Author Topic: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now  (Read 46852 times)

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Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #125 on: October 06, 2014, 08:06:26 PM »
Still around guys!!  Just been busy!  Dissembled the new engine donor bike, Not in as great of condition as I thought it would be but I think it would work!  So if I'm going to have The other engine top end machined, I figure I want that for myself!  Will the top end of that 74 fit the 77 engine with only 10k on the motor?  Also I feel like the carbs on the 77 were much lighter then the ones on the 74, are they interchangeable??  I figure its a good idea to keep the 77 carbs with the 77 motor,  but the 74 carbs are free, while the 77 seem to be froze! Ill take a look tomorrow and post some pictures.  I know this is confusing, but I just want to make sure I have the best parts between the two bikes!
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Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #126 on: October 09, 2014, 08:41:30 PM »
Took a look at the 77 550 carbs, defiantly weigh less then the 74's and are a completely different design.  Two carbs seem ok, two are very gummed up!  I believe they are stuck though :(





Little worried about this rust on the rails...








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Offline grcamna2

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #127 on: October 09, 2014, 08:49:39 PM »
Hi Tyler,
Those carbs will clean up if you take'em off the rack;it might be best to fully disassemble those and really soak'em good and then you could even possibly paint that rusty areas w/ some good silver paint & small brush later.
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  I love the small ones too !
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Offline rtbmrgl

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #128 on: October 10, 2014, 10:34:27 AM »
The slides on my 500 were gummed up and  stuck, a little heat from a propane torch should free them. The bowls (almost spelt bowels  :-[) on mine were much worse and the cleaned up fine.
thanks, Mark
Roseville, Ca

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Offline onetruepunk87

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #129 on: October 10, 2014, 10:45:04 AM »
I cleaned mine with a dip in some pine-sol and water, did a great job cleaning all of the crap out of the bowls and the rust off the steel parts. I polished the aluminum afterwards and replaced the screws.

Offline rtbmrgl

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #130 on: October 10, 2014, 11:50:37 AM »
I cleaned mine with a dip in some pine-sol and water, did a great job cleaning all of the crap out of the bowls and the rust off the steel parts. I polished the aluminum afterwards and replaced the screws.


Pine sol, wow haven't heard of that yet, ill have to try.  Also it will freshen up my garage.
thanks, Mark
Roseville, Ca

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Offline grcamna2

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #131 on: October 10, 2014, 01:09:19 PM »
I cleaned mine with a dip in some pine-sol and water, did a great job cleaning all of the crap out of the bowls and the rust off the steel parts. I polished the aluminum afterwards and replaced the screws.


When you soaked'em in Pine Sol did you fully disassemble them and then let'em soak w/ all the parts? heated,full strength, how long ??
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline ggrant

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #132 on: October 10, 2014, 01:15:45 PM »
Pinesol is what i've used in the past too. Its less tough on the rubber parts. You can pop the whole rack in there for a couple hours.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #133 on: October 10, 2014, 02:22:46 PM »
Pinesol is what i've used in the past too. Its less tough on the rubber parts. You can pop the whole rack in there for a couple hours.

Damn.  Never would have thought it would work THAT well.  I'm dunking mine this weekend!
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Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #134 on: October 10, 2014, 02:25:40 PM »
I cleaned mine with a dip in some pine-sol and water, did a great job cleaning all of the crap out of the bowls and the rust off the steel parts. I polished the aluminum afterwards and replaced the screws.


Did you have a ratio, water to pine sol??
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Offline onetruepunk87

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #135 on: October 10, 2014, 03:26:25 PM »
Probably something like %60 hot tap water and %40 pine-sol. Took all the guts out of each cab and had them in individual Tupperware containers and let the bowls, carb bodies, and lids soak in a big wash basin. Had them in and out of the water a few times over a weekend scrubbing them with different brushes, nylon and brass. FYI it can dis-color any brass pieces (jets, emulsion tubes, etc) if left in too long.


Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #136 on: October 10, 2014, 08:33:48 PM »
Well I got bored and had some time....



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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #137 on: October 10, 2014, 08:34:57 PM »
Can you get that back together Sonny?
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Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #138 on: October 10, 2014, 09:35:37 PM »

Can you get that back together Sonny?

