Topic: '78 CB550K Four 'Phoenix'

[jtran000]

awesome, subscribed!

[boaf]

The new felt seals and genuine Keihin jets in 105, 108, and 110 showed up.




And with those parts the carbs are pretty much back together.



And the custom brake lines are here.



Should be able to get it all assembled within a week. Fingers crossed

[Godffery]

Where did you order the felt seals from?

[boaf]

Where did you order the felt seals from?

Felt seals came from http://dudesgarage.com/4301.html

I have the first set he is offering for PD carbs - I am guinea pigging for him.  He sells over thickness seals and the idea is flip the brass retainer ring over and turn it into a cup to hold the seal in.


Picture form Dudes website

As this is the first set from 'Dude' I had to do a little fitting but was able to have everything fit and both the throttle and choke shaft work without interference.  I lubed the seals with silicone grease prior to install.

Felt seals are also available here http://www.justcarbs.com/parts/felts.html. I can't comment on the fit of these ones but they look great.

[SF]

I ordered 3" square samples from http://www.thefeltstore.com/Portal.aspx?CN=DF62ABCD93B3 and punched my own. Not to take business away from any one. Make sure its SAE

[Godffery]

Where did you order the felt seals from?

Felt seals came from http://dudesgarage.com/4301.html

I have the first set he is offering for PD carbs - I am guinea pigging for him.  He sells over thickness seals and the idea is flip the brass retainer ring over and turn it into a cup to hold the seal in.

As this is the first set from 'Dude' I had to do a little fitting but was able to have everything fit and both the throttle and choke shaft work without interference.  I lubed the seals with silicone grease prior to install.

Felt seals are also available here http://www.justcarbs.com/parts/felts.html. I can't comment on the fit of these ones but they look great.

Good to know!  Please Keep us posted on your overall assessment of these.

[boaf]

Got the brakes lines all fit up and installed.  Will paint the MC tomorrow and then I can add fluid and bleeed the system





Installed new exhaust studs and started exhaust install. I will install the carbs before finishing the exhaust. Then I will take off the center stand, finish up the exhaust and fire it up.

[boaf]

Master cylinder painted and mounted. Bleeding the brakes was more then I bargained for.  I just couldn’t get the lever to stiffen up and couldn’t figure out why. Pushed fluid with a syringe through the bleeder, held lever open over night, tons of standard bleeding and the lever could still be easily pulled to the bars. Turns out I was pulling air through a bleeder. It was until 48 hours later that a drip of fluid showed on the caliper. Replaced the Teflon tape on the bleeder and was in business. A quick standard bleed and all seems good.

Out of curiosity, how far should the lever pull?



I was going to move the bike around in the garage and it was in gear, pulled the clutch and it still wouldn’t move. Without checking here first I assumed it was a cable adjustment problem though I don’t know why as it was untouched since last season. No amount of adjustment would get it rolling. As it turns out stuck clutches are pretty common. Going to try a few methods that don’t require taking the clutch apart. If I end up needing to take the side cover off I will just replace the clutch ‘because I’m in there.’

Ended up ordering a stock Honda clutch cable to replace the Motion Pro cable that was on the bike.  There is a discernible difference in fit and quality.

Does the routing in the trees look correct?





Towards the end of last year the bike developed a small oil leak behind the left side cover. First inspection showed a leak from the top of the pressure sensor. Replaced it with a new one from 4into1 but the bike still leaked. The gear shift was also leaking so that seal was pulled and replaced tonight.  With that job done the exhaust could be completed. Got it all fit up to the muffler but and having trouble getting it to line up properly. I have contacted Ripple Rock and should have an answer tomorrow.  The system is beautiful. The slip joints are a nice touch, spring clamps are easy to fit and the clearances are perfect.








Also got the carbs reinstalled with new fuel line and drain lines. No leaks on the carbs and did the clear tube check and the levels seems good. The carbs a currently jetted with 105 mains. The Cognito Moto airbox is installed though I’m still skeptical about using it.  I did find the pieces to complete my stock air box if needed.



I am having an issue with the thottle cables pulling the carbs when turning the bars to the right. See video. I did not change the routing of the cables when the carbs were out so it may have been like this before.  The throttle works perfect and snaps back nicely from full left to about 70% right then closes more slowly. Any suggestions?

[boaf]

Update on the exhaust. I was shipped the wrong mounting strap for the muffler.

Ripple Rock / Hindle were great and shipped me the new strap within 24 hours. Hopefully it arrives tomorrow.

Going to make up a temp strap, mount the muffler and start the bike tonight.

[boaf]

Started right up. Likely a little rich at idle.  I’ll get it out for a test ride tomorrow and get a better idea of the operating conditions.

Idle

Tach @ Idle

Tach - revving to 3-4K

[DurangoCB]

Sounds good.  That sound is such sweet motivation for those of us who have our bikes in pieces!

[boaf]

Got the bike out tonight for a 30km or do so ride. A few notes....

-
1. The idle is definitely rich. I can smell it.  The mixture screws are currently at 1.5 turns out.  I will start by turning them in a 1/4 turn.

2. There is some slight popping on closed throttle decel.  I will ride it again tomorrow after the mixture screw change and re-assess the situation.  Might need to change the slow jet.  I am not willing to go crazy to make the Cognito Moto airbox (perfect.)  I will just go back to the stock air box.

