Author Topic: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws  (Read 849 times)

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Offline eastern

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Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« on: October 01, 2024, 11:40:57 AM »
Hi All,

I'm about to go grab some hex key screws before starting a carb cleaning on a 74 CB550K.  Am I right in looking for M4-12 screws?  I see M4-16 as well.  Haven't pulled my carbs yet to measure, but I feel like someone here knows what I need! 

As always, I appreciate it!

1974 CB550K

Offline newday777

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2024, 01:44:47 PM »
4x12mm
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline eastern

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2024, 02:04:32 PM »
Much thanks!
1974 CB550K

Offline newday777

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2024, 04:13:22 PM »
👍
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2024, 08:30:08 AM »
Hi All,

I'm about to go grab some hex key screws

Just an FYI, they are technically called socket head screws...

https://www.amazon.com/Socket-Screws-50-piece-Stainless-Thread/dp/B01H25K24O?th=1
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2024, 03:45:46 AM »
Not a fan of socket head screws in carbs, far too easy to pull the thread out of the carb body as they are small and fine. Same applies to points plates, wrong location for them as well IMO.

Offline eastern

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2024, 05:04:53 PM »
Got busy and didn't manage to get the hex bolts.  Just did the carbs using the original screws (last night and this afternoon).  I see your point. Tightened the screws to with 'two finger torque' and all seems well.  Valves done, cam chain tensioner adjusted, carbs cleaned.  Bike runs WAY better.   Now to check the timing again in the AM.  New to me bike is now a different animal. 
1974 CB550K

Offline scottly

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2024, 10:12:15 PM »
Not a fan of socket head screws in carbs, far too easy to pull the thread out of the carb body as they are small and fine.
One must exercise some restraint when tightening small screws, regardless of the drive system. ;)
Socket head screws are much easier to fit, as they plug securely onto the head of the driver, unlike cross-head screws, which can require two hands to get started, while trying to hold the float bowl in place at the same time.
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
Helmets save brains. Always wear one and ride like everyone is trying to kill you....

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2024, 03:57:31 AM »
The thing is Scottly is that IF you overtighten a normal screw head the screwdriver tends to slip out before it either shears or strips the thread, it's a little like a failsafe. If it strips the thread it's usually because the thread was already damaged in some way. A small screwdriver bit in a socket helps with putting screws into float bowls or there is the special bit Snap On developed which grips the slots in the screwhead so it can be used a little like a socket head screw.

I've found the screws Honda used on the 500/550 etc type carbs are too long on the float bowl and too short of the carb top, if thread is exposed like it is on the float bowl screws these rust over time, dragging that through the thread in the body when you go to remove them can strip the thread right out of the body, exposed threads do nothing, they certainly don't exert any pressure. If you look at the threads in the carb top holes you'll spot the bottom threads have never been used and the amount of times I've found those holes stripped out is unreal, the spring washer doesn't help in that respect, a lot of them weren't even threaded to the bottom of the hole as well, I rethread them and punch out the loose bottom cap (sometimes that's there, sometimes it isn't) I then tend to use a 20mm screw in that hole instead of the 14mm Honda used. It pulls better and doesn't strip out the thread.

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2024, 07:48:17 AM »
Not a fan of socket head screws in carbs, far too easy to pull the thread out of the carb body as they are small and fine.

Never had that issue, guess it could happen if you are careless.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Keihin 022 Float bowl screws
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2024, 09:26:10 AM »
I was a mechanic Steve so I saw loads of examples of just how clumsy some people can be