Clever my friend :)
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Offline onetruepunk87

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #139 on: October 12, 2014, 08:09:39 AM »
Hope you took a lot of pictures during disassembly. It makes putting them back together much easier. Put up some before and after pictures when they're done.

Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #140 on: October 19, 2014, 09:12:26 PM »
Hey guys, sorry I haven't updating sooner, to make a long story short I was offered my first " Real Adult" job last week and have been pretty busy since.  The Marina I work at gave me the full time position with benefits and all!  Being just 20 its a big deal to me!....Anyway, back to business, I had the carbs soaking in the Pine Sol and they actually cleaned up better then I expected!  The rust is still a issue on the tube, but they did free up, throttle is 100% free now.  Still had to dig out some sludge from the bowls. 









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Offline bryanj

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #141 on: October 20, 2014, 01:11:57 AM »
Don't wanna burst your bubble but the 77 carbs are a nightmare as the pressed in pilot jets gum up for a passtime, as do the jetways in the carb bodies and if you don't run it for a week you frequently end up stripping them. To fit into a 500 or early 550 you need to fit the inlet manifolds, intake rubbers, air box and carb to air box rubbers from the 77 as they are all different
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Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #142 on: October 20, 2014, 10:03:28 AM »

Don't wanna burst your bubble but the 77 carbs are a nightmare as the pressed in pilot jets gum up for a passtime, as do the jetways in the carb bodies and if you don't run it for a week you frequently end up stripping them. To fit into a 500 or early 550 you need to fit the inlet manifolds, intake rubbers, air box and carb to air box rubbers from the 77 as they are all different

Oh really? Well that's pretty unfortunate. Hmm I'm gonna need to figure some things out then if that's the case. Any ideas what I could do?  I could always rebuild the 74 carbs and engine for myself. But then that still leaves the 77 untouched. My plan was to also use the leftover parts and make a complete fixable bike on the side to sell in the spring
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Offline bryanj

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #143 on: October 20, 2014, 10:13:07 PM »
You can fit the 77 engine complete and use the early manifolds/rubbers/carbs/airbox, just jet for a 550(which if they are 74 carbs they should be already)
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #144 on: October 21, 2014, 05:04:15 AM »

You can fit the 77 engine complete and use the early manifolds/rubbers/carbs/airbox, just jet for a 550(which if they are 74 carbs they should be already)

So use the 77 block, but the 74 manifold and carbs? That engine only has 10k on it that's why i prefer to use it instead of the 74
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Offline bryanj

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #145 on: October 21, 2014, 11:27:46 PM »
Yup, the main lump is the same all the way through the 550 and will fit a 500 as long as you use the RH rear mounting plate from the 550 as the clutch cable mounts on it
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #146 on: November 18, 2014, 08:20:54 PM »
Sorry its been awhile guys. Been crazy around here lately. To summarize, In the past month I have survived a car accident, moved my family from Tennessee to Maryland, Started my Career and became a Uncle!  But I'm back on track now and anxious to get going!  Sanded and painted the frame gloss black and letting that sit for a while to really cure.



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Offline grcamna2

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #147 on: November 18, 2014, 08:44:38 PM »
Frame looks good Tyler  8)
Wow,you been doing a LOT of multi tasking stressful life changes lately  :o  ::)
How's your career ?
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline 2strokeTrush

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #148 on: November 19, 2014, 04:18:54 AM »
Frame looks good Tyler  8)
Wow,you been doing a LOT of multi tasking stressful life changes lately  :o  ::)
How's your career ?

Thanks man!  My career is great. The Marina where I work hired me full time with benefits and a very nice salary for a 20 year old, they also plan to help me financially towards Marine Trade School where I hope to become a Marine Mechanic and then come back and work for the Marina in the Mechanic shop, like you said lots of changes!! ;D ;D
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Offline grcamna2

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Re: Two 550's and a 500. Home stretch now
« Reply #149 on: November 19, 2014, 05:18:45 AM »
Marine mechanic sounds Good  8)  ;)
 The boaters want to be sure they can get back to shore under their own steam;pretty tough to 'get out and push' when they're 'dead in the water'  ;D I guess w/ road vehicles that's an option but not w/ boats  :o  :)
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.