Author Topic: 1975 CB550 Winter 2013 Build (Read 20561 times)

Stev-o · « **Reply #125 on:** June 18, 2014, 06:52:48 AM »

Looks good! I get that same feeling after a big repair.

Do a "nut and bolt" - check all hardware for proper torque specs.

calj737 · « **Reply #126 on:** June 18, 2014, 07:22:07 AM »

Really looks beautiful, Bill! You've got to be very pleased and proud on how that turned out

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #127 on:** June 18, 2014, 08:14:16 AM »

Great looking bike chaser. Finished with plenty of time to ride it all summer and fall.

Chaser60 · « **Reply #128 on:** June 18, 2014, 09:25:14 AM »

Thanks all ! Just came back from a meeting and my nose tells me this project isnt quite done yet. (but then they never are....)

Strong gas smell in the garage. I am using stock airbox and sure thought I set the float heights properly. However, in the 2 minutes I had to look at the bike, I see the following.

the ends of all four drain hoses are slightly damp with gas and there are signs of those drips on the floor under all 4. In addition, the plenum drain hose is also a wet at the end and drips too. I cant work on this today, but will have time to look in the bottom of the airbox to see if there is gas in there too.

My first thoughts are float height not right, or a cracked brass drain tube. The bike only leaked fuel from the #1 carb once before, which i took as a stuck float, so it seems unlikely that all four of the brass tubes are cracked. I am leaning towards I made a consistent error in setting the float height, however the gas also dripping from the plenum drain is a bit of a worry.

I am sure I will have questions once I further diagnose. I am not thrilled about taking these carbs off for 3rd time. So if anyone has any ideas, I am all ready to listen and learn.

Thanks

Chaser60 · « **Reply #129 on:** June 18, 2014, 09:57:07 AM »

Regardless of the above issue...The ride last night was glorious ! It is hard to describe the feeling when the engine came to life !

Stev-o · « **Reply #130 on:** June 18, 2014, 03:33:05 PM »

Did you leave the petcock on? If the motor is off, petcock should be off.

goldarrow · « **Reply #131 on:** June 18, 2014, 10:43:45 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on June 18, 2014, 03:33:05 PM

Did you leave the petcock on? If the motor is off, petcock should be off.

Yup. Key off, petcock off. Key on, petcock on. Make the habit.

Chaser60 · « **Reply #132 on:** June 19, 2014, 05:02:47 AM »

alrighty fella's I may be having issues with the petcock, but leaving it on isn't one of them. I did have to rebuild it. This year of 550 and maybe part of the 76 had this bastard child petcock. No parts available so I had to find o'ring that "felt" right. I may have got it wrong and suspect it is not really sealing at the shut off. Here is what I did to try to trouble shoot that.

Key on, open petcock, start bike. Let run a little. Close petcock, leave bike running but didnt run it out of gas. Just ran for maybe 2 minutes. Idea being lower the fuel in the bowls then shut off bike and leave petcock closed. left bike to sit over night. when I called it a day, there was no smell in garage and no dripping gas. When I woke today, back to familiar gas smell and small amount of gas from the 4 overflow tubes that i caught in a drip pan. By small I mean less than 1/2 oz.

So I am thinking part of this problem may be petcock does not provide full fuel shut off when closed. Will pull the fuel lines off the petcock and see what drips directly out when the valve is shut.

Does anyone have any ideas what would cause fuel to get into the plenum and drip from that drain hose also.? I don't see how a faulty petcock or bad stop valves or wrong float heights would lead to that issue.

Stev-o · « **Reply #133 on:** June 19, 2014, 06:07:29 AM »

I've had no luck rebuilding petcocks, if rebuild kit is not available, replace it.

Your float vales could be sticking causing fuel in your air box?

