Topic: New to forums with a 77 CB 550K

[brandonandamyhorst]

I am from Nebraska and a lurker on here for a few months.  Mid 30's with a great wife and 3 kids.

I inherited a barn 77 CB 550K that hadn't ran in a long time.  It seems to have caught fire last time (I am assuming from a ridiculous amount of starter fluid..) but at any rate, I was able to get it sort of running with a very thorough carb clean.  It runs, but only with a full choke on and I am still messing with the Idle adjustment screws on each carb.  I don't have tons of time with a young family so I get to do a little work here and there.

The bikes not in horrible shape, but the carbs were really bad inside and the tank was full of rust too.  I am making progress slowly but surely.



I would love for it to look like this someday.

[70CB750]

Welcome!

[calj737]

If you set the carbs up with stock settings, there should be no issue with it firing. Verify the brass and internals are all stock, not aftermarket parts.

Fill the tank will vinegar and watch the rust come away. Check daily by pouring out, filtering and re-using. Clean the fuel petcock also while you're at it.

[brandonandamyhorst]

Does anyone know how many turns out the screws are actually supposed to be set? 


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[calj737]

Here you go:

[Stev-o]

Welcome from Texas.

It it only runs on full choke, I think it's more than a carb adjust, sounds like clogged jets.

BTW - there is only one knob to adjust the idle, not one on each carb.

[seanbarney41]

Welcome to the forum.  You do realize that your inspiration pic is a bike that has been modified in such a way that it no longer functions as an operable motorcycle?

[brandonandamyhorst]

There is the main screw that I can adjust with my fingers and then each carb has a screw on the underside too. 

The carbs have been taken apart, ran through a cleaner at the local Nike shop and then put back together.   

Looking at the chart, it looks like 2 screws out would be my starting point.

I love the inspiration bike, but I would assume it may have some trouble being all street legal.  I would also assume it had to have lots of custom work done to make it legal with lights and electrical, etc.


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[seanbarney41]

I love the inspiration bike, but I would assume it may have some trouble being all street legal.  I would also assume it had to have lots of custom work done to make it legal with lights and electrical, etc.


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it will have some trouble...
1...moving down the road at speeds higher than 15mph as it has zero suspension travel...
2...turning, as it has clown shoe tires, that are designed to be correct for pre-1950's era show bikes, and are not the right size anyway
3...supporting a rider in a manner that doesn't involve moderate levels of physical pain for more than 20 minutes at a time...
4...operating in the rain or on dusty, dirty road conditions as it has no inner rear fender and ineffective air filters...

I doubt anyone has tried to ride it farther than from a trailer to it's custom bike show parking spot.  It was just built to make hipsters cream their skinny jeans while browsing smart phones at the bus stop.

[Stev-o]

I love the inspiration bike...

It was just built to make hipsters cream their skinny jeans while browsing smart phones at the bus stop.

That's hilarious!

[brandonandamyhorst]

That's pretty funny actually

I'm not shooting for the exact same thing, but I do like the paint choice and the color set. 

I plan on keeping the fenders, battery, air filter, etc. all in their proper places too.





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[70CB750]

I think you nailed it 

[seanbarney41]

I think you nailed it 

yeah...that cartoon gets it...first definition of a hipster I can remember was something like "a white Jazz fan, often addicted to heroin"...and that sure ain't got much to do with non-functional motorcycles.