Author Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel" (Read 285406 times)

riverfever · « **Reply #325 on:** July 09, 2014, 07:45:15 PM »

Just want to keep this updated with what little progress there has been. First off...I put some new decals on the tank.

Other than that there hasn't been much going on with the bike unless you count a little frustration on my part. This is what the plugs looked like after the last ride and these were brand new when that ride started.

I know this bike has issues but I also think it's come a long ways but Cal has talked me off a ledge several times now when I'm fed up (thanks buddy). Next up is a carb sync but I fear there are other reasons for these rich plugs (like bad rings) in addition to possible jet/needle issues. If these plugs lasted 20 miles I'm afraid that this thing will not get ridden until I can pull the motor and deal with it otherwise I'll replace plugs all the damn time.

rb550four · « **Reply #326 on:** July 11, 2014, 05:23:29 PM »

Calj
Are we thinking he either has a wasted wiper ring , a valve guide seal issue or both in #3? His compression numbers didn't look that bad (with oil) a couple of pages back. Of course there is no easy way to inspect either of these items and if he will break the engine down to change one issue he might better do the other for sure. And as you say the chains ,while he's got it open and the top end weight is off, might better take er out of the cradle and do a complete chain replace and check those bearings out along the way.
Riv
You'll be up to armpits with the top end anyways, and it's not as big a deal as you may think it is to split the cases especially once you've taken the top end down. I find that the biggest time consuming pita is the valves, cleaning , lapping cleaning some more ,then cleaning it again..... I magnetize a screwdriver to set the keepers cause I have sausage fingers ( which has also interfered with the idea of playing a guitar), but that is really the hardest part and most time consuming for me. I need 4 hours of uninterrupted time just for that. The rest is easy, if you let it be. So don't panic, it's all good. Fun and worthwhile.

riverfever · « **Reply #327 on:** July 11, 2014, 06:16:22 PM »

Just to be clear, the cylinder that blows smoke is 4 not 3. It's interesting to me that the fouling plugs is the worst on #4 when #2 actually had less compression.

So the big question is: is there anything that can be done before the motor has to get yanked?

rb550four · « **Reply #328 on:** July 11, 2014, 08:21:35 PM »

There's a whole lot of summer to go yet, I could see syncing the carbs, finishing the season, then rebuild. A little smoke shouldn't hurt anything and even if it does... you're going to rebuild it anyways.
I was wondering, since your air is so thin up there, if pods would work better than a clean stock air filter?
Just a wondering.

riverfever · « **Reply #329 on:** July 11, 2014, 08:31:49 PM »

The issue is that things are so rich that even brand new plugs don't last more than 20ish miles. So I need to know if I can change things in the carbs so that I can ride it. Thank you RB.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #330 on:** July 12, 2014, 02:10:14 AM »

Quote from: riverfever on July 11, 2014, 08:31:49 PM

The issue is that things are so rich that even brand new plugs don't last more than 20ish miles. So I need to know if I can change things in the carbs so that I can ride it. Thank you RB.

sounds like ignition problems to me

harisuluv · « **Reply #331 on:** July 12, 2014, 01:03:53 PM »

So as it is right now the internals are switched from OEM to aftermarket stuff. It doesn't really matter what brand, but they are all bad and will give you flat spots, incorrect needle taper, on and on. If you want to get your carbs sorted out cleansing of that stuff would be the first step.

Also but on your slide assy, someone has been into the slide arm and improperly reinstalled the little washer with the tangs that fold over to lock it into place. If it's not right as pictured it will catch on the slide and at the very least cause the action to not be smooth.

riverfever · « **Reply #332 on:** July 12, 2014, 03:41:43 PM »

All brass inside these carbs is stock. Stock settings for everything. I put the carbs back together and saw those washers and wasn't quite sure which way they should go but I did move the slides through their range of motion to make sure that nothing was binding.

riverfever · « **Reply #333 on:** July 12, 2014, 06:46:54 PM »

Does anyone have a source for jets for the 627B carbs? I have an email into sirius to see if they have 90 or 95's but all I am finding are 100, 98, then 80.

Ravie · « **Reply #334 on:** July 13, 2014, 12:04:48 PM »

I know you're having a bugger of a time, but I'm really enjoying your build, man. Between last night and this morning I read your entire thread end to end.

riverfever · « **Reply #335 on:** July 15, 2014, 06:19:05 AM »

Thanks for the kind words Ravie.

Just so others know, I did speak with Sirius about jets. They're site (and everyone else's) says they have 80, 98, 100, and others on the extremes but no 90 or 95. They told me to buy the kit for $28 and mention in the comments what I wanted and that they would put it together for me. Yesterday I was hoping to remove the foam filter and ride the bike to see if that helped lean things out but we have been getting absolutely hammered with weather. I had 6" of hail in the driveway after the first storm yesterday. So no riding.

riverfever · « **Reply #336 on:** July 16, 2014, 05:59:49 PM »

Not much going on. Jets are on the way. A buddy of mine is moving and had a bunch of uncut 2x4x8's that he was getting rid of so I went to get them the other day. I am sick as a dog but was able to get the frame all done on this table/bench today before passing out. Just needs top sheet and some casters as well as a ramp.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #337 on:** July 16, 2014, 08:17:49 PM »

Quote from: riverfever on July 16, 2014, 05:59:49 PM

Not much going on. Jets are on the way. A buddy of mine is moving and had a bunch of uncut 2x4x8's that he was getting rid of so I went to get them the other day. I am sick as a dog but was able to get the frame all done on this table/bench today before passing out. Just needs top sheet and some casters as well as a ramp.

