Topic: Hello everyone i have a CB550k3

[DarkLinkX5]

I picked it up last year. I was looking for an old 70s style bike particularly with a flat seat because i like the style of the whole bike a lot more than modern bikes.
Racer style bikes look nice but their not my style. modern cruisers arent my thing either. 

i got eBay carbs that i reconditioned with new gaskets/orings in. their leaking gas into the pod filters and causing running issues.
i've replaced a bunch of missing or damaged part and reconditioned the top end with new gaskets/seals.
repaired the rusted through gas tank, which so far was the hardest part.
i still have to get a new exhaust system as this one is rusted beyond repair. that seems about the most expensive part of the restoration.
i might go with a cheap 4into1 system that's about $400 or some other cheap 4into4 system, until i can afford the new $1,100+ OEM style exhaust. which i like a lot more.

the only issue holding me up on getting the tank on is the threading on it is messed up and im thinking of what to do with it.
i can either put the petcock on and hope it dont leak, get a die to hopefully not make the threads worse, or cut/weld something on it and hope it dont mess up my Red Kote liner.

This is the sellers picture. i haven got around to taking recent pictures yet. but have time might later this week end having 4 days of.
I'm trying my best to get it restored and running smoothly with what time i have on the weekends.

Edit: i took the "sissy bar" off dont need it, dont like it.

[MD]

Welcome from Lake Superior,

The drippy carbs can be caused by dirty float needles and seats.  The wrong float height.  and faulty bowl gaskets.  If the bike came with the original air box and filter switch back to using it until all other carb problems have been fixed.  Pods and free flowing exhaust can be a real challenge to get correct jetting.

Good luck

-MD

[DarkLinkX5]

oh nice i've seen a few Michiganders on here. I'm in the thumb area myself.

I got all new float needles in it that move freely. i have took the bowl off on one of the leaky ones and pressed up on the float and it didn't let gas through.
unfortunately i didn't get an air-box with the bike. I'd still like to find one over pod filters. i bought them because i needed something. bee's like to make nests anywhere they can.
my carb kit came with two different sets of jets. not sure what ones i put in but made sure they were all the same.
I set all my floats to 14.5mm using digital calipers so height should be good. they just dont want to co-operate. 
floats seem in good condition but i guess a float flotation check is in order. that's the one thing i didn't replace in there. 

[MD]

oh nice i've seen a few Michiganders on here. I'm in the thumb area myself.

I got all new float needles in it that move freely. i have took the bowl off on one of the leaky ones and pressed up on the float and it didn't let gas through.
unfortunately i didn't get an air-box with the bike. I'd still like to find one over pod filters. i bought them because i needed something. bee's like to make nests anywhere they can.
my carb kit came with two different sets of jets. not sure what ones i put in but made sure they were all the same.
I set all my floats to 14.5mm using digital calipers so height should be good. they just dont want to co-operate. 
floats seem in good condition but i guess a float flotation check is in order. that's the one thing i didn't replace in there.

Originally from the lower peninsula but now on the north side of the Lake in Minnesota.

-MD

[tool14]

welcome aboard.

[frenchy51]

Welcome to the forum from another Newbie...

[DarkLinkX5]

thanks for the welcomes.  you guys are great.

I was finally able to ride the bike around the yard. got damn is it fun. 
it still needs a little adjusting on the clutch and carb. but i got it synced, clutch is a bit stiff to shift.
im working on getting an air box/cleaner. got the both plastic housing coming in the mail!
carbs still want to leak gas out the main jet tube into the pod filter when off.

(including a more up to date picture)

[RAFster122s]

Are you shutting off the petcock when the bike is off? That is the correct thing to do. If you are, then your petcock is leaking and needs replaced. Honda cables are superior to aftermarket and and worth the price. South Sound Honda of Olympia WA has very good prices on parts.

[DarkLinkX5]

thanks for the help.
yes, and its a brand new petcock never used before putting it on the bike. its not leaking gas from the petcock. if i turn it "off" no gas comes out. not even a drip.

i think it was just improper clutch adjustment. first bike i've ever worked on and i have to look everything up on the internet before i do something or i have to spend more time fixing my issue.
i didn't do that for the clutch and inevitably made improper adjustment. (turning the screw all the way in one direction  )
after a youtube search on proper adjustment today i'll try it again.
i did get the cheaper aftermarket cables they seemed great. I didn't line it up to the old one and compare it though. the cable moves freely compared to the stiff old one that was locked up so i thought it would work great.

[RAFster122s]

Aftermarket cables like MotionPro should be lubed before use... In case you were not aware...

[DarkLinkX5]

First off i do appreciate the advice but.. (not to sound rude)
if i knew everything there is to rebuilding a 42 year old motorcycle that probably sat for 20-30 years i wouldn't need these forums. lol 
i haven't even owned a bicycle in the last ~17 years. pretty much lost everything back then...

i did not get the motion pro brand cables just a no brand reproduction set from 4into1. also $25.75 for the "genuine" clutch cable didn't seem all that fair a price when a $6.95 set would work just the same.
Honestly i did think about spraying cable lube in them but for how loose they were it felt like i was just going to add butter to extra butter popcorn. it didn't seem necessary at the time. 
but I'll go ahead and do that...
I did manage to re-adjust the clutch so seems a lot better now. I dont personally know anyone (yet) who is a professional motorcycle mechanic i can annoy with random questions.
but i do have ones phone number and address now. hoping he can help solve my carb issues.