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Author Topic: Cb550 oil explosion  (Read 1957 times)

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Offline timmangan

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Cb550 oil explosion
« on: August 06, 2013, 03:32:20 PM »
My 1975 cb550 has been out if action due to electrical / charging issues.

Last night I took off the crankcase cover and replaced my neutral cam.

Then I hooked it up to my car and liked it over, rode it it for a few mins then put it away.

It kicked over this morning easily but the oil light was on. I put 3quarts o oil in it but the light never went off.

I got home and the back end was smoking everywhere, oil was all over the place.

I can't see where it's coming from, it looks like from inside the crankcase.

I took a few pics but not sure how ear they are.

I'll take the case off tonight but in the meantime, any ideas what could have happened?
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2013, 03:40:13 PM »
You added 3 quarts of oil in an attempt to get the oil light off?
You should find the owners manual.  The oil sump is filled to fill line on the dipstick with the bike in the upright position.
Overfilling with oil will likely make oil come out in a lot of places including the breather hose from the top of the engine.

Oil pressure sensors have been known to fail.  How do you know it is working correctly?
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Offline goldarrow

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2013, 03:52:39 PM »
simple green (but purple solution) from home depot for about 10 bucks, mix it 50/50 with water should help you clean up and hose it down easily.   

check oil level like TwoTired mention.  put bike center stand while checking oil level on dip stick, the cap not screw in. 

too much oil goes in, it will have to come out from somewhere to stay level.
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Offline timmangan

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2013, 04:18:24 PM »
Ok, just tried the ole dipstick, definitely too much oil.

I put 1quart in on the way to work and 2 in the way home.

So... Oil light on still, but oil in there.

What could be keeping the light on?
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2013, 04:25:34 PM »
A faulty sender or the sender/wire earthing on a casing.
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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2013, 06:30:47 PM »
You need to stop riding and start reading ;) Not meant in a mean way :)
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Offline timmangan

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2013, 08:05:55 PM »
Haha, yeah my bad. I'll drain a bit and get back on it, try to figure out that sensor.

Cheers
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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2013, 08:15:21 AM »
Tim, the oil light measures pressure, not quantity (although to be fair, low volume can result in low pressure). If that light is on you (a) have a faulty sensor or (b) have low or no oil pressure.

When that light stays on STOP RIDING until you know which it is, because if it's (b) then riding will result in a siezed engine.
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Offline timmangan

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2013, 08:35:46 AM »
ooh, good thing it was raining this morning, stayed off it.

Im downloading the manual now, but where abouts is the sensor?

I was in the crankcase the other day, would it have something to do wit that?
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2013, 09:09:35 AM »
Sensor is under the casing the gear change feeds through.
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


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Offline phil71

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2013, 09:13:37 AM »
you were NOT in the crankcase. The neutral switch is under the chain cover. The oil switch is also there. You messed something up inside there and caused two problems. My guess, you snapped the top of the oil sender off when you replaced that chain cover, so it leaks, AND can no longer read oil pressure, which you clearly have.
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Offline wardenerd

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2013, 09:18:16 AM »
I replaced my pressure sensor that was seeping oil.  The sensors are only a few dollars and are available from a bunch of folks on Ebay.  People argue about how to seal the threads so buy one that has the sealant already on the threads.  If you only slightly overfill my bike it immediately begins leaking.  I am always a little below full now.
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Offline Mooshie

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2013, 11:57:06 AM »
Quote from: wardenerd on August 07, 2013, 09:18:16 AM
I replaced my pressure sensor that was seeping oil.  The sensors are only a few dollars and are available from a bunch of folks on Ebay.  People argue about how to seal the threads so buy one that has the sealant already on the threads.  If you only slightly overfill my bike it immediately begins leaking.  I am always a little below full now.

+1 on keeping my CB550 just below full.  It was overfilled by a mechanic once (now I do it myself so that won't happen again) and I got the dreaded oil leak out of the head gasket.  Every oil change I only put in 3 quarts as that seems to be perfect. 
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Offline timmangan

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Re: Cb550 oil explosion
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2013, 08:51:05 AM »
New oil sensor, all good.

And oil just below full :)
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