I image that will be a fairly robust sheet of plywood and fairly strong casters, too. Like the stand, a lot!

riverfever · « **Reply #338 on:** July 16, 2014, 08:50:10 PM »

I was planning on using 3/4 plywood. Still not sure on the casters. They would be nice so I can carefully reposition this thing after the bike is on top to be closer to the tools but we'll see. Also need to come up with a stable ramp.

riverfever · « **Reply #339 on:** July 17, 2014, 12:32:10 PM »

I went back and made the stand a bit more stout today. This should be able to hold the bike and me. Will also serve as a nice platform for me to sleep on when in trouble.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #340 on:** July 17, 2014, 06:02:20 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on July 17, 2014, 03:38:17 PM

Then definitely put a beer cooler in!

You might need a beefier wheel chock and a kegarator.

riverfever · « **Reply #341 on:** July 17, 2014, 06:52:59 PM »

Forum member Schnell is on a big ride around the country and he rode up from Santa Fe today. He stopped by to say hello. It was awesome to meet someone from this site in person and hear about his trip so far. He's put 3,300 miles on his 750 and the only issue he had up to this point was a busted tach cable.

After Frank left, I finished up the stand/table/bed thing.

Then...I felt inspired to ride. I knew it might mean another new set of plugs but I also wanted to pull the filter and ride it and see if it made a difference. First thing I noticed was it started up with no choke at all. So it was seemingly getting more air which makes sense since....I had removed the filter. I rode 50 miles. Cal would have been prouder of me. I kept it at about 6500rpm the whole time. When I got to the river, I took this pic and felt the #4 header. It was HOT. All the way back home and it was still hot. I haven't removed the plugs yet to look at them but I'm optimistic.

I love riding this thing. It has a soul.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #342 on:** July 17, 2014, 07:31:00 PM »

Gorgeous picture. I didn't anyone living in a van down by the river. (Chris Farley humor).

riverfever · « **Reply #343 on:** July 24, 2014, 08:14:42 AM »

I've been researching air/fuel ratios a bit and found some numbers that I thought were interesting. For every 1000' of elevation gained, you lose roughly 1% air molecules. So after some math the estimated the air loss is maybe 9% for me up here but I'm still throwing in the same amount of fuel. I am aware that I have issues with compression and burning oil but I really wanted to try and put less fuel in and see what happened. I ordered main jets in 85, 90, and 95 and installed the 90's yesterday. I rode the bike (with the UNI filter back in) and had no gas on the plugs (no oil either totally dry) and no dropping of cylinders. I haven't put fresh plugs in yet but will soon. I'm still running that DCC left hand control and the kill switch is opposite of what I need it to be. I have an idea to use a relay to make it work so that I can at least use it temporarily to do some plug chops and see if things are moving in the right direction. Having trouble finding the relay I want to try but I'll go to an electronics supply warehouse today in Colorado Springs that should have it. Then I'll do fresh plugs. I'm also going to dump that UNI filter and run a stock paper filter. I'll report back. Thanks for all the ideas.

rb550four · « **Reply #344 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:21:05 PM »

So , will you be trying the 95's with the uni filter? as for comparassion?

riverfever · « **Reply #345 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:53:03 PM »

Tonight I'm working on the wiring for the kill switch. Then I'll put new plugs in and do a plug chop with the 90's and UNI and see what things look like.

riverfever · « **Reply #346 on:** July 24, 2014, 07:21:39 PM »

Not much to show but I finally was able to get the kill switch functional. The one from DCC is normally open and it needs to be normally closed to I used a relay. I'll put the new plugs in tomorrow and do a plug chop and see how things look.

riverfever · « **Reply #347 on:** July 24, 2014, 07:48:41 PM »

Haha no. Tell you what though, while I was figuring out how to wire the thing up, I had to turn the ignition on and off several times to check things with a meter and once there was a sound. I said, "WTF was that?" Sounded like a cap gun went off. Then 10 minutes later it happened again but loud enough to make me jump. It was a backfire. I think that magnet on the Dyna ignition was in just the right spot. Scared the crap out of me. Moved the crank just a touch and it stopped.

riverfever · « **Reply #348 on:** July 25, 2014, 01:39:03 PM »

OK this first set of plugs was installed and I rode down the mountain about a mile, turned around and came back up. This was 5th gear, at slightly less than 9000' running about 70ish mph with the 90 mains and still no vacuum sync.

#1

#2

#3

#4

Overall I think things look pretty good and a major improvement from when the 100 main jets were in. I'm a bit worried that this was perhaps a tad on the lean side of things but also know that this was WOT.

flybox1 · « **Reply #349 on:** July 25, 2014, 01:46:23 PM »

thats lean.

dont run it like that for too long $:-\$

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Author Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel" (Read 285406 times)