Topic: Hi! New owner of a cb550 here. Looking for guide for PD46C teardown/rebuild.

[corrupt_reverend]

Hey all!

So I came upon a free '76 cb550 last weekend. I thought "Heck yeah! Tons of parts and resourced for these guys."

Well, I got it home, started tearing into it and found that it's got the engine/carbs from a '78. A little more homework tells me that these are single-year carbs.

Thinking they couldn't be all that different from earlier options, I tore into them tonight and they've got me scratching my head.

I don't suppose any of you fine folks might have a guide, or even just an exploded diagram of these things? Would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

~Rev.

[RAFster122s]

Go to South Sound Honda in Olympia WA and into their electronic catalog parts ordering for your cb550 and opt for the '78 model and then go to the carbs section so you can get to the exploded view of the carbs. I didn't do this but I think it will show you the basics on the carbs.
That should help you sort them out.

[corrupt_reverend]

Go to South Sound Honda in Olympia WA and into their electronic catalog parts ordering for your cb550 and opt for the '78 model and then go to the carbs section so you can get to the exploded view of the carbs. I didn't do this but I think it will show you the basics on the carbs.
That should help you sort them out.

Righteous! Will do. Thanks for the tip! Checking it out right now. 

[bryanj]

If they are deffinately 78 they will be PD carbs and are the most finikey carbs about, pilot jets are pressed in and can be very difficult to get out but need to be removed to clean out all the crap.
A set of earlier carbs will fit if you get the manifolds, airbox and both sets of rubbers as well

[DaveBarbier]

Unsure how far you want to go into the carbs but there’s no need to separate them from the rack. In my view, the only issue is the presses in pilot jets. But if you grab them with pliers (remember they’re hollow so don’t use vice grips and clamp down hard because they could possibly collapse) and pull straight up with a slight twisting motion they should come right out. There are multiple tiny holes in the jets that need to be spotless along with the carb body. Can’t be too clean. There are dozens of posts here of people cleaning their carbs and still having running issues. They post back saying they’ve cleaned the carbs 5 times and still there are issues. If you clean them ONCE thoroughly and confidently you won’t have to go back in them.

Also congrats on the bike!

[Deltarider]

Unsure how far you want to go into the carbs but there’s no need to separate them from the rack.

+1

[Bankerdanny]

The '78 carbs aren't materially different from the '77 PD's so parts should interchange.

On my '77, which was my first SOHC4, I did separate the carbs, but as Delta mentions it isn't really necessary.

All you need to use from carb kits are the gaskets. The quality of the jets and needles in most kits is suspect. The brass parts really don't wear out except in extreme situations, so just clean them completely and reinstall.

One trick I use when cleaning carbs on bikes that have sat is to pick up some guitar string from the local music shop. It is small enough to get thought the main and idle jets and stiff enough to be able to work through the worst dried fuel clogs. Don't be surprised if you have to clean the carbs more than once. Wouldn't bother installing the airbox until the bike starts consistently.