Topic: cb550k carb kit?

[Hotwire750]

I'm having a hellofa time finding a rebuild kit for my 1978 CB550K. Can anyone point me to one?

[bwaller]

I ordered individual 78 carb parts from mother Honda, nothing like oem.

[Hotwire750]

Mind if I ask what you replaced and what it set you back? I checked with them earlier today and it was gonna be about $300... OUCH!

[bwaller]

This was from 2005,

16011-382-004  float needles  31.49 CDN each  (crazy price, but the dealer made a mistake, sent 8 charged for 4)
16010-393-305  gasket set     12.49 CDN each ( includes top cap gasket & all o-rings for the carbs including float bowl)

It's tough to find a kit for that model, and some of the kits that are available include wrong parts to begin with, BUT maybe you could buy cheap kits to see if the float needles would work for you.  The Honda carb gasket/o-ring set is worth the money.

[Hotwire750]

Thanks. I think I'll get the gasket set and see if I can make due with the rest of what I have. I checked the dealer earlier today and heres what they could get (USD):

gasket set                        16010-393-305    $13.44 (10.20 at servicehonda.com)
float set                           16013-405-004    $33.87 (24.78 at servicehonda.com)
float valve                         16011-382-004    $21.89 (16.01 at servicehonda.com)
insulator boots                   16211-404-000    $14.00 (10.63 on servicehonda.com)
O-ring (manifold to head)     91302-001-020   $3.08 (2.13 on servicehonda.com)

[Kelvin8]

I bought four rebuild kits (one for each carb) from:

www.siriusconinc.com/carb/parts

I got them a little over a year ago. They didn't have them in stock when I first queried, but they let me know when they were expecting them, and I ordered as soon as I saw they were in stock. I paid $72.50 USD.

Of course, I just replaced those carbs with earlier, adjustable ones.

[Hotwire750]

enlighten me... what did you mean by "adjustable ones" ?and what year did you go with? I've kinda been thinking about doing that as one of my options.

[ieism]

What parts are worn out? I wanted to buy the complete kit, but my partsguy advised to take just the rings first, and then see what parts needed replacing.
The rings only cost me $15 total, and then after taking apart my carbs I found out I only needed one part. This can save you $200 or more, so I would check first.

The darkest colour "needle" right next  to the big ring is what I replaced (I don't know the english name for it, floatneedle?) . It's made of soft metal and one side of it is a conical shape when you look at it from the side. If there is a notch or groove in this you need a replacement. If the groove is really bad I would also replace the part it's sitting in.
 I think on a 550 that "floatneedle" is actually the part that wears out first in the carb, as it moves and touches another metal part.
Also check your floats for leaks if you have hollow ones (shake them), check you mainjet and see if the hole it still round inside.

[Lumbee]

...here are the Po-boy kits...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-CB550-K-KEYSTER-CARB-KIT-1977-1978_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35597QQhashZitem280046336491QQihZ018QQitemZ280046336491QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

...this is sirus's store on Ebay, they are who I usually get kits from...90% of whats in the carbs are durable, and just need to be cleaned good...the gaskets are what wear out...

[Hotwire750]

They must have just listed that kit. I emailed them yesterday 'cause I couldn't find one. Thanks for the link

[Hotwire750]

"The rings only cost me $15 total, and then after taking apart my carbs I found out I only needed one part. This can save you $200 or more, so I would check first. "

I found a kit with just the bowl gaskets and floatneedles for $25. This thing was pretty nasty inside tho. I definately want to replace all of the o-rings and the one float needle that I damaged trying to get it out. I guess I'd just feel better knowing all new parts were in it. My floats are solid (foam I think) so once I get them cleaned up they should be ok.

[Kelvin8]

On the 78 550K the carbs are "emission control", in the US the primary jets are pressed in, anyway they're a PIA to work on. I have a set of carbs from either a 75 or 76, they have the same bore as the one from the 78, but they're jetted a bit differently (smaller primary, larger main). Also, there's about a 1/4" difference in the spread of the carbs on the mounting thingy (right to left for the set)(sorry if I'm not too clear), but it's not enough to be a problem for mounting (well, not a serious one, anyway). The throttle cable (open) will be a couple inches too long with the swap. Also, the choke is a lever on the carb assembly, not a pull nob next to the ignition switch. I like that set up better too.

I was never able to get the engine to run on all four with the original set, but with the new (older) ones they all fire fine. I'm not sure about the year on my carbs because a friend gave them to me and they came from a lot of CB SOHC parts that HE bought from a friend of his.

[csendker]

Look here for the differences in the years --> http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=5410.msg26534#msg26534

The model number is located on the outlet flange (the engine-side, not the intake side).  '75/76 K's are 022A, '75/76 F's are 069A.  The later, less adjustable emmission-control carbs are the PD models. 

Crappy picture that really doesn't show much detail, but I circled where the model number is located.  I got an extra set of 022A's (frozen sliders, grrrr) off e-buy, but you typically have to e-mail the seller with instructions on where to look if you want to know what model they are before you buy.