Author Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel" (Read 283234 times)

Stev-o · « **Reply #1850 on:** July 10, 2017, 02:13:07 PM »

It did sound good. Get that bike on the road! You have sync gauges?

riverfever · « **Reply #1851 on:** July 10, 2017, 03:12:16 PM »

Waiting on an afternoon storm to get done and then I'll warm it up/gas it up. I do have gauges so hopefully I can get it done tonight and then take a look at the tuning again tomorrow.

riverfever · « **Reply #1852 on:** July 11, 2017, 11:02:29 AM »

This morning I took the bike up to get gas. In the four years that I have owned this thing it has never run like it did on that trip. It idled beautifully. There was zero hesitation off idle. I have always been concerned about it dying when I pull in that clutch lever and constantly have to be aware that I have a place to push it out of the way. The half dozen or so times that I grabbed the lever today I never even thought about it. It was so confident. When I got home I hardly had to touch the carbs and they synced right up. Idle chops started with 1 turn out on all the screws. I went all the way to 1/2 out and never really saw any more color on the plugs (with 38 idles) so I have 40's on the way.

riverfever · « **Reply #1853 on:** July 11, 2017, 12:33:05 PM »

This is WOT with 105 mains. The motor is obviously breathing much better and squirrel is screaming for fuel now.

IMG_0449 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0450 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0451 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0452 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

Monsoon season has officially started and I probably won't get another shot at a chop the rest of the day so I'll try again in the morning after getting 110's in this evening.

Stev-o · « **Reply #1854 on:** July 11, 2017, 03:20:33 PM »

Quote from: riverfever on July 11, 2017, 11:02:29 AM

In the four years that I have owned this thing it has never run like it did on that trip. It idled beautifully. There was zero hesitation off idle
When I got home I hardly had to touch the carbs...

Dont touch it!

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #1855 on:** July 13, 2017, 09:47:04 AM »

Quote from: Stev-o on July 11, 2017, 03:20:33 PM

Quote from: riverfever on July 11, 2017, 11:02:29 AM
In the four years that I have owned this thing it has never run like it did on that trip. It idled beautifully. There was zero hesitation off idle
When I got home I hardly had to touch the carbs...

Dont touch it!

This. If it's running well, you only need to do 2 things:
1) Ride it!
2) Enjoy it!

riverfever · « **Reply #1856 on:** July 13, 2017, 10:41:36 AM »

I'm very optimistic that the tuning will be easier now with these new carbs. I have 40's on the way and I know it's best to only make one change at a time but things are pretty lean at idle and at wot so I'm planning on swapping in the 40's and 110's to see what that does. The motor runs noticeably hotter now and I think part of that is because it's running better but it's also because it's running lean. I know if I drop down the mountain it's not gonna be good and I'd really like to be able to confidently ride it to Colorado Springs.

Not much riding to do right now anyways with the monsoons in full effect. The morning is safe but we are finally getting the rain we need from lunch through the evening. Tornado warnings last night. I will not ride in the rain (due to lack of experience) but....I LOVE to fish in the pouring rain.

Stev-o · « **Reply #1857 on:** July 13, 2017, 01:47:23 PM »

Quote from: riverfever on July 13, 2017, 10:41:36 AM

The motor runs noticeably hotter now

How have you determined this? Butt thermometer?!

riverfever · « **Reply #1858 on:** July 14, 2017, 07:20:42 AM »

Haha....well...yes partial butt meter but mostly just deduced from the fact that header 4 was hotter than it's ever been . However (or but)...point taken. I should have followed your previous advice of, "Don't touch it" when deciding to grab onto that header that I've always been able to hold on to.

Speaking of warm butts...it was so cool here yesterday that I had to turn on the heater and seat warmer on the way home from the river.

joeyvans · « **Reply #1859 on:** July 14, 2017, 07:43:07 AM »

Still haven't gotten that IR thermometer yet?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stev-o · « **Reply #1860 on:** July 14, 2017, 02:26:54 PM »

Quote from: riverfever on July 14, 2017, 07:20:42 AM

I should have followed your previous advice of, "Don't touch it" ...

