Topic: A Noob's 75 CB550 Cafe Project Thread ------- Stick a fork in it... ;-)

[doug_id]

Installed new starter switch with cover.....like this better than the cheap looking plastic one.





Installed small filter on breather outlet.  Got it from Dennis Kirk......
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp;jsessionid=ZYVRB2LF4QYCDLA0WTISM4VMDK0OWIV0?store=Main&skuId=301755&productId=p301755

[doug_id]

Well, I need to put gas in the tank and I will squirt a small amount of engine oil in each spark plug hole.  Is there anything else I should check for or do prior to trying to fire up the engine?   Almost as nervous as I was on my first date.....

[bill440cars]

         Hey doug,
                   No advice here, just compliments. Your bike looks super! There is nothing that I don't like about your bike. Everything has turned out so well. I'm waiting to hear about how those Dunlop K70s do also. I'm seriously wanting some for mine (as you already know) and thanks again for that link to where you got yours. You take care and I'll catch you later on,  Bill  

[gregwaits]

I really dig that tank. I am sure you've already been asked where you got it, so I'll spare asking again! I'll scroll back and find what you said.

Good work!

[CrisPDuk]

It was Benji's if I recall Greg 



That is one sweet looking bike, I can't believe how high you've set the bar now, especially as you're 'allegedly' a newbie
The only advice I'd give you there at this point oug is to spin the motor up without sparks first, just to make sure you've got oil pressure, don't learn the hard way like I did with my VW Beetle


I'm not just liking them pipes now they are fitted, I'm loving them   They look so much like my folk's neighbour's Enfields

What is the fit & finish like, I may be acquiring a set for my 550 Will he do slight mods for you, the sketches I'm coming up with for mine want the pipes to be upswept more, so that you can see/access the spindle beneath them

I'm with Bill too, let us know on the tyre front

[doug_id]

Thx everyone.... ....I will try to start it up today.....so should I kick it a while with the ignition off to get the oil circulating???

Chris the fit and finish on the pipes is top notch.......I couldn't find a single blemish on the set I have.

[ProTeal55]

Thx everyone.... ....I will try to start it up today.....so should I kick it a while with the ignition off to get the oil circulating???

Yes...
Do more than a couple good kicks to get some oil circulated before you attempt to actually start it..

[CrisPDuk]

Spin it over with the starter for a minute or two, with the kill switch off. Then check you've got oil at the top of the engine. You're always better safe than sorry

[andy750]

As Proteal said you can kick it over a couple of times to get oil circulating or as I was told, use the starter button with kill switch off (so it wont actually start) but will turn starter motor over and get oil into head - keep finger pressed on starter button for about 10 sec bursts and do this for about 5 or 6 times. Then open up tappet covers and start bike and make sure oil is getting to the head! Keep it on idle for a while to allow oil to circulate.

good luck!
cheers
Andy

 

[doug_id]

Well.......looks like one carb has a stuck float or the float is set to high.....fuel running out of overflow tube.    So it begins......the real fun!   

Wondering if just stuck float if a couple of taps with a rubber mallet might help.......?

Another thing I noticed is no matter what position I set the petcock to the fuel keeps coming out of the overflow valve tube....wonder what is up with that?

[Gordon]

A couple of taps with the handle of a screwdriver will sometimes do the trick if the float valves are stuck open, and it sounds like you might need a petcock rebuild kit. 

[doug_id]

A couple of taps with the handle of a screwdriver will sometimes do the trick if the float valves are stuck open, and it sounds like you might need a petcock rebuild kit. 

ok...will try that.....not sure what is going on with the petcock.....brand new it is....lol.

[Gordon]

A couple of taps with the handle of a screwdriver will sometimes do the trick if the float valves are stuck open, and it sounds like you might need a petcock rebuild kit. 

not sure what is going on with the petcock.....brand new it is....lol.

Uh-oh!  

[tmht]

Another thing I noticed is no matter what position I set the petcock to the fuel keeps coming out of the overflow valve tube....wonder what is up with that?

Takes a while for the carb to drain completely. Pull the fuel line off the tank and hold a suitable container under the spigot on the petcock and check for leaks...

Rubber mallet, end of a screwdriver, lead/brass hammer, all would be a suitable "float un-sticking aparatus". When I fire my 400 up for the first time after the carbs have be off and apart they will do the same thing about 60% of the time. Couple of quick taps after the engine has been running for a few seconds takes care of it every time. (sometimes the vibes from the engine do the trick.)

[doug_id]

well, pulled one of the plugs and held tip to exhaust while turning it over....don't see any spark.....that is a surprise....hehe!   Wonder if something not grounded ....either that or I missed a connection somewhere......

[WJL75]

Swap plugs and see if it still happens. It may just be a bad plug.  Make sure to swap it with a plug off of a different coil.  Good Luck!

[doug_id]

Swap plugs and see if it still happens. It may just be a bad plug.  Make sure to swap it with a plug off of a different coil.  Good Luck!

Tried with two different plugs and nada....pulled the cover off the points and while starter was turning over used wire tester on both the green and yellow wires....zip....looks like no juice flowing into them.  Thinking a bad ground somewhere or a missed wiring connection?

