Topic: Patina Hyena - 550/650 674cc Hybrid Cafe Build

[DaveBarbier]

The PO didn't say they were rebuilt...I know I can't trust him but I'd think that would have been a selling point. No idea if it is stock or not. The seals looked ok but also seemed old and were genuine Honda.

They felt fine when I was riding around so I'm going to keep them in, I think. Unless someone else with a 78 550K can give me a measurement of theirs so I can be more sure of what I have. Bike only had 9k miles.

What would you do?


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Install, fill with oil, and ride.

Love it.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Install of tapered All Balls steering neck bearings is finished. I used the thin spacer and both dust seals. Didn't have any problems. Hammered the bearing on the neck with a piece of PVC and the old race. Pressed in the races in the neck with the old races, washers and all thread. Right in, not a problem. The lower race does seem to not be completely seated, you can see in one picture, but I'm certain it is. Can't drive it in any more and it's not cocked at all.

Thin washer, larger dust seal and bearing packed with grease.


All thread method avoids hammering and damaging parts.


Closeup of top. The top race is all the way in at this point. It sticks up a couple millimeters.


Bottom race getting pressed in.


Packed top bearing in place.


Lower race after install and right after a test fit of the neck. You can see the little gap, almost like the race has more to go, but it feels like it's fully seated.


Now to clean and patina the fork lowers.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Got my new clipons and they are perfect with my Nissin MC. They are really nice quality. I'd recommend them for sure.



http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=190714880810

I can move the MC all the way up the bar as close as I want to the forks without hitting the clipon pinch clamp. Will install this weekend and hopefully then be all set for the warm weather. Just need a haircut.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Question guys, would it be ok to trim off the brake line stopper tab so I'm not limited to certain angles? If I have to submit to the angles given by the little tab then the line is going to be tightly bent. I want to have the line come off the bottom but the tab is keeping it from that position. I think it'll be fine, but I'll have to hold the brake line with something to keep it from spinning as I tighten it down. Just don't know if it's bad practice.

Thanks




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1978 Honda CB550K

[seanbarney41]

Should be ok...just remember that if you don't really crank that banjo bolt, the line flexing and moving from steering could cause the line to loosen...and blue loctite is not an option here unless applied extremely carefully.

[DaveBarbier]

Thanks Sean. I didn't even think about loosening with vibration and twisting. I guess it's known to put the banjo in front of the tab so it can't twist backwards and loosen the banjo bolt. I'll cut it and see how it goes.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[seanbarney41]

generally assumed JB is pretty well aware that 2 copper washers are required

[DaveBarbier]

Not sure who JB is but yes, new crush washers are a must for brake systems.  Although I thought they were more meant for hydraulic sealing rather than a lock washer. I cut the tab and am actually going to safety wire the banjo bolt. Already drilled it, so tomorrow it's going in. On a side note, I've officially had it with winter.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[seanbarney41]

oops...meant DB.  Safety wire!  ...didn't even think of that

[DaveBarbier]

Ha, no problem Sean. Thanks guys!


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Got around to adjusting the brakes. I notice that there's a minimal amount of drag from the caliper. It has always been like this but I just want to be sure this is normal. There is no point in the adjustment where I can eliminate all noise. It always drags a little and I can visually see the pad retracting. Brakes feel perfect and are rock hard.

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1978 Honda CB550K

[Wredas]

Just finished reading the thread, and I thought it was great fun to read. Really outstanding work and the bike sure does look good. Sounds great too!

[DaveBarbier]

Just finished reading the thread, and I thought it was great fun to read. Really outstanding work and the bike sure does look good. Sounds great too!

Thanks Wredas! Always more to do but it's coming along nicely.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Just to let you guys know, I put a bunch of parts up in the for sale section. Some stock, some aftermarket.

Bike is running really well. Only thing is a slight flat spot at wide open throttle. Going to first take the rack of carbs off and clean them. Maybe debris got in or they got a little gunked up from sitting over the winter. If that doesn't fix it I'll be doing plug chops, or hopefully getting some dyno time in.

The flat spot wasn't there with pods but it seems to be there now with velocity stacks.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Just checked float height by the clear tube method. All are completely in line with the float bowl seam. I'll have to fix that. I don't remember setting the floats that low. If I remember correctly the stock float height is 12.5 mm as shown to me by TwoTired. Going to remove the rack and adjust floats and clean the jets and whatnot. Shouldn't the fuel level be about 4mm below the bowl seam?


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Haha, something is not right here...



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1978 Honda CB550K

[Maurice]

Did you screw it on by hand and forgot to tighten it?

