Topic: '74 CB550 carb rebuild

[BallAquatics]

My bike was put away badly almost 30 years ago.  Needless to say, the carbs are wrecked.  I thought maybe a good clean and I would be good to go, but when I started working on them it became appearant that wasn't going to be the case.

One of the slow jets broke off in the carb, but I think I got the piece out and cleared the passage.  Other than the rubber being shot, everything else looks pretty good.

I'm thinking about getting this kit from 4into1 ( http://4into1.com/carburetor-repair-kits-complete-set-honda-cb550k-1974-1976/ ).


This doesn't seem like it's going to be a big deal, but is that just wishful thinking on my part?  Any advise or comments would be most welcome.

Dennis

[BomberMann650]

Its an okay kit.
Oem are still available.
Keihin brass bits are available too.
Ultrasonic cleaners rule.
And keep everything well sorted on the bench.  There are a few bb's and brass studs involved should you be completely dismantling the carb rack.  I like tackle boxes or hardware containers for this sort of work.

[calj737]

Do NOT swap the stock brass for aftermarket brass; it's a can of worms that won't settle in your stomach. The stock brass can almost always be recovered and is better and more consistent.

The o-rings and gaskets are perfectly useable from these kits and you're better off simply buying that type of kit.

[BallAquatics]

I like tackle boxes or hardware containers for this sort of work.

Thanks for all the tips BomberMann!  Do you have a favorite place to get your parts?

Do NOT swap the stock brass for aftermarket brass; it's a can of worms that won't settle in your stomach. The stock brass can almost always be recovered and is better and more consistent.

The o-rings and gaskets are perfectly useable from these kits and you're better off simply buying that type of kit.

Thanks calj737!  That was my original thinking, but when I twisted off the slow jet...  Other than the broken slow jet my brass looks good.  Where does one find just gasket & rubber rebuild kits?

Dennis

[BomberMann650]

www.hondabike.com

My local honda dealership offers discount pricing on web ordered oem parts.

Otherwise, swap meets and ebay.

[BallAquatics]

Thanks again BomberMann650.  Not sure how far out I'll have to go to find a dealer around here.....  Our local shop closed up years ago.

Dennis

[flatlander]

you can get original keihin jets here: https://www.jetsrus.com/

[BallAquatics]

Thanks flatlander!

Dennis

[Scott S]

 Original Keihin brass, new O-rings, shaped float bowl gaskets from 4into1. And see if you can find someone to ultrasonically clean them. Don't forget to pull the emulsion tubes!

[BallAquatics]

Put the rebuilt carbs back on today with new intake rubber and it fired right up. 

Man, what a relief!!!  I was hoping this wouldn't turn out to be a major ordeal.

If I thought the carbs were bad, you should see what's growing in the fuel tank.  Original plan was to give it a good wash and go, but when I opened it up.....

Well that's tomorrows job.  Give it a good wash and fill it up with evapo-rust and see what happens.

Thanks again for all the help guys!

Dennis

[Deltarider]

Why not start with washing the worst out with a litre of diesel.

[BallAquatics]

I guess I could do that.  I thought I'd just turn it upside down and wash it out with the garden hose.  It's got some serious stuff growing inside.

Dennis

[TwoTired]

Does feeding clean carbs with dirty fuel sound like a recipe for success?

If you are trying to remove tank rust, I was pretty happy with the electrolysis method for removing rust WITHOUT removing good parent metal.

Acids remove both.

Cheers,

[BomberMann650]

Was it Berrymans Chem Dip that left carb bodies nice and shiny?

[BallAquatics]

After finding some of the thread on here, I'm just going to dry out the tank and then rattle around some drywall screws before give it the evapo-rust treatment.

Dennis