Rubber malleted the bad carb several times and no luck......looks like I will have to wait for the fuel to drain out that bad carb and then pull them....I probably made a mistake putting that one back together......good news is all the float bowl gaskets seem to be sealed good   

I am leaving for a rafting trip in the early am tomorrow....hopefully all the gas will be drained when I get back....hehe.

Thx everyone for the tips/suggestions! 

[tmht]

Swap plugs and see if it still happens. It may just be a bad plug.  Make sure to swap it with a plug off of a different coil.  Good Luck!

Tried with two different plugs and nada....pulled the cover off the points and while starter was turning over used wire tester on both the green and yellow wires....zip....looks like no juice flowing into them.  Thinking a bad ground somewhere or a missed wiring connection?

Rubber malleted the bad carb several times and no luck......looks like I will have to wait for the fuel to drain out that bad carb and then pull them....I probably made a mistake putting that one back together......good news is all the float bowl gaskets seem to be sealed good   

I am leaving for a rafting trip in the early am tomorrow....hopefully all the gas will be drained when I get back....hehe.

Thx everyone for the tips/suggestions! 

It shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes for it to drain completely. Did you make sure the petcock is holding?

[kine8282]

Doug...regarding your "no spark" issue not sure if you already checked but I would double check the new all-in-one control kill-switch, for some reason that's always a problem

my 2 centavos...cant wait for the shocks!

[doug_id]

Swap plugs and see if it still happens. It may just be a bad plug.  Make sure to swap it with a plug off of a different coil.  Good Luck!

Tried with two different plugs and nada....pulled the cover off the points and while starter was turning over used wire tester on both the green and yellow wires....zip....looks like no juice flowing into them.  Thinking a bad ground somewhere or a missed wiring connection?

Rubber malleted the bad carb several times and no luck......looks like I will have to wait for the fuel to drain out that bad carb and then pull them....I probably made a mistake putting that one back together......good news is all the float bowl gaskets seem to be sealed good   

I am leaving for a rafting trip in the early am tomorrow....hopefully all the gas will be drained when I get back....hehe.

Thx everyone for the tips/suggestions! 

It shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes for it to drain completely. Did you make sure the petcock is holding?

Hi,

well, I pulled the tank....just stuffed some rages under it and loosened the line clamps and pulled it quick and sat it down on a bucket.......the off postion slows the fuel flow somewhat but does not stop it.   I am letting the gas drain into a bucket now.  Next week I will take the petcock off and see what is going on....also fuel was almost exclusively coming from one outlet only on the petcock not both evenly.....maybe relelated issues.

[doug_id]

Doug...regarding your "no spark" issue not sure if you already checked but I would double check the new all-in-one control kill-switch, for some reason that's always a problem

my 2 centavos...cant wait for the shocks!

Not sure what is going on yet....all the other electical systems are working fine.   I took the tank off and dremeled more around the ground connection for the coils thinking maybe it wasn't grounded.   I poked around with a line tester with the starter motor turning over but did not register any power at the coils.   Not 100% sure I am checking the right wires in the right way....not to good with electrical systems.   I also checked the green and the yellow wires going into the points and didn't see anything register there either.

Quitting for now and putting everything away.   Work on it more monday or tuesday when I have more time.

Thx everyone for the help!   

[doug_id]

Im surprised no one else chimed in on the fork brace, but yes, I would put a fork brace on if I were you.  Do you still have the front fender?  If you flip it you'll see there is a bracket on the underside that is welded to the fender, the part that bolts to the forks.  I remeber seeing where Proteal(I think) separated that bracket from the fender, painted it black so as to be inconspicuous and mounted that part alone between the forks.  Worked well for him if I recall.  With a bike like that, your gonna want to tear up some twisties a fork brace is going to make the front end alot more stable.  Good luck with the fuel/ignition problems and have a nice trip!

Yes, I still have the original fender....I will have to check that idea out and see what I can do....I have seen the heavy dute fork braces on e-bay but just looking at how far up the forks my front tire is I don't see how they would fit.   

[TomC]

Hi Electrical Wizards
     " I took the tank off and dremeled more around the ground connection for the coils thinking maybe it wasn't grounded."
     What is connected here? I see no grounding of the coils in any Honda 4 wiring diagram. Nor is there any connection to the primary or secondary circuit of the coil that is in the house were it is warm.
          TomC

[bill440cars]

         Hey Doug,
                 Are you talking about the brace that goes on the tubes or the fork legs. (Just in case you aren't familiar with the different kinds) The one on the tubes is for extended forks and the kind that goes on the fork legs can be found in 3 pieces so that you can attach the clamps themselves to the legs and add the center piece to tie it all together. In the case of the 3 piece job, someone here (don't remember who right off) made spacers and added slightly longer bolts to allow for a larger tire size. Maybe someone who knows (or that did it) will chime in here soon. I don't know what to add on the electrical problem Doug, Sorry.

                                                 Later on, Bill

[tsflstb]

Probably the least of your concerns right now, but I made some spacers to get a fork brace to clear the tire.  It worked out pretty good.

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=11142.0

Wish I could help you on the electrical side.  Just be methodical with the volt meter and think like an electron.