That would explain the flat spot. Must've been smoking like a steam locomotive too

As for clear tube method I'm not sure... Haven't touched my carbs in a long time.

Maybe I missed it, what do you use for air filters?

[DaveBarbier]

Did you screw it on by hand and forgot to tighten it?

That would explain the flat spot. Must've been smoking like a steam locomotive too

As for clear tube method I'm not sure... Haven't touched my carbs in a long time.

Maybe I missed it, what do you use for air filters?

Well, last year when I figured out that the PO drilled out the jets, a family friend came by to help who knows old bikes. He was actually the one who shined light on the drilled pilot jets (I had no idea). We disassembled them and cleaned them and set them right. It was one of us I'm sure. We both probably thought the other guy did it, haha. And weirdly, I didn't notice it smoking at WOT. Maybe it was, haha.

So anyway, I re-cleaned them just now (they were pretty spotless) and found my float height was just about 13mm each float, maybe 12.8mm This screen shot that TwoTired sent me says 12.5mm. But with 13mm my float heights are almost exactly flush with the carb seam.




The outer carbs are like this but the inner two are a hair lower. Should I change the float height to an older year like 14.5mm?

Part of me says keep it and change one thing at a time (screw main jet back in) then go from there.

I'm running velocity stacks.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[Maurice]

If it's running ok leave the level alone. Your flat spot is probably due to the main jet missing and running real rich on one cylinder WOT. The lose jet was only on one, correct?

I don't remember on these carbs, but most like the gas level around bowl level.

I know you're running stacks, how do you filter? Screens or foam inside? Any pics?

[DaveBarbier]

If it's running ok leave the level alone. Your flat spot is probably due to the main jet missing and running real rich on one cylinder WOT. The lose jet was only on one, correct?

I don't remember on these carbs, but most like the gas level around bowl level.

I know you're running stacks, how do you filter? Screens or foam inside? Any pics?

Ok, that's what I'll do and then test. Yeah, it was just one jet that fell out.

Oh right, I'm running screens. Pics...let me see. They come with the brass screens from Steel Dragon.



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1978 Honda CB550K

[Maurice]

Did you tilt-shift that picture some or is the depth of field really short? Might want to take one with the chain on this does not look serious.

While the brass screens will prevent bugs, critters and your pants from being sucked into the carbs, I would not be comfortable using this in the long run... That does not look like it would filter out dust. That rear wheel does generate a fair amount of it. I think I saw somewhere someone cut round pieces of UNI filter and stuck them in there behind the screens.

Bike looks great, I think a set of emblems on the tank would really make it.

[DaveBarbier]

Did you tilt-shift that picture some or is the depth of field really short? Might want to take one with the chain on this does not look serious.

While the brass screens will prevent bugs, critters and your pants from being sucked into the carbs, I would not be comfortable using this in the long run... That does not look like it would filter out dust. That rear wheel does generate a fair amount of it. I think I saw somewhere someone cut round pieces of UNI filter and stuck them in there behind the screens.

Bike looks great, I think a set of emblems on the tank would really make it.

Good eye, but you didn't notice the lack of a clutch lever either, haha. It's an Instagram picture so yeah, I added a bit of tilt shift. I'll take a new picture soon with all the parts on it, haha.

Yeah, I know, filter media would be best. I'm risking it though. Maybe eventually I'll add some, but right now it'll be unfiltered. I accept it's bad for the motor.

A lot of people say to put emblems on it but I like it like this. It gives more of a barn find, utilitarian, only what's needed kind of feel. Thanks Maurice. And thanks for the carb help.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[DaveBarbier]

Did you tilt-shift that picture some or is the depth of field really short? Might want to take one with the chain on this does not look serious.

Here's a "serious" picture. This one actually has all components installed! Just cooling down after a nice long ride. Zero hesitation at WOT! It actually startled me a bit that it had that much power, haha. And about the floats. I pulled the plugs earlier and noticed the outside cylinders were a little more rich (plugs were darker) than the inner two. And those were the ones that had the fuel level almost to the seam. The inner ones were still high, but not that high. I did end up adjusting the float height to get them all to match. Now they're just about 3mm from the seam. Weird thing, though, the float height measurements are very different.
#1: 16.3mm
#2: 13mm
#3: 15mm
#4: 16.3mm

With those settings they're all the same fuel level, checked by the clear tube method. Not sure if that variance is normal or something is very wrong. But it idles great and pulls through all gears with no stutters. Will pull plugs and have a look-see tomorrow perhaps.

Motorcycles are really great.




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1978 Honda CB550K

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Motorcycles are really great.

Damn straight!