3. Acceleration is strong and seemingly without hesitation at any RPM all the way to 9k+  After making a few minor tweaks I will pull the plugs, have a look at them, put in new plugs and do it again.

Carb settings

Model: PD46C
Main: #105
Slow: #42
Needle: Middle (3rd) - stock was 2nd from top
Float: 14.5mm
Mixture: 1.5 turns

Plugs: X24ESR-U

4. I need to align the front end.  Steady with both hands on the bars and no vibration.  But with a ‘loose’ grip the wheel wobbles side to side

[boaf]

Weather was beautiful here today.  I had to work this morning for a few hours but got home just after noon.  I tightened down the exhaust spigots again in hopes that it would take away the decel popping and turned in the mixture screws a 1/4 turn in and then packed a few tools and headed out for about 3 hours of riding.

The 1/4 turn seemed to lean out the idle appropriately and the decal popping was gone.  Success! But not for long   After about 30 minutes the popping returned (very slight mind you) so at the next stop I turned the mixture screws back.  The popping continued not consistently but it was there.

Overall the performance is fantastic.  Idles smoothly and pulls hard thru the full RPM range.  Easily got it to 140 km/h (~ 87 mph)

When I returned home I tightened the exhaust spigots again.  I wouldn't have imagined they needed to be tightened again.  However maybe I was too easy on them before and didn't crush the washer fully.  It was easy to turn with a 1/4" drive ratchet using finger pressure. 

Hopefully that will take care of the popping and I can then focus on the idle.

I also pulled plug #1 'just to see' what it looked like.  I rode on these plugs last year but can't recall for how long.  It looks a little rich?  But of course that could be from last year.  Will sort out the popping / idle as best I can then put in a new set of plugs for reading.



Shortly after getting home Dicom (delivery company) showed up with the bracket from Hindle.  Delivery on Saturday?  Great customer service.  Promptly installed the bracket.  It did take a little 'massaging' of the bends to get the muffler to sit where I was happy with it.

Love the look, the clearances and the sound is off the charts.  Will try and get some video.

As a note the side covers don't fit perfectly with the Cognito Moto air box.  The front edge of the cover interferes with the box and doesn't seat all the way on the front clip.  No risk of coming off but not 'tight' fitting.

Still need to pick up some turn signals - I don't want to do hand signals anymore.



Not sure what I'm doing with my missing tank badge yet. Maybe shave the tank.

[boaf]

Settled at 1.5 turns on the mixture screws.  Couldn't be happier with the performance.

I think the bike is running great.  But hey what do I know its my first bike.

Will get some video going shortly.

Are there any 'street' tests I can do to make sure the bike is performing at peak capability? Power, handling and braking.

Will get some new plugs in shortly and then check them after a few hundred km.

This should wrap up the work for this winter.  Riding season is here.

Might be getting a CB750 from a friend to start wrenching on.

[calj737]

Plug "chops" are performed with fresh, clean plugs at a specific throttle range only. Riding around subjects the plug to a myriad of different AF mixture ranges and is not a productive measure for adjusting your carbs. You will never know if the idle is rich versus 1/2 throttle.

Best to start with fresh plugs, bike warmed up on old plugs. Then IDLE the bike with a fan in front for 3 minutes. Pull the plugs. Adjust carbs as required. Then proceed with Wide Open Throttle (WOT), 1/2 throttle, and 3/4 throttle for optimum readings.

Or, take your bike with fresh plugs to a dyno and have it done professionally.

[boaf]

Plug "chops" are performed with fresh, clean plugs at a specific throttle range only. Riding around subjects the plug to a myriad of different AF mixture ranges and is not a productive measure for adjusting your carbs. You will never know if the idle is rich versus 1/2 throttle.

Best to start with fresh plugs, bike warmed up on old plugs. Then IDLE the bike with a fan in front for 3 minutes. Pull the plugs. Adjust carbs as required. Then proceed with Wide Open Throttle (WOT), 1/2 throttle, and 3/4 throttle for optimum readings.

Or, take your bike with fresh plugs to a dyno and have it done professionally.

Booked some dyno time for next week with Don from Stay Tuned Systems.  Don works out of his garage and only lives one (farm) road over from me.  Must be nice to have a dyno in your garage.  Don mostly does Harleys these days but used to work at a Honda dealership and is excited to see a vintage bike in his shop.

I have 12 fresh plugs ready to go.  I did the 3000 mile tune up about 500 miles ago but will go over it again and sync the carbs before the dyno time.  Will also put in some fresh no ethanol gas, pre-gap all the new plugs and bring a few other jets sizes just in case.

Anything else I should do before hand?

Will post results and charts when it's done.

[calj737]

Yeah, take a cooler of coldies to Don!

[boaf]

Quick update.

I have been back and forth a few times for tuning. 

I have ordered some new pilot jets to fine tune the idle.  Should be here this week. 

It will get on the dyno again and charts will be posted.

Last weekend I did a 1000 km trip in Northern Ontario with 0 issues.  It was a a great trip and really nice to have no problems to deal with.  I was fully packed out with tools, plugs and extra parts just in case.