Author Topic: '77 CB550F carb rejet question.  (Read 1071 times)

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Offline Tempast

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'77 CB550F carb rejet question.
« on: August 14, 2014, 07:58:46 PM »
I have a question regarding rejetting my 069A's. I have a Unifilter and a 12" shorty cone pretty much straight piped.

The bike runs alright at higher RPM, but off the light I have to rev it pretty high (3.5-4kk) to get it to not stumble so much as I release the clutch.
At about 1/4 throttle the RPM dips before it will rev. Full throttle seems to be slightly rich. (had the plugs a nice tan colour but you can definitely smell how rich it is)

But there is a severe lack of power, which I thought would be normal for having an untuned engine, but I thought at higher RPM's it would work out alright(ish)
But I can't even get the bike over 110 KM/h (63ish mph) and it's worse when the bike gets hot. Acceleration declines severely.

I have what I think is a stock carb. (069A on the side) I installed new gaskets a few years ago, and unless the PO messed with the jets already they should be stock.

Would bumping the idle's up one or two sizes help with my low end stumble? And what about the top end, it smells rich for some reason.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: '77 CB550F carb rejet question.
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2014, 09:34:17 PM »
With an exhaust more open than the stock muffler, the jetting needs to be opened up.  I suggest using the set up for the 022A to start with, as no one knows how different the pipe pressure you have now differs from the stock pipe.  Slide needle 4th notch from top and #100 mains.  Expect much poorer fuel mileage than with the stock exhaust.

Probably, you don't need to rejet the pilots at all, but you will have to find a new pilot mixture screw setting that allows proper off idle throttle response (richer, or turn the screw inward in small increments, until you can twist one half of remaining throttle travel in any gear from idle and have the engine pick up reliably (if slowly).

It has to run rich at idle, as there is no accelerator pump action to compensate the lost fuel flow when the slides are raised. (No CV carbs or fuel injection computer on this model.)

New gaskets does not clean the emulsion tubes.  And, if the air bleeds are plugged, it will run rich as well as poorly.  The Main jets also need a good sealing oring.  Viton is best if you have ethanol in your gas.

Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Tempast

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Re: '77 CB550F carb rejet question.
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2014, 09:40:18 PM »
What is Viton? I'll try to order those size jets, I was thinking of going with 100 or 102's anyway :)
I know I'll get crappy mileage but this is still better than my 19 MPG 300ZX lol.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: '77 CB550F carb rejet question.
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2014, 11:17:37 PM »
    "Viton is a brand of synthetic rubber and fluoropolymer elastomer commonly used in O-rings and other molded or extruded goods."

I should have mentioned that the slide needles should be replaced with those from an 022a, as well.  They have a different taper angle than what was used in the 069a.

I used to have the numbers that were stamped on the needles. 273004 or 272304, I think.  But, I forget which is which for the 022a.  (The hard drive that has the numbers is unavailable to me at this time due to a line surge from the power company.)
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline calj737

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Re: '77 CB550F carb rejet question.
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2014, 05:21:59 AM »
(The hard drive that has the numbers is unavailable to me at this time due to a line surge from the power company.)
You're freakin' kidding me, TT. You of all people didn't have a whole house suppressor installed in the fuse panel? As I live and breathe... :-\

Apologies for the hi-jack.
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Offline Deltarider

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Re: '77 CB550F carb rejet question.
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2014, 07:44:11 AM »
069A carbs (all CB550F models) have needle set 16012-390-004 with needles number 273004.
022A (CB550K/K1) and 087A (CB550K2 '76) carbs have needle set 16012-323-004 with needles number 272304. The latter are also in the 627B and 649A carbs that were on the CB500/K1/K2.
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: '77 CB550F carb rejet question.
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2014, 09:29:44 AM »
(The hard drive that has the numbers is unavailable to me at this time due to a line surge from the power company.)
You're freakin' kidding me, TT. You of all people didn't have a whole house suppressor installed in the fuse panel? As I live and breathe... :-\

Complacency.  After 40 years living in the same house without a surge issue.  It never occurred to me that the supplier would degrade the product provided.  Hard to predict behavior when your constants become variables.
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline calj737

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Re: '77 CB550F carb rejet question.
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2014, 02:25:09 PM »
Need some help wiring one up? Seems the least I could offer after the multitude of assistance you've provided me?  ;) I'm pretty good with electrical after all your tutelage.
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis