Topic: Another project-1976 Honda CB550K

[grcamna2]

I have enjoyed almost 400 miles of riding since put together, bike is running great and pulls good in upper RPM range, with exception to low speed hesitation/gurgle.

I was able to find 4 sets of needle set jets at DR. Powersports in Iowa (Thanks to Dex at Sound Sound Honda), got them ordered.

Want to compare the original Honda needle to whatever I have, updates to follow when I receive them and have time to tear carbs apart .... again.

I like to measure the needle jet/nozzles(compared to new ones)using my 'pin gauge set' to determine how much they've worn from the needles sliding through there so much.
I called and spoke with Dex on other parts just Friday;I enjoy how helpful they are there at South Sound Honda,especially locating NOS Honda parts at other dealers across the country.
He even gave me a choice of a dealer up in Norwich,ONT on the part I was searching for. 

[newday777]

I have enjoyed almost 400 miles of riding since put together, bike is running great and pulls good in upper RPM range, with exception to low speed hesitation/gurgle.

I was able to find 4 sets of needle set jets at DR. Powersports in Iowa (Thanks to Dex at Sound Sound Honda), got them ordered.

Want to compare the original Honda needle to whatever I have, updates to follow when I receive them and have time to tear carbs apart .... again.

Dexter is good at finding missing parts in the NLA listing's.

[denward17]

I have enjoyed almost 400 miles of riding since put together, bike is running great and pulls good in upper RPM range, with exception to low speed hesitation/gurgle.

I was able to find 4 sets of needle set jets at DR. Powersports in Iowa (Thanks to Dex at Sound Sound Honda), got them ordered.

Want to compare the original Honda needle to whatever I have, updates to follow when I receive them and have time to tear carbs apart .... again.

Dexter is good at finding missing parts in the NLA listing's.

He sure is, this is the 3rd time he helped me find a Honda part at a different dealer.

[BenelliSEI]

That Norwich, Ont. dealer is where I found my exhaust clamp!

[grcamna2]

That Norwich, Ont. dealer is where I found my exhaust clamp!

Davidson's ? 

[BenelliSEI]

That Norwich, Ont. dealer is where I found my exhaust clamp!

Davidson's ? 

Yup. Speak to “Toby” in Parts Dept. Very helpful!

[BenelliSEI]

I have enjoyed almost 400 miles of riding since put together, bike is running great and pulls good in upper RPM range, with exception to low speed hesitation/gurgle.

I was able to find 4 sets of needle set jets at DR. Powersports in Iowa (Thanks to Dex at Sound Sound Honda), got them ordered.

Want to compare the original Honda needle to whatever I have, updates to follow when I receive them and have time to tear carbs apart .... again.

Denis….. leave it alone for now and ride it. Winter will come soon enough!

[denward17]

Couldn't resist John, Since I got the new needles I decided to take carbs off the bike and install the new Honda jet needle set.

I only have 1 carb needle out so I could inspect.

Old needle I suspect is a Keyster part? D26

New needle has part # 272304 on it.

Just for grins I tried to measure with calipers:
Length:
D26 = 55.55mm
272304 = 55.85mm

Tip diameter:
D26 = 1.39mm
272304 = 1.41mm

This explains why it is a tad rich down low speed operation.

Now what do I do about the clip position?  As it came apart, it was in the 4th position from top, don't know if this is where Honda intended or not, I cannot find a reference.

[grcamna2]

Couldn't resist John, Since I got the new needles I decided to take carbs off the bike and install the new Honda jet needle set.

I only have 1 carb needle out so I could inspect.

Old needle I suspect is a Keyster part? D26

New needle has part # 272304 on it.

Just for grins I tried to measure with calipers:
Length:
D26 = 55.55mm
272304 = 55.85mm

Tip diameter:
D26 = 1.39mm
272304 = 1.41mm

This explains why it is a tad rich down low speed operation.

Now what do I do about the clip position?  As it came apart, it was in the 4th position from top, don't know if this is where Honda intended or not, I cannot find a reference.

Denis,did you get OEM Honda 'needle sets' which include the needle jets/nozzles along with the new needles?  They do come as a set.

[denward17]

Couldn't resist John, Since I got the new needles I decided to take carbs off the bike and install the new Honda jet needle set.

I only have 1 carb needle out so I could inspect.

Old needle I suspect is a Keyster part? D26

New needle has part # 272304 on it.

Just for grins I tried to measure with calipers:
Length:
D26 = 55.55mm
272304 = 55.85mm

Tip diameter:
D26 = 1.39mm
272304 = 1.41mm

This explains why it is a tad rich down low speed operation.

Now what do I do about the clip position?  As it came apart, it was in the 4th position from top, don't know if this is where Honda intended or not, I cannot find a reference.

Denis,did you get OEM Honda 'needle sets' which include the needle jets/nozzles along with the new needles?  They do come as a set.

yes sir, plan is to change them as well.  I picked up a set of original emulsion tubes from another member and had those installed already, but decided to just go ahead and replace them as a new set.  The needle is the only non-original part, with exception to JetRus main jets.

[grcamna2]

The emulsion tubes which have a number of holes through them and thread into the lower carb. body and the main jet connects to on the bottom doesn't see much wear.
The needle and needle jet(set)will wear together,which messes with how the fuel atomizes.
I have searched for stock NOS Honda 'needle sets' for other bikes and found they can be difficult to locate. I like the performance of the bike after I've replaced them. 

