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

[doug_id]

Speaking of shocks, just got your old ones in the mail...cant wait to install them.

BTW great to hear that you've got your scoot going

Hey great news....let me know how you like them....you will probably get a ride in on yours before I do on mine!   

[doug_id]

What ended up being the problem with the petcock?  How far off was the float on the leaky carb?  ITS ALIVE!!!

Well, I do have to work during the day....dangit all!    Although I spend a fair amount of time daydreaming and planning on the bike.... shhhhhh don't tell anyone 

Update:

just to cover my bases I swapped fuel lines to different outlet nozzles on the petcock and fired it up again (really just wanted to hear it one more time).   Still nothing happening on left side of the engine.   So I just got done pulling the carbs and BINGO the floats on the carbs feeding the sleepy cylinders hang substantially lower than the ones that are working.  I think that mystery is solved.   Now I just need to rig up something to get the height set correctly.   Will double check the working ones just to be sure they are optimal.

I am still using my old tank and petcock at this time as I plan on adjusting the valves and syncing the carbs once I get it running on all cylinders so I haven't had a chance to test the new tank and petcock again since I took it apart and cleaned it out.

[WJL75]

Glad to hear that is almost there.  Keep up the good work.  Just promis when your done with the first ride, you crack a beer, sit back and enjoy.   Then post pics!

[doug_id]

Glad to hear that is almost there.  Keep up the good work.  Just promis when your done with the first ride, you crack a beer, sit back and enjoy.   Then post pics!

Now that sounds like a plan!   

Going to the hardware store today to try to find some allen bolt replacement for the stock bowl and cover screws....they are junk.

[doug_id]

Finally have the cover on as well as shift lever and new chain......

Looks much better 

[bill440cars]

             Hey Doug,
                        That bike of yours shore is purty!! 

                                                       Later on, Bill

[doug_id]

Ok these ugly things are a must     But I don't want one on my bike   

It was going to have it hang down below the tail end of the seat but there isn't enough room between it and the tire even if I bent the plate.   I didn't really want to hang it off the side either.  So this is what I came up with.   I need to clean it up a bit and paint the metal sleeve black and it will probably look better.....It does solve the tire clearance issue..........

Not sure on this yet......opinions?

[WJL75]

That has to be one of the nicest looking bikes I have ever seen.  Great job.  Those pipes are killer. 
BTW, I came across pictures of your most recent trip on Flickr when I was searching for parts last night.  Looks like you had a good time.  Glad your back here and posting again.  This thread is inspiration to me and, I'm sure, many others on this forum.

[doug_id]

Looks like you have an O-ring chain on there, LOOKS like a 530 but mabey you went with the 520 and thinner sprockets and that info is waaaay back in this rather prolific thread(not that thats a bad thing!).  A 530 O-ring chain on stock sprockets WILL eat the engine case and the mainshaft seal.  Sorry if thats a reiteration.

DOH!!!!!   I am pretty sure it is a 530....damn.     That's what I get for buying things before I know what the heck I am doing.

Thx for letting me know though.


Any advice on the best chains and places to purchase them?


Doug

[doug_id]

MAN!  Im glad I caught that one!  Id hate to have seen you take off on the "maiden voyage" and come back to tell us you had a major oil leak, or that you laid it down cuz the rear tire was covered in oil. whew!  Dont sweat it, at least you learned the easy way.  I put an O-ring chain on my 75 and thought all was good till it started pissing oil like crazy.  It sawed through the mainshaft plug just a bit and the only way to replace that seal is to yank the motor and split the cases.  Luckily I caught it after 30 miles and was able to patch the small gash with JB weld.  I'll replace the seal when it comes time for an overhaul.

DID chains are nice, along with EK and RK.  I picked up a DID from BikeBandit.com.  Look around for the best price I guess.  Hey anyone want a basically new EK X-ring chain with only 30 miles on it.  100 link, just needs a new master link!!  Buy now and save big!!

Yeah....thx again!!   

[zoomer]

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=1526.msg10800#msg10800

[Loas 78 CB750K]

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=1526.msg10800#msg10800

Ok, so what I gather is that the o-ring chain that the guy at the honda shop wanted to sale me will only tear up my bike? So, now I'm looking at the Tsubaki QR NP for $22 at http://www.loudfastugly.com/ The 530 100 link chain will fit my 78 750k right?

[doug_id]

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=1526.msg10800#msg10800

Thx Zoomer........Think I am just going to go with the standard chain for now instead of the 0-ring....maybe switch to 520 o-ring down the line.

Doug

[TwoTired]

Ok, so what I gather is that the o-ring chain that the guy at the honda shop wanted to sale me will only tear up my bike? So, now I'm looking at the Tsubaki QR NP for $22 at http://www.loudfastugly.com/ The 530 100 link chain will fit my 78 750k right?

Might as well get used to the fact that although the 750 and 550 were both made by Honda, there are a lot of differences between them.  750's do have clearance for oring chains.  However, I think the 78 750 came with a 630 chain.  May have even been an oring chain, to boot.  There are threads in the forum about how to convert these to 530, if you wish to do a search.

