Topic: Another project-1976 Honda CB550K

[denward17]

^LOL....

[denward17]

Finished up the brake system on the front today, bled the master/caliper, will let it be for a while to make sure no leaks as all hoses were replaced as well.

Started looking at these carbs, they are next on the agenda.  Will be tearing them apart and cleaning, install new Honda o-rings, gaskets and such.

These are 087A with #100 mains, #38 pilot, and a D26 needle, in the 4th notch from top.  I took one carb apart.

They are dirty.....

[Mark1976]

   Not a bad looking rack, (I've said that more than a few times in my life.) They'll clean up well.

[grcamna2]

   Not a bad looking rack, (I've said that more than a few times in my life.) They'll clean up well.

Lol 
I like those carbs;they should clean-up good.

[denward17]

Glad I decided to take them apart......Pictures tell the story, and judging by the parts inside and some of the screws/bend tangs, they have been worked on before.

This is the #1 carb, emulsion tube has quite a bit of crude, #2 carb main jet has crude.

[Mark1976]

   Not bad, it'll clean up...
   But is it kehin brass?
   This was mine a couple three yrs ago. They cleaned up, but the mains and pilots were a complete loss... get good quality internals. 

[denward17]

   Not bad, it'll clean up...
   But is it kehin brass?
   This was mine a couple three yrs ago. They cleaned up, but the mains and pilots were a complete loss... get good quality internals.

Unfortunately not, Looks like Keyster parts, but not sure.  Your pic looks bad.

[Mark1976]

 Believe it or not, they cleaned up worked like a charm. I may have changed out everything but the emulsion tubes. I don't remember, I'd have to go back to the thread and see.. The bike came out ok as well, sold it in like 2 days, got to ride it all summer and it returned every penny that went into it plus a little extra. A great little bike.

[denward17]

^Nice looking bike..

[BenelliSEI]

Glad I decided to take them apart......Pictures tell the story, and judging by the parts inside and some of the screws/bend tangs, they have been worked on before.

This is the #1 carb, emulsion tube has quite a bit of crude, #2 carb main jet has crude.

Dennis….. the lessons I have learned with carbs is spend as long as it takes and do everything. Doing the complete job ensures you only have to do it once. On my K6 the plan is to finish the rest of the bike, clear off a bench and then do the carbs. After I clean out the ultrasonic tank and load it with fresh “juice”!

[denward17]

My carb bodies just got in the tank for a bath (Aircraft Simple Green and Dawn).

Do you use the same juice for the brass parts?  I was planning to, except clean juice.

[BenelliSEI]

I have a case of old aerosol cans of a really strong carb cleaner, that somebody gave me. Strong stuff. I spray enough to fill a small container with the liquid and soak over night. Blow them out and they are spotless……

[Mark1976]

I have a case of old aerosol cans of a really strong carb cleaner, that somebody gave me. Strong stuff. I spray enough to fill a small container with the liquid and soak over night. Blow them out and they are spotless……

Exactly what I do..... they'll look as good as new....
And then you can inspect for markings...if it's not kehin,  deep 6 it...

[denward17]

I have a case of old aerosol cans of a really strong carb cleaner, that somebody gave me. Strong stuff. I spray enough to fill a small container with the liquid and soak over night. Blow them out and they are spotless……

Exactly what I do..... they'll look as good as new....
And then you can inspect for markings...if it's not kehin,  deep 6 it...

I found out during disassembly that I had 1 pilot that was keihin of the same size, the rest is of unknown origin.  In another thread someone said the D26 needles were Keyster I think.

I checked with SoundSound Honda today, they say the needle set kits are unavailable, but I didn't inquire about the mains or pilots.

[denward17]

I have a case of old aerosol cans of a really strong carb cleaner, that somebody gave me. Strong stuff. I spray enough to fill a small container with the liquid and soak over night. Blow them out and they are spotless……

John, do you clean the brass one carb at a time to keep them separate, or does that not matter?

[BenelliSEI]

I usually lay out a huge egg tray and put everything back where I found it, but truthfully I don’t know why!

[seanbarney41]

I feel like anything moving metal on metal wears as a mate and should be kept together...slides and carb bodies, jet needles and needle jets, float needles and seats.  But really, I am sure I have gotten stuff mixed up or had to replace something and I have no scientific evidence that this practice is important...But really, its just as Benelli said, you just don't want to have to dig into those carbs twice, especially on the 550.  Lots harder to work on than a 750 in my opinion.  And if some little overlooked detail is causing a carb problem, it can just be really hard to find.

[grcamna2]

I have a case of old aerosol cans of a really strong carb cleaner, that somebody gave me. Strong stuff. I spray enough to fill a small container with the liquid and soak over night. Blow them out and they are spotless……

I brought a 12 pk./case of 12oz. cans of Berkebile 2+2 carb. cleaner(strong stuff)from Pa. when I moved out here to Ca. and I still use it occasionally for tough carbs.

[Stev-o]

I have a case of old aerosol cans of a really strong carb cleaner, that somebody gave me. Strong stuff. I spray enough to fill a small container with the liquid and soak over night. Blow them out and they are spotless……

Exactly what I do..... they'll look as good as new....
And then you can inspect for markings...if it's not kehin,  deep 6 it...

I checked with SoundSound Honda today, they say the needle set kits are unavailable...

A lot of info here and good parts...


https://www.jetsrus.com/index.html

[denward17]

Carbs cleaned, tops and bottoms cleaned up pretty nice, with a little dremel work and polish.

Brass is soaking in carb cleaner.....

Hopefully get back together next week.

[Mark1976]

Looking better already ...

[BenelliSEI]

What you end up soaking in?

[denward17]

Local auto parts store, some aerosol Gumout carb cleaner.  It is not not great, I am going to have to scrub some of the brass with a nylon brush I think.

[denward17]

Decided to mix up a concoction: Dawn, Simple Green Aircraft and a little white vinegar for the brass.

Put each set in a small plastic snack bag, put them in the ultrasonic cleaner for about 30 mins.

They turned out much better than soaking in carb cleaner for over a day.

[Mark1976]

   If ya get stuck, I'm pretty sure I've got 4 kehin 38 pilots. I'll look... that aftermarket brass is just not worth the frustration.