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50697.0

Chaser60 · « **Reply #134 on:** June 19, 2014, 06:32:56 AM »

thanks Stev-O, Once I verify petcock leaks, I think you are right, time to replace. I recall this year has an odd thread size on the tank so finding a replacement is going to be PITA. I tried 5 orings and doubt I am going to find the 6th as perfect.

thanks for link on the float levels. I had all four carbs apart. Followed carb faq, and several other threads on cleaning and rebuild. All brass in good shape, so I cleaned and reused. Also made sure I kept all parts from carb 1 with carb 1 etc. They were not actually in bad shape as compared to other pics I have seen on this forum. The floats and stop valves were all free and easy moving. I am questioning if I may have set all four levels precisely and consistently but wrong...Will document how I did that to see if maybe I did that wrong, and there is also chance that I set my "gage" wrong. Damn metric to inch conversions...

will finish trouble shooting petcock late today, and then have to be away for a week. I cant have a puddle of gas in the garage when I return so have to solve that issue urgently. I wont be able to work other problems until July now ... damn.

Stev-o · « **Reply #135 on:** June 19, 2014, 06:43:15 AM »

Take the tank off your bike if your leaving town, store it safely outside. Been there, I always hear it from the wife if she smells gas.

Is this the correct petcock?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-1975-1976-CB550F-CB550K-Replacement-Gas-Fuel-Tank-Petcock-16950-374-671-/161329659145?hash=item258fff3d09&vxp=mtr

Chaser60 · « **Reply #136 on:** June 19, 2014, 06:56:14 AM »

Yup...same issue in my house...And while it kills us to say it...in this case they are right...gas puddles are generally a bad thing and they should kick our ass if we are not dealing with them with urgency.

Sadly no that is not the correct petcock. Mine has 2 outlets coming straight out the bottom. Like I said, it was only used a one or maybe 2 years max. And I think the thread size on tank is also different. Have to find my notes on that.

Thanks for your help Stev-o

calj737 · « **Reply #137 on:** June 19, 2014, 07:03:10 AM »

Easy to confirm whether the petcock is leaking or not. Disconnect the fuel lines from the tank, close petcock and place a catch bin underneath. If there's fuel, there's a leak. Try other positions to see if there might be an option of where you can set the petcock and it not leak or flow fuel.

Chaser60 · « **Reply #138 on:** June 19, 2014, 07:17:54 AM »

that is exactly the plan. Had not thought about trying certain positions to see if it closes ... great suggestion...will totally mess with my OCD, to have that as solution, but right now I want this puppy done enough to be safely ride - able. lots of time for perfection of little side projects later.

Greatly appreciate your help and interest in getting this queen off the trailer, out of the garage, off the workbench and out on the road where she belongs !

I must say, despite the set back on fuel from the 4 overflows, fuel from the plenum drain (related?), the noisy valve train, a small oil leak from the oil pan somewhere as yet found and what seems like a very hot running condition...Despite all those, when I look at this thing in the garage, I am really pleased with the creation. Tons of help along the way from folks like you guys made it possible. I have loved doing this project. It has kept me sane at a time that I needed something fun to focus on. When i get these things solved, this will be a joy to ride.

Cheers gents

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #139 on:** June 19, 2014, 07:56:30 AM »

Quote from: Chaser60 on June 19, 2014, 07:17:54 AM

that is exactly the plan. Had not thought about trying certain positions to see if it closes ... great suggestion...will totally mess with my OCD, to have that as solution, but right now I want this puppy done enough to be safely ride - able. lots of time for perfection of little side projects later.

Greatly appreciate your help and interest in getting this queen off the trailer, out of the garage, off the workbench and out on the road where she belongs !

I must say, despite the set back on fuel from the 4 overflows, fuel from the plenum drain (related?), the noisy valve train, a small oil leak from the oil pan somewhere as yet found and what seems like a very hot running condition...Despite all those, when I look at this thing in the garage, I am really pleased with the creation. Tons of help along the way from folks like you guys made it possible. I have loved doing this project. It has kept me sane at a time that I needed something fun to focus on. When i get these things solved, this will be a joy to ride.

