To be up front, I'm new to this forum and new to the motorcycle game, but I am willing to undertake most challenges. I have a '74 CB550 that until today was running okay. When I purchased this bike, the PO had installed pod filters and the carbs needed re-jetting. I increased the size on both the main and pilot jets and have been working on getting the fuel mixture right. Also replaced both coils because sparks had seemed weak. I think had still been running rich according to black plugs and slow response to throttle from idle. Cylinders 2&3 also had been running cooler than 1&4 so I tried adjusting points timing--not sure if I was successful or not.
Today I turned mixture screws way out just to see how it would run and took a couple spins around the block. I started having some problems right away: bucking/surging at 4000rpm, engine dying suddenly (usually after opening throttle to accelerate strongly), backfiring upon trying to start back up. Also I noticed the I turned the mixture screws back in incrementally and the same problems continued. Eventually I reset the mixture screws back to 1 1/2 turns out, where they had been before when it was running reliably.
Normally my kick start has been very reliable, but one of the times when the engine died I tried kicking it and one kick seemed to suddenly lose resistance. I also think the kick start pedal moved past the normal range.
I took my bike out for another spin around the block this evening and it started right up with the electric start. When I let out the clutch it felt funny, like it was not engaging completely or maybe just further out. The bike also felt much more sluggish to respond when I increased throttle and seemed to be lacking power compared to earlier. I was at lower speeds at given rpms compared to earlier. It died on me again and I ended up pushing it home as I could not get it to start with either kick start or electric.
When I got home, I pulled off the points cover and found that the kick start will not turn the crank shaft. It had been working days ago when I was trying to reset timing. The crank shaft still turns with a wrench, which I believe means the engine is not seized.
Lastly, on a whim, I checked the oil and it seemed very low--just at the end of the dip stick. (Like an idiot I had not been checking regularly).
Sorry for the wall of text and if I included too much irrelevant info. Mostly, I am concerned about what the other implications might be for my bike if something gave when the kick starter suddenly lost resistance. There are just too many variables for me to understand what could be the problem(s). Could it be a broken cam chain? Thanks a ton for any help.
