Topic: To rebuild or not? cb550

[JoeP]

75 CB550F: Compression is 140/130/120/110 and the bike ran before I started working on it, although I don't really know how well since I didn't get a chance to put it through its whole rev range before buying it. Rebuild now, or can I wait on that?

[dave500]

wait on it,ride it around for a while.

[JoeP]

wait on it,ride it around for a while.

Thanks. That's what I wanted to hear. My ocd is telling me to rebuild it, but I'll see how it runs first.

[Bankerdanny]

I agree. It will probably run just fine for a very long time on those numbers.

[sinister902]

I agree. It will probably run just fine for a very long time on those numbers.

this. you may even see improvement in those figures once you do all of the routine maintenance like valve clearances, cam chain tension, carb sync, etc.

[KrautKoffin]

I'll play devils advocate and say rebuild it. Your numbers see off more than 10% to each other, so rebuild it. It's not like you need to pull the whole motor to do it..

[LesterPiglet]

I would run it for a few hundred then check again.

[Duanob]

I would ride the crap out of it. If the rings are stuck, they will free up. if you have crud on your valves, it will burn off. If it breaks then rebuild it. Of course do a 3000 mile tune up first.

[zeech]

Ride it till it dies is what I say.

[Carver]

Ride it till it dies is what I say.

Make sure you have AAA motorcycle if you take this approach.

Ask me how many miles I pushed my bikes

[ekpent]

Gotta a picture of it to post ?  How many miles are on it ? How long has it been sitting.
   Unless its spewing oil or has a major known problem or serious engine noises I say ride it for awhile also to really see what you have.

[JoeP]

Gotta a picture of it to post ?  How many miles are on it ? How long has it been sitting.
   Unless its spewing oil or has a major known problem or serious engine noises I say ride it for awhile also to really see what you have.

The build thread is here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132840.0
It's got 35k miles and was running when I got it. The only things I've done so far are to clean the carbs and get rid of the ape hangers. Haven't had much time to work on it lately but that will change once work settles down a bit.

[Stev-o]

I agree. It will probably run just fine for a very long time on those numbers.

+1

[dave500]

if it runs fine,no smoke or noises and your having fun on it and dont want to spend money unless you have to run it as it is,do a couple of short run oil and filter changes to flush out maybe?drop the pan to deslugde it if you want to tinker around,i would.