The Keihins on the SOHC4 bikes rarely need rebuilding, which to me entails replacement of needles and jets.
+ 1000
A forum like this is not only about our bikes, but also about... us. What we all should realise. We read in manuals like Clymer and Haynes about all kinds of possible repair, pages that are often copy and paste from manuals edited before on other bikes, with adaptations ofcourse. Lots of folks get primed in this way: they read it, look at the pictures and think: hey, that looks like a nice chore I can undertake. Only... if you had talked to a retired mechanic who has had hundreds of these bikes in his workshop, he could have informed you by saying: we never saw that problem on bike such and so, we
did see it on other bikes, but not your model. Such info is dearly missed today. Bryanj is a good example of someone who still has that knowledge.
Here's another way people get primed. On sites about anywhere, they see the same carburettor repair sets on offer. Now the mere fact you see them everywhere, makes the idea root: hey... ofcourse... these parts must wear, it makes sense, if not, those sets wouldn't be there... looks like a nice chore I can do. Only... in case of the CB500/550 these parts practically don't wear. Again, a mechanic who has dealt with these bikes a lot, could have told you that. Have a look at the pic of one of my float needles. Over 136.000 kms it has passed gasoline. There isn't even a beginning of wear. If you feel with a fingernail - again - there isn't even a beginning of a groove.
Really, sometimes I get the feeling people are addicted to the act of buying/ordering
itself and then drool by the prospect of having something to unbox soon.
