Author Topic: 75 Honda cb550 startup issue (Read 2614 times)

gbal06 · « **on:** July 10, 2016, 10:42:42 AM »

When I start the bike up cold, it starts up then sputters and dies. I have to redo the whole process 4-5 time before it starts while keeping the throttle wide open. Any ideas of what could be causing the issue? Thanks

BomberMann650 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2016, 12:37:47 PM »

Welcome to sohc4

Possible Excess fuel in bowls making rich start?

gbal06 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2016, 01:40:10 PM »

yes choke is wide open

flatlander · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2016, 01:41:27 PM »

what do you mean by open? choke should be CLOSED to make the mixture richer during startup.

Scott S · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2016, 01:58:26 PM »

The choke can be a little confusing on the 550. When the choke lever is UP.....and horizontal...the choke butterflies are CLOSED. It is fully choked.

When the lever points DOWN....vertical, or pointing towards the ground....the choke is OPEN and that is the normal riding position.

Also, and this is being covered in other threads right now, the 550 can be a little temperamental to keep running when cold. It's not unusual to have to help it out with your right hand for a minute or two/mile or two until you can take the choke off.
What dos the bike idle at when fully warmed up?

Tews19 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2016, 02:02:16 PM »

Welcome to the site Gbal! I'd do the 3k tune up. Pull the carbs give them a proper cleaning as Cal stated.

gbal06 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2016, 02:59:41 PM »

Thanks for the welcome! I place the choke (arrow twisted to the right on start up, see pic) It only has a speedometer so I do not know the idle rpm.

Tews19 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2016, 03:05:05 PM »

The way the pic is the Choke is off.

gbal06 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2016, 03:15:14 PM »

so when I start up the arrow should point towards the front(down) of the bike?

Tews19 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2016, 03:17:37 PM »

If you are starting the bike without choke. Keep it how it is in the pic.

gbal06 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2016, 03:19:44 PM »

and when riding? Also how would I know (and fix) if there was too much fuel in the bowls?

Tews19 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2016, 03:24:40 PM »

No Choke ever when riding. Clear tube method to check the fuel level. Use the Google search in the upper corner on the forum. It will show it. Many members have posted the pic of where the level should be as well.

Tews19 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2016, 03:31:47 PM »

What are you running as in a set up? Stock airbox? Pods, stock exhaust?

George_s · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2016, 03:51:45 PM »

My 550 behaves exactly as Scott S stated. The choke has basically no effect in any position other than fully closed (up). Then it stalls the bike. Bike has had carbs cleaned, synched, and a tune-up by an experienced, very well regarded mechanic. I just have to manually use the throttle when starting up cold. After that, it runs absolutely perfectly, like a new bike, and I'm very happy with it. I'm resigned to accepting it behaving like that.

Scott S · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2016, 04:11:35 PM »

I still use the choke for start up, I just help the throttle with my right hand and slowly close the choke within the first mile/couple of minutes.

gbal06 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:03:36 PM »

Scott S · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:18:17 PM »

And open pipes? I don't see a muffler in that pic.

gbal06 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:28:45 PM »

its on the right. Its a 4-1

Scott S · « **Reply #18 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:29:02 PM »

Quote from: gbal06 on July 10, 2016, 03:15:14 PM

so when I start up the arrow should point towards the front(down) of the bike?

Your choke lever "handle" is broken. When the bike is cold and you want choke, this is ON, or full choke. This closes the butterflies on the air intake side of the carbs.

Once the bike is fully warm, this is choke OFF. This is how the lever should be when riding.

Scott S · « **Reply #19 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:29:48 PM »

Quote from: Scott S on July 10, 2016, 05:18:17 PM

And open pipes? I don't see a muffler in that pic.

I see the header, but is there a muffler? Or just an open pipe?

gbal06 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:33:26 PM »

open pipe

gbal06 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:34:24 PM »

I have been doing it the exact opposite

Scott S · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:51:08 PM »

Quote from: gbal06 on July 10, 2016, 05:34:24 PM

I have been doing it the exact opposite

Well, that's a big part of your problem there!

Tuning for pods and an open pipe are a whole 'nother headache.....

gbal06 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 10, 2016, 06:02:51 PM »

here's a pic

Tews19 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 10, 2016, 06:53:45 PM »

Nice bike. If it were me I'd put a fork brace or the fender back on for safety reasons.. also it looks like your braided brake line is to long. You really don't want it to snag the wheel while riding.

Did the mechanic who did you carbs tell you the rejetting he did? If he did what size jets did he use and where is the needle position?

gbal06 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 10, 2016, 07:42:31 PM »

how should it be tuned?

Scott S · « **Reply #26 on:** July 11, 2016, 02:05:35 AM »

Quote from: gbal06 on July 10, 2016, 07:42:31 PM

how should it be tuned?

There is no "standard" setting for pods and/or open exhaust. It takes riding, plug chops, jetting and needle changes and even dyno work if you have that option.
Some people get pods to "work". Other fight a constant flat spot, or rich or lean conditions in certain rev ranges. The SOHC4 Honda is one of those bikes that is especially finicky to tune for pods.

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Author Topic: 75 Honda cb550 startup issue (Read 2614 times)