Shoulda...coulda...woulda...

RAFster122s · « **Reply #1861 on:** July 14, 2017, 03:01:33 PM »

What is the story on the plug threads? Notice the wide variance, some appear oily and dirty and another kind of dry but not consistently a silver color. Are your plug wells full of dirt and oil?

David

riverfever · « **Reply #1862 on:** July 14, 2017, 03:59:58 PM »

David how dare you talk poorly about my plug threads.

I guess I don't see anything unusual. They are not oily. Maybe it's just the pics.

riverfever · « **Reply #1863 on:** July 20, 2017, 09:45:20 AM »

I think I'm finally close. This is a 5 mimnute idle chop with a fan running after a 15 minute warm up ride (plugs cleaned after the warm up). All screws 3/4 out. 40 idle jets. Love to know what you all think.

IMG_0480 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

Camrector · « **Reply #1864 on:** July 20, 2017, 10:28:08 AM »

Beautiful shade of Beyoncé! I think your there.

flatlander · « **Reply #1865 on:** July 20, 2017, 11:08:01 AM »

as you're talking idle: how does it drive off the idle? on throttle cracked open just a bit?

riverfever · « **Reply #1866 on:** July 20, 2017, 12:01:38 PM »

flatlander...the bike idles better than it ever has. It's always had an attitude at 1/8 and 1/4 throttle but that's gone. I still need to go look at things at wot and 1/2 throttle but I cannot believe I may be at a point where I can ride and enjoy this thing. Been a long journey.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #1867 on:** July 20, 2017, 12:08:49 PM »

Don't jinx it. Just ride that sucka.

Stev-o · « **Reply #1868 on:** July 20, 2017, 01:35:50 PM »

Quote from: SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan on July 20, 2017, 12:08:49 PM

Don't jinx it. Just ride that sucka.

+1...Dont touch it! How many times do we need to tell you?

flatlander · « **Reply #1869 on:** July 20, 2017, 01:36:09 PM »

what they said.
sounds like you're spot on, at least in the idle jet/mix area.

riverfever · « **Reply #1870 on:** July 21, 2017, 06:43:09 AM »

I did get out for a short ride last night. The motor runs beautifully around town. I decided to head down the mountain a bit for a wot chop and as soon as I got out of town I knew things were going to be rich. Even at half throttle it was bogging down. I went ahead and did a chop and the 110 mains are clearly too much so 105 jets will go back in and I'll try again. So squirrel's not out of the woods just yet.

flatlander · « **Reply #1871 on:** July 21, 2017, 06:49:18 AM »

you'll get there. it's one nut at a time, squirrel!

riverfever · « **Reply #1872 on:** July 22, 2017, 06:13:23 PM »

Here are the results of today's tests. This is one of the plugs from the 110 wot chop. I only grabbed one because they all looked like this.

IMG_0497 by cneumann2000, on Flickr
'
Today I swapped in 105 mains again. Here's 1-4 at wot. These went to the other extreme and are pretty darn lean.

IMG_0509 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0510 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0511 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0512 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

I put fresh plugs in and did a 1/2 throttle chop. Both the wot and 1/2 were at 7600'.

IMG_0513 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0514 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0515 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0516 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

I had a bit to go to climb back up into town so I put a different set of plugs in and tried a 1/4 chop.

IMG_0517 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0518 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0519 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

IMG_0520 by cneumann2000, on Flickr

So 110 is too much. 105 is not enough but now I'm thinking I need to revisit needle clip position. I am currently in the second slot. Going to the third will bring a bit more fuel into the equation but I'd like to know what you all think.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #1873 on:** July 22, 2017, 07:42:54 PM »

Don't forget that the important part of the plug is the porcelain way down in there. Racers will cut the threaded body away to get a good look.

Also, performance improvement is more important than getting good color. Today's pump gas does not read the same.e as traditional good plug colors. So choose good performance over good plug color.

Sounds like you are on the right track and very close!

calj737 · « **Reply #1874 on:** July 23, 2017, 02:45:36 AM »

and... what octane are you running?

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Author Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel" (Read 283234 times)