Author Topic: Hello from Ohio. (Read 2076 times)

jkblaq · « **on:** February 01, 2015, 06:22:27 PM »

Hey everybody, just bought a semi-restored 1976 CB550 in Candy Garnet Brown looking forward to learning all I can from this forum. Drove it home yesterday in the 35 degree heat wave. Then proceded to kill the battery today trying to get it started, comming from an SR400 with EFI totally forgot about the choke, doh. So I may be 'that guy' you dread buying an old bike. Anyway, good to be here.

HondaMan · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2015, 06:58:11 PM »

Quote from: jkblaq on February 01, 2015, 06:22:27 PM

So I may be 'that guy' you dread buying an old bike. Anyway, good to be here.

___________
Jason
1976 CB550
2015 SR400

Yeah, but you're the guy we enjoy most making into an SOHC4 fan!

jkblaq · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2015, 04:56:05 AM »

Thanks for the welcome!

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2015, 05:07:38 AM »

Welcome! I've got folks in Newark, Indian Lake, and Lima.

The beauty of the old machines is their simplicity

. How high would you have to mount the fuel tank on that EFI SR400 to compensate for a failed fuel pump?

70CB750 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2015, 05:29:58 AM »

Welcome!

jkblaq · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2015, 04:17:13 PM »

Well the SR may have EFI, but with only one cylinder and everything else the same as in 78-81 its pretty dang simple. Im a bit overwhelmed with 4 carbs, 4 cylinders, points/condenser etc on this CB

HondaMan · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2015, 05:12:35 PM »

Quote from: jkblaq on February 03, 2015, 04:17:13 PM

Well the SR may have EFI, but with only one cylinder and everything else the same as in 78-81 its pretty dang simple. Im a bit overwhelmed with 4 carbs, 4 cylinders, points/condenser etc on this CB

Nah. They are just 4 little 125cc engines! If one quits, the others drag it along until you fix it.
The coils confuse most people: they fire 2 plugs at once. Because of this, the timing must be set correctly and the plug caps must be good (they are resistor caps) and the plugs in decent condition. This is probably the most vexing things people stumble over (or else it's dirty carbs), likely because lots of riders don't understand electrics all that well.

Be we do!

jkblaq · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2015, 05:16:27 PM »

Hondaman thats a good way to think about it, break down to the smallest denominator. I was thinking of it like my old VW Squareback engines, then I remembered they were all EFI too, haha!

Stev-o · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2015, 06:55:16 PM »

Welcome from Texas. Quick tip: use the choke whenever you do a cold start and turn the petcock off when the bike is not running.

jkblaq · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2015, 05:57:36 AM »

Quote from: Stev-o on February 03, 2015, 06:55:16 PM

Welcome from Texas. Quick tip: use the choke whenever you do a cold start and turn the petcock off when the bike is not running.

Thanks, definitely have to remember that!

jkblaq · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2015, 10:35:01 AM »

BTW, got the battery charged, cleaned the plugs, one was a little wet the other had a bit of carbon (new ones coming today). A little choke and little throttle and I had it running and idling, let it warm up and took it for a spin. Now time to wait for warmer weather. In the mean time, will be checking and tightening every nut I can find and any other maintenance needed.

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2015, 06:26:49 PM »

How much snow you got right now?

jkblaq · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2015, 04:59:15 AM »

Quote from: madmtnmotors on February 04, 2015, 06:26:49 PM

How much snow you got right now?

Actually, not much at all. Had a few inches this weekend, but it all melted, then last night got about an inch and a half. Yesterday was my window to get it started and out for a spin while it was still dry.

jkblaq · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2015, 04:58:14 PM »

1976 CB550 k2 in Candy Garnet Brown

HondaMan · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2015, 01:19:31 PM »

Quote from: jkblaq on February 05, 2015, 04:58:14 PM

1976 CB550 k2 in Candy Garnet Brown

Wow, what beautiful condition!

jkblaq · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2015, 06:37:39 AM »

Quote from: HondaMan on February 06, 2015, 01:19:31 PM

Quote from: jkblaq on February 05, 2015, 04:58:14 PM
1976 CB550 k2 in Candy Garnet Brown

Wow, what beautiful condition!

I thought so too, but good to confirm from the experts

Stev-o · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2015, 12:38:15 PM »

Quote from: HondaMan on February 06, 2015, 01:19:31 PM

Quote from: jkblaq on February 05, 2015, 04:58:14 PM
1976 CB550 k2 in Candy Garnet Brown

Wow, what beautiful condition!

+1. Great that you have the pipes and a nice seat, big plus plus. Looks to be a repaint.

jkblaq · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2015, 04:14:12 PM »

Yeah, definitely a repaint. The PO said he did not like the black and gold on the tank, can't say I am mad, I rather like the all one color. Unfortunately, one pipe has a small (1/2") hole at the top under the passenger foot rest and I am guessing someone drilled out the muffler plates at the end, since there are like 8 holes around the main exhaust pipe.

HondaMan · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2015, 07:55:55 PM »

Quote from: jkblaq on February 07, 2015, 04:14:12 PM

Yeah, definitely a repaint. The PO said he did not like the black and gold on the tank, can't say I am mad, I rather like the all one color. Unfortunately, one pipe has a small (1/2") hole at the top under the passenger foot rest and I am guessing someone drilled out the muffler plates at the end, since there are like 8 holes around the main exhaust pipe.

While that "mod" didn't have the desired effect (it was a popular one on the 750 bikes) on the 550, it did lower the moisture storage that happened inside the highly restrictive mufflers. That's likely what saved your pipes! They usually rusted out in about 5 years or less.

jkblaq · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2015, 04:59:45 AM »

Quote from: HondaMan on February 08, 2015, 07:55:55 PM

Quote from: jkblaq on February 07, 2015, 04:14:12 PM
Yeah, definitely a repaint. The PO said he did not like the black and gold on the tank, can't say I am mad, I rather like the all one color. Unfortunately, one pipe has a small (1/2") hole at the top under the passenger foot rest and I am guessing someone drilled out the muffler plates at the end, since there are like 8 holes around the main exhaust pipe.

While that "mod" didn't have the desired effect (it was a popular one on the 750 bikes) on the 550, it did lower the moisture storage that happened inside the highly restrictive mufflers. That's likely what saved your pipes! They usually rusted out in about 5 years or less.

Sweet, thats one of the first times a decision to make something "cool" paid off!

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Author Topic: Hello from Ohio. (Read 2076 times)