Cheers gents

Pricey, but new. I replaced my cruddy old one and left my petcock problems behind.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231259641158?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Chaser60 · « **Reply #140 on:** July 07, 2014, 02:03:45 PM »

I think it is about time to declare this thing done. Well as done as a 39 year old ever is. Had a nice ride yesterday. All fuel leaks gone. New Petcock solved that issue fully. Still have some things to do. Cant get the timing exactly right, so new points or electronic ignition is next up. May post some pics of the timing marks later. Also, while it feels and sounds like it runs properly, I have gone from stock exhaust to dual CONE quiet cores, and so will do the plug chop tango to be sure I am not gonna burn this thing up. Also have only bench sync'd the carbs, so vaccuum sync is also on my to do list... but for now...its tiime to ride a while.

So many members to thank but will post that later this week. For now here are a few pics. Before and afters

Starting with a sketch I did of the concept back in December. No I can't draw ... this started as a tracing off of the first picture below and just left out the things I would change.

Chaser60 · « **Reply #141 on:** July 07, 2014, 02:08:35 PM »

Before

After. Details on these changes are back up the build thread a ways. After a 30 minute ride yesterday. The seat is hard like a brick, so that may need some mods for my old xxx.

goldarrow · « **Reply #142 on:** July 07, 2014, 02:10:53 PM »

I like the sketch, the stock form looks great, the finished bike looks awesome too.

Chaser60 · « **Reply #143 on:** July 07, 2014, 02:11:50 PM »

Here are a few more angles

goldarrow · « **Reply #144 on:** July 07, 2014, 02:13:53 PM »

Post a video of it?

Chaser60 · « **Reply #145 on:** July 07, 2014, 02:39:22 PM »

last one

and on the road where it belongs.

Again so many members to thank for their help and support. But for now, time to ride !

Cheers

Chaser60 · « **Reply #146 on:** July 07, 2014, 02:41:34 PM »

thanks goldarrow. Dont have a video but can shoot one while I ride later tonight. How do you post video, I have not had any luck doing so previously. My posts always require the viewer to go out to the site like youtube instead of being able to access from inside the post like a picture.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #147 on:** July 07, 2014, 08:40:52 PM »

Chaser60,

You've been nominated and seconded for BOTM. You will need to visit the thread and accept the nomination! http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=138969.0

Don

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #148 on:** July 08, 2014, 03:02:25 PM »

Chaser, you mentioned the color is deep red pearl in an early post, whose deep red pearl? That's exactly the color I've had in mind for my own (assuming I can ever get back to it).

Chaser60 · « **Reply #149 on:** July 09, 2014, 06:36:59 AM »

Bankerdanny, Here you go. HOUSEOFKOLOR The base is 07 Meteor maroon and the top is 01 burgundy candy. Followed by clear. If you look up at the recent pics, I think the closest one that represents how the color looks to my eye is the close up of the head light can and front part of the tank. The one out on the road is "lighter and more purplish" than the bike looks. Guess that is the thing about candy's...They can move around a bit on the color perception depending upon lighting. As I understand it, the application of these colors will give rather high variability on the finished product colors. Far exceeds my rattle can paint skills.

One thing I will say is that I would have liked it even a bit deeper / darker red. The guy that painted it for me would have preferred it less so. He thinks the Honda winged logo is a bit too hidden. However, I like it. I had almost asked him to "ghost effect" that anyways, because I didn't want it to jump off the tank. These are of course all matters of personal taste/style. I am very pleased that I dumped the raised stock badges for the painted wings. I love the clean smooth tank sides.

I have zero painting skills, but as I continue in my growth as a builder, I plan to acquire that equipment and learn and same for welding. Will cut project costs dramatically, and I like to do this stuff myself. Next time...

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Author Topic: 1975 CB550 Winter 2013 Build (Read 20561 times)