Topic: New bike and new to riding

[VancyPants]

Hello,

Just bought a 1975 CB550 yesterday.  Rode it around the block once yesterday everything felt fine. Tried starting it a second time and it began leaking.  Once again tried starting it today and still leaking from the same area and now the bike won’t even turn over.  Please advise.  Attached photo of area where it’s leaking from.


Thanks,

Vance

[jgger]

First off, welcome.

How long did the bike sit before you bought it. You could have a sticky float and now it may be badly flooded. Pull the spark plug on the cylinder that has the leaky carb  and see what it looks like. Kick it over a few times with the kill switch ser to OFF to clear out the cylinder. You say it won't turn over, is that because it is stuck or the start button isn't  cranking the engine? You may have run the battery down trying to start it. Make sure it is fully charged  then try again to start it.

If the float is sticking you can tap the carb with a screw driver handle, the operative word here is TAP, don't go caveman on it. With the petcock on, tap the carb and see if it stops the leak ( which I assume is comming from the overflow outlet).

If that doesn't work then post a pic of the plug you removed and I'm sure someone will be along to help you out. If it does work then let us know.

One more thing, start with the easy stuff like does it have gas in the tank.

Good luck.

[dusterdude]

Welcome

Sent from my LM-X420 using Tapatalk

[Tom C]

Welcome Vance!

Sticky float needles are the usual cause of gas leaking from the carbs.  Make sure that you set the petcock to the "off" position whenever you shut off the bike.  You may be out of gas if enough fuel leaked out.  If there is still gas in the tank then try using the reserve setting on the petcock to get the fuel to flow.  You say that you are new to riding so perhaps you don't know about the on and reserve settings of the petcock. 

The ignition switch has three positions - Off, On, and "park".  The park setting shuts the bike off but leaves the taillight lit. You can take the key out of the ignition when the bike is in park.   This setting is for if you need to leave the bike on the side of the road at night but don't want somebody to steal it.  I've mistakenly left my bike in park and when I try to start her up the next morning the battery is drained.  Perhaps this has happened to you. 

Since you are new to riding perhaps you should study the owners manual, which can be downloaded here:
http://manuals.sohc4.net/cb550/owners_manual/OM55074.pdf
Modern bikes don't have things such as petcocks and carburetors, it's helpful to look at the owners manual. 

You may already know all this stuff but since you said you are new to riding I don't know what you don't know!

Again, welcome and good luck with your new to you 550!

[tool14]

welcome aboard.

[MD]

Welcome from Lake Superior,

Drippy gas like that happens.

Sunday went for a ride down some gravel roads on my 550F and notice gas dripping off the case.  Stopped and turned the gas off.  Started the bike backup (lots of gas in the bowls)  Road for a mile or so until the bike died.  Tapped each of the carbs with my leatherman.  Turned the gas back on and did not have a problem with overflowing carbs for the rest of the ride.

-MD

[VancyPants]

Appreciate all the help.  Since then I was able to get it started and ride.  It's still been problematic.  When first starting the bike I have to stay on the throttle, if not as soon as I release the bike dies.  Other than that it's been riding fine.  Although just this morning my wife and I woke up to the smell of gas.  Went in the garage to check out the bike and it was leaking gas from the side of the tank.  I'm pretty upset because I haven't even put 50 miles on the bike since purchasing.  Does anyone know what would be the cause, is it from rust?  Also the solution, would I just need to buy a new tank?

[tool14]

make sure you shut off the gas petcock.

[VancyPants]

Pet cock was and still is off.

[Stev-o]

When first starting the bike I have to stay on the throttle, if not as soon as I release the bike dies. 

It is a 45 year old bike, it does not have a "fast idle cam"!   Start the bike, let it warm up for 2-3 min then ride off.

If gas is leaking, you need to determine if it is the petcock or the tank.  Petcock has 3 positions: off, on and reserve.
Disconnect the fuel line, put it into a can, then check it a few hour later to see if gas is in the can. If no, tank may be leaking.

[VancyPants]

It was leaking from the side of the tank.  I drained the fuel and removed the tank.  I'm think I'm going to try finding a local cycle shop or machine shop to see if they can repair it.