[denward17]

The emulsion tubes which have a number of holes through them and thread into the lower carb. body and the main jet connects to on the bottom doesn't see much wear.
The needle and needle jet(set)will wear together,which messes with how the fuel atomizes.
I have searched for stock NOS Honda 'needle sets' for other bikes and found they can be difficult to locate. I like the performance of the bike after I've replaced them. 

Here is a pic of the needle jet set with the emulsion tube that presses in, the main jet presses in just underneath and uses an o-ring to help hold the jet in place.  Then the "wing" goes on over the main jet and presses within the float bowl to hold it in.

[grcamna2]

OEM NOS Honda needle set  Excellent.

[denward17]

Honda needle jet sets are installed, new needle set at position #3, moved up from 4th position.

Let sit in the bench vice for a couple of hours with fuel applied to make sure I had no leaks from bowl gaskets, no issues.

Installed carbs, air box and battery box.

Wednesday will install carb cables, battery and sync balance carbs and give it a whirl and see what happens.

[grcamna2]

Honda needle jet sets are installed, new needle set at position #3, moved up from 4th position.

Let sit in the bench vice for a couple of hours with fuel applied to make sure I had no leaks from bowl gaskets, no issues.

Installed carbs, air box and battery box.

Wednesday will install carb cables, battery and sync balance carbs and give it a whirl and see what happens.

Oh, I can imagine that bike will run Great. 
Which gasoline do you run,Ethanol-Free?
The Ca. gasoline is only available with ethanol and it doesn't give much power and goes stale very fast..

[denward17]

yes ethanol free and 89 octane if I recall..........

[grcamna2]

yes ethanol free and 89 octane if I recall..........

Just what you need 

[denward17]

Successful carb syncing today after jet needle set installed...............idles well and takes throttle blip good.

Rain is all over the place in my area so might not get a chance to ride today.

[grcamna2]

Successful carb syncing today after jet needle set installed...............idles well and takes throttle blip good.

Rain is all over the place in my area so might not get a chance to ride today.

I know you didn't ask for the rain;we certainly need some out here after almost a month of 100+ degree heat Waves !!
I'm glad to hear you've installed the new emulsion tubes/needle sets 
Many sets of carbs 'from back in the day' are running around 'in need' of them;you will feel the difference 

[denward17]

Looks like the rain is going to hold off until later this evening, so was able to go on ~24 mile ride.

Bike is running fantastic!  The low speed gurgle is gone, when I turn into a low speed corner in 2nd gear and slowly increase throttle it is crisp now, no hesitation.

To recap:
I had Keyster D26 needles in the 4th slot, they were removed  and I installed the Honda needles (272304), with the clip in the 3rd (center) position.
These are the 087A carbs.

With old needles I tried to compensate with the air mixture screws and went up to about 2 3/4 turns out, it helped but gurgle was still there.  With new needles I am 1 1/2 turns out.

[newday777]

Looks like the rain is going to hold off until later this evening, so was able to go on ~24 mile ride.

Bike is running fantastic!  The low speed gurgle is gone, when I turn into a low speed corner in 2nd gear and slowly increase throttle it is crisp now, no hesitation.

To recap:
I had Keyster D26 needles in the 4th slot, they were removed  and I installed the Honda needles (272304), with the clip in the 3rd (center) position.
These are the 087A carbs.

I need to do them in my K5..... same gurgling rolling back on slow after letting off even just a little bit

[Mark1976]

Looks like the rain is going to hold off until later this evening, so was able to go on ~24 mile ride.

Bike is running fantastic!  The low speed gurgle is gone, when I turn into a low speed corner in 2nd gear and slowly increase throttle it is crisp now, no hesitation.

To recap:
I had Keyster D26 needles in the 4th slot, they were removed  and I installed the Honda needles (272304), with the clip in the 3rd (center) position.
These are the 087A carbs.

With old needles I tried to compensate with the air mixture screws and went up to about 2 3/4 turns out, it helped but gurgle was still there.  With new needles I am 1 1/2 turns out.

Congrats,  well done...
It's a process...

[BenelliSEI]

Well done Denis. Nothing feels better than solving a problem like that!

[grcamna2]

Looks like the rain is going to hold off until later this evening, so was able to go on ~24 mile ride.

Bike is running fantastic!  The low speed gurgle is gone, when I turn into a low speed corner in 2nd gear and slowly increase throttle it is crisp now, no hesitation.

To recap:
I had Keyster D26 needles in the 4th slot, they were removed  and I installed the Honda needles (272304), with the clip in the 3rd (center) position.
These are the 087A carbs.

With old needles I tried to compensate with the air mixture screws and went up to about 2 3/4 turns out, it helped but gurgle was still there.  With new needles I am 1 1/2 turns out.

Smooth power delivery 

[denward17]

Thanks Guys, discovered an oil leak after my ride today.

The gear shaft seal, which was replaced by a Honda seal back when I was cleaning and rebuilding the top end.

I discovered today while searching there appears to be 2 different sizes from Honda 13.8mm x 24mm x 5mm and 14mm x 24mm x 5mm.

I ordered both to see which one will fit better, not sure what's going on here but will update after seals arrive.