Cheers,

[mrbreeze]

Lloyd is right......the 77-78's take a 630 chain. 76 and earlier take a 530. I have read posts here that say don't use O ring chain and others say go for it. I played it safe and went non-O ring. There really isn't a whole lotta clearance at the engine casing and if you rubbed through it with a fat O-ring chain,it would likely ruin your day!

[Loas 78 CB750K]

Might as well get used to the fact that although the 750 and 550 were both made by Honda, there are a lot of differences between them.  750's do have clearance for oring chains.  However, I think the 78 750 came with a 630 chain.  May have even been an oring chain, to boot.  There are threads in the forum about how to convert these to 530, if you wish to do a search.
Cheers,

Well, I know there are differences. That is why I asked in the first place. Thanks for the help with the size. All of this talk of oil leaks had me worried. So, a non-oring chain just to be sade at a 630 size. Cool.

[masonryman]

I wouldn't be to upset about the o-ring chain, They are larger, stiffer and take up H.P. it's not that much power grant you, but the real advantage is in keeping the mud and grime out and how many of these bike we are trying to build will see really bad conditions on a regular basis?

It is looking very good, all you guys are why I finally got started on mine

Mark

[doug_id]

I wouldn't be to upset about the o-ring chain, They are larger, stiffer and take up H.P. it's not that much power grant you, but the real advantage is in keeping the mud and grime out and how many of these bike we are trying to build will see really bad conditions on a regular basis?

It is looking very good, all you guys are why I finally got started on mine

Mark

Yea, not really bother me to use a non-o-ring chain...just the money I am going to lose on the transaction.....

I picked up a new chain today at local honda shop and installed it.   I plan on putting the carbs back on tomorrow and hopefully have all cylinders running   

I am going to restrain myself and adjust the valves and sync the carbs prior to putting the new tank back on and taking it for a ride.

Sooooooooooo close now!   

[bill440cars]

         Doug,  I know it doesn't help but, I feel your anticipation and I too, am anxious to hear about the first outing with that one. Too bad about the O-ring Chain, I wasn't aware of that deal either.

                                                       Later on, Bill

[Loas 78 CB750K]

Can I ask a favor? Tape the first ride and post it...please? Great bike and I, and other's, would like to see her one the road.
Thanks, Loas

[bill440cars]

Can I ask a favor? Tape the first ride and post it...please? Great bike and I, and other's, would like to see her one the road.
Thanks, Loas

              Amen to that!

                                                                 Later on, Bill

[doug_id]

Can I ask a favor? Tape the first ride and post it...please? Great bike and I, and other's, would like to see her one the road.
Thanks, Loas

Well, probably not the first ride.....      But will try to get some vid taken at some point and post on youtube or something.

[doug_id]

Well, got the carbs put back on the bike this morning and fed them some fuel...yeha.....no overflow tube action.   

So I put in the key and flipped the starter button and it fired right up.   I gave it some throttle as it warmed up while watching for gas leaks, etc.....sounding good and running smooth.   Once it warmed up I let it idle (idle set to high) and did my wet cloth on the header pipes test to see if all the cylinders where firing as before only the right two were.   Well.....made progres....now had the right 3 cylinders firing but still nothing from #1....   

At this point I was figuring I would have to drop the bowl on #1 and see if I could tweak the floats a bit.  But I thought I would check for spark first just in case.  So I pulled the plug and found it was wet so I dried it off and tested for spark again sure enough I had spark......I assume at this point that I didn't have the  cap seated all the way on the plug so I put the plug back in and made sure the cap was seated.  Then I fired it up again and did my wet rag test and wooohooooo all cylinders were firing.   

As I let it run I went around back and held my hand up to each exhaust pipe to feel the pressure in each.  The left pipe has a significantly stronger exhaust pressure than the right     I then shut off the engine and did my wet rag test one more time.   Judging by sound and steam factor #1 cylinder header pipe is quite a bit hotter than the other 3    

Anybody have any ideas what might be causing this?   Wondering if # 2-4 cylinders are getting less fuel than #1 or more than #1 or ??

Anyway pretty excited that things are moving in the right direction......heading back out to adjust the idle down some.

[doug_id]

Been doing some more "research" via the search function and it sounds like these symptoms may be at least partially due to out of sync carbs?

I have a morgan carbtune tool but need to do all the other tuneup items prior to syncing the carbs.

Doug

[doug_id]

Got home from work and headed into the garage with my new feeler gauges and a timing light   

Started with the valve adjustment.......think that went well.  about half the valves seemed to be slightly off the mark so I adjusted them and started up the bike and it seemed to run somewhat smoother.....yeha!!!

Now I am working on the engine timing and I have to admit I am confused at what mark should be where at 1250 rpm and 2500 rpm.  Neither the clymer or the honda manual really show a good pic of what you should see in the peephole with the timing light at either RPM.

If someone could help a noob confused tuner I would really appreciate it.

Here is a pic of the 1-4 markings and a 2-3 markings then the slash marks above them.  I have added a letter label above each slash mark A- D.


Can anyone tell me what mark should be lined up with the reference point at 1250 rpm and which one at 2500rpm?

Thx much!

Doug