...no improvement.

goofy3392 · « **Reply #41 on:** October 09, 2012, 03:01:14 PM »

Try the plug chops?

Sent from my LG-VS700 using Tapatalk 2

chrima · « **Reply #42 on:** October 09, 2012, 04:11:46 PM »

Just to throw my .02 cents and add more "solutions" to the pot.

Sounds similar to a problem I had with my 77 550k. Was running fine, then one day, kinda bogging and popping especially at higher rpms. Limped home, went through points, timing, blah blah 3000 mile tune up, everything seemed to be set right, but still ran poorly.

Well, started just basically tracing power backwards from the points got to the coils and found that one of the wires from the points to the coils was kind of loose. I cleaned and crimped the connectors a bit so they would make a good connection and bammo, like a new bike.

Anyway, hope you can figure it out soon.

Duanob · « **Reply #43 on:** October 09, 2012, 04:26:33 PM »

Quote from: HeavensSatans on October 09, 2012, 11:22:06 AM

As for the fuel filter, there isn't one,I was reading another post todcay and seen a diagram of what it should look like after the petcock, no filter :/ .

The filter sock is inside the tank attached to the top of the fuel tap. Its upside down. Be careful when removing it and the tap gasket they tend to be fragile and tear easily.

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #44 on:** October 10, 2012, 08:53:22 AM »

Alright Droogies! Finished the 3k checkup, cam chan reset, and I think I may have gotten some insight......as per anything this old....CARBS! They are being taken back off and cleaned again. I found out the guy who did them, didn't do it as per as I would of liked. Did the minimal to get her runnin. So back to the drawing board! After the carb clean and rebuild (again) I will let yinz know the results. I will also be doing electrical tests as well to see if that may be part of the problem. Also will be trying the plug chop as well after the rebuild.

Tews19 · « **Reply #45 on:** October 10, 2012, 02:02:55 PM »

Carburetor Cleaning and Repair

Video isnt to bad... Tought me how to do the carbs on my 550F and members here

goofy3392 · « **Reply #46 on:** October 10, 2012, 02:12:14 PM »

Darn, wish I saw that video before I tore my carbs apart haha

Sent from my LG-VS700 using Tapatalk 2

HeavensSatans · « **Reply #47 on:** October 10, 2012, 02:12:54 PM »

+1 on the viddy, I will be watching this a few times to let it all sink in, hopefully this will be finished by the end of the weekend so I can get back on the road. Having no Iron Horse to ride sucks.

Tews19 · « **Reply #48 on:** October 10, 2012, 02:18:33 PM »

Quote from: goofy3392 on October 10, 2012, 02:12:14 PM

Darn, wish I saw that video before I tore my carbs apart haha

Sent from my LG-VS700 using Tapatalk 2

Goofy, where in WI are you?

Pm me if you are down south.. I have a lil experience with the 550..

goofy3392 · « **Reply #49 on:** October 10, 2012, 06:05:20 PM »

I'm from central wi, how far down south are you?

Sent from my LG-VS700 using Tapatalk 2

News:

Author Topic: Brief Introduction, and my problem with my 1975 CB550K FIXED! (Read 8133 times)

bollingball