Topic: 78' 550k returned from ashes...

[g8ts]

Hey all,
Great site!
Little history on bike
I bought this bike 18years ago with 4k miles put a couple hundred on it then parked it.
My buddy moved to the states from Germany and wanted to learn how to ride about 8 Years ago. So me being a nice guy brought it out with a little tune she purred for about 2 years for him. He put about 10k on her. He learned how to ride and went out and bought a BMW. So he parked her for 10 more Years. Now with gas prices I thought why not and I brought her back out. I removed carb's gave them a good cleaning.

Now the questions for you experts.
1) For the 78' are the floats to be set at 12.5mm (.57in)
2) Low Idle screws (the ones under carb pointing up) 1 to 2 turns then set to highest idle.
3) Where my gas line enters carb. There is another hose connection line there. Mine is open. Should             
    this have a plug on it ? what is it for ? When I spray carb. cleaner there my RPM's go up so           
    does not seem right that it is open. (rain and all)
   
Just some new coils now (wires leaking a little) and a little carb adjust and I'm on the roll...
Honda dealer by me really stinks, either is just an *#!* or does not like the classics so I will not give him any of my money. Anyone know anything about these guy's http://legendsmc1.tripod.com/
said he would sell me coils for $88.00. I would like the plugs to be removable though.
Hey thanks for the help...
               

[TwoTired]

1) For the 78' are the floats to be set at 12.5mm (.57in)

Yes.  For PD46C carbs.

2) Low Idle screws (the ones under carb pointing up) 1 to 2 turns then set to highest idle.

Yes.

3) Where my gas line enters carb. There is another hose connection line there. Mine is open. Should             
    this have a plug on it ? what is it for ?

This is a carb float bowl vent. A tube is attached and it terminates between engine and swing arm in front of rear wheel.

Cheers,

[g8ts]

Thanks Two Tired. Going to set carb. floats tomorrow and run that vent tube. I'll send you a pic...

G8ts

[g8ts]

Well I set the floats to 12.5 mm from bottom flange to end of float.

Started great cold 1100 rpm solid idle. After warming up lost low idle.

When I am sitting on bike and I lean bike to the left idle goes up... Hmmm thinking on setting floats to 10.5mm from end.They where at 15.5mm at this measurement location and the tweak to 12.5mm really helped performance. Not sure, reading a lot about this subject, the exact place to set measurement on floats is a little gray. I set at the end of float with bracket just resting on float pin. But in my mind if I'm not getting any over flow from the bowls I still have a little room to tweak. Can't think of anything else that would make this effect when I lean bike? What do you think ?

Other than that it ran GREAT! Just a little tweaking on the low idle and I'm good...
Thanks for the input. It's a Great site...
G8ts

[78 k550]

Is that 88 with shipping? I know of them and never bought anything from them. Never got a good feeling from them years ago with my Bultaco stuff. So I never have been back. What are you looking for I can prebably get them cheaper.


Paul

[TwoTired]

Started great cold 1100 rpm solid idle. After warming up lost low idle.

This bike should need choke to start cold to make it run richer.  If they are rich to start with cold, they will be too rich when the engine warms.

When I am sitting on bike and I lean bike to the left idle goes up...

The dual float arangement in each carb is supposed to prevent fuel level changes when the carbs are tilted.

I would check your throttle cables for binding.  Does the idle change when you turn the bars?

Hmmm thinking on setting floats to 10.5mm from end.They where at 15.5mm at this measurement location and the tweak to 12.5mm really helped performance.

The 77 model floats were set at 14.5mm.  But, they also had slightly different jetting.

Do you still have the stock air filter and exhaust?

Have you vacuum synched the carbs?
Have you fine tuned the Idle Mixture Screws?

Cheers,

[g8ts]

What are you looking for I can prebably get them cheaper.

Thanks Paul, Looking for coils with removable plug wires. Maybe a dyna coil.

[g8ts]

This bike should need choke to start cold to make it run richer.  If they are rich to start with cold, they will be too rich when the engine warms.

Choke was needed to start till warm.

The dual float arrangement in each carb is supposed to prevent fuel level changes when the carbs are tilted.

I would check your throttle cables for binding.  Does the idle change when you turn the bars?

Don't think so. Will have to check this one today. Can't see where it would bind, all strapped in and snug.

Do you still have the stock air filter and exhaust?
Yes, all stock
Have you vacuum synched the carbs?
No, Don't have the sync. tools. I did check that they where all at the same height with a pin.

Have you fine tuned the Idle Mixture Screws?
No will do today.

Thanks for the hand will check today and let you know. What do you think if I tweak the floats alittle more? With the dual floats I just don't get the Idle going up when I lean it. It definitely is gas causing the idle to go up.

[g8ts]

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