Topic: '74 CB550K Weird Petcock

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Anybody ever seen a petcock like this on a 1974 CB55K Four? I finally got a chance to take a look at the one I want to get going, and found this -I've never seen one like that - it looks factory, but I'm not sure; usually they have an oval base, yes? Here's a pic of the bike, too...it looks like it belongs to maybe a CB350, but I've never seen one like that...there's no bowl!

UPDATE: Did some digging and found that Yes, it IS the right petcock - part # 16950-374-671 - I'd just never seen one like that; pretty pricey too - but I found one on picclick on eBay with the same part # for $21.04 incl. shipping, if anyone is interested: https://picclick.com/Fuel-Valve-Tank-Petcock-CB550K-K1-Four-CB550F-276786577966.html

[Kelly E]

My 74' CB 550 K0 petcock doesn't look like that. Mine is like a CB 500 petcock that has the sediment bowl but my 550 is a very early one, serial number 459.

[newday777]

Anybody ever seen a petcock like this on a 1974 CB55K Four? I finally got a chance to take a look at the one I want to get going, and found this -I've never seen one like that - it looks factory, but I'm not sure; usually they have an oval base, yes? Here's a pic of the bike, too...it looks like it belongs to maybe a CB350, but I've never seen one like that...there's no bowl!

UPDATE: Did some digging and found that Yes, it IS the right petcock - part # 16950-374-671 - I'd just never seen one like that; pretty pricey too - but I found one on picclick on eBay with the same part # for $21.04 incl. shipping, if anyone is interested: https://picclick.com/Fuel-Valve-Tank-Petcock-CB550K-K1-Four-CB550F-276786577966.html

You actually have a 1975 model 550 not a 74. 75 was when Honda went to the bung type mount on the model left side as you have.
Your title may say 74 as it was probably made and sold in late 74. If you check the vin numbers to the time-line you will see it is a 75.

[newday777]

CB550 time-line and vin numbers

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Newday - so, this ID tag on the neck is two years out of date?? Kind of slipshod with the manufacturing dates, aren't they...!  A 1975 tank, perhaps...?

[newday777]

Newday - so, this ID tag on the neck is two years out of date?? Kind of slipshod with the manufacturing dates, aren't they...!  A 1975 tank, perhaps...?

Someone probably changed the tank, sidecovers and turn signals (big on 75)
Maybe it had been in an accident and a parts bike was used to do the repairs.

[newday777]

If only these bikes could tell their stories!

[scottly]

Why is it that, after volunteers spent many days collecting the Honda docs and put them on the internet, we still have to answer questions which owners could easily have answered them selves?

This type of response is not helpful, nor appreciated.

[bryanj]

Delta, the numbers mean nothing when a po swaps the cycle parts from a different year which is obviously what has happened to this bike so repeating you should use frame numbers for id is a nonsensical remark

[Deltarider]

If your bike has that petcock, it's probably a CB550K1 (or CB550K2 for that matter). If you had identified your bike properly by frame- and enginenumber (you only have to do it once!) instead of talking years which don't mean a thing to the rest of the world, you could have looked it up in this parts list on page E3 in: https://www.honda4fun.com/dwnload/Part-List/CB550/CB550-K0-K1-K2-Parts-List.pdf. It is there: only the CB550 had the bowltype petcock (#5 where it says cup) and from the CB550K1 on, it was your model petcock.
Anything is possible, Bryanj, but don't you think consulting the apropiate parts list is at least a good starting point? Besides, the bigger blinkers are also an indication it's a K1.

[scottly]

it's probably a CB550K1 (or CB550K2 for that matter). If you had identified your bike properly by frame- and enginenumber (you only have to do it once!) instead of talking years which don't mean a thing to the rest of the world,

The VIN tag and frame number identify the bike as a 550 K0, which would be a 1974 model here in the US.

[Deltarider]

As far as framenumber you're right. To be accurate, it's a bastard. The K0 did not have the bigger blinkers and taillight.

[newday777]

If your bike has that petcock, it's probably a CB550K1 (or CB550K2 for that matter). If you had identified your bike properly by frame- and enginenumber (you only have to do it once!) instead of talking years which don't mean a thing to the rest of the world, you could have looked it up in this parts list on page E3 in: https://www.honda4fun.com/dwnload/Part-List/CB550/CB550-K0-K1-K2-Parts-List.pdf. It is there: only the CB550 had the bowltype petcock (#5 where it says cup) and from the CB550K1 on, it was your model petcock.
Anything is possible, Bryanj, but don't you think consulting the apropiate parts list is at least a good starting point? Besides, the bigger blinkers are also an indication it's a K1.

His bike is a USA issue bike. That's why I posted the USA time-line chart.
Stick to your EU bikes that you know, so you don't insert foot in mouth.

[Deltarider]

The problem with identifying your bike by 'year' is, that it will not help you looking up things in genuine Honda documents.
Best starting point is: compare the frame- and enginenumber of your CB500 or CB550 to those listed in the first four pages in the various CB500 and CB550 parts lists. I don't understand what's against that? After all, you only have to do it once. These parts lists were meant as reference for dealers! When you consult the paper editions, carefully collected and published by volunteers, you will be also informed on modifications during the term of your model and will have a perfect overview, like in this one: https://www.honda4fun.com/dwnload/Part-List/CB550/CB550-K0-K1-K2-Parts-List.pdf The CB550(K0), K1 and K2 on one page. What more could you want?! Talking 'years' will confuse many and could also confuse you. We have ample proof of it in this here site. Realise also that this happens to be an international site and that nowadays various models surface just about anywhere. This 'year' thing has even confused an in general pretty trustworthy site like CMSNL. On the page where they list 31 CB550 models, the first one listed already leads to confusion:
CB550 FOUR 1975 CB550K0 USA it says. 1975? A K0? Really?
Europeans don't understand why the year is sooo important to Americans. For us a bike is a means of transportation, not some fashion article. The CB500K1 has been marketed in the UK for I don't know how many consecutive years. The same for the CB750K2 in all of Europe. It has been years before its successor arrived: the CB750K6; the K3, K4 and K5 have not been imported here. If you want fo find out about your bike and also want to detect possible bastardisation, the best strategy is to learn what your model was in Honda speak when it left the assembly line to be shipped.
My bike was first registered in 1977, imported in 1976 and assembled in 1975. Who cares?! I have a painstakely edited parts list at my disposal that perfectly informs me, also on modifiations during its term and as, a bonus, shows the differences other destinations had and so offers me a variety in parts to choose from, to my personal taste. Thank you Honda!
To end this in good humour: years ago a German guy witnessed in disbelief a heated debate in some car forum about what 'year' a certain Ford Mustang was and was not. To calm things down, his down to earth reply had been something like: "Guys, what's the fuzz? After all you're only looking at a yester years Falcon!"

[dave500]

that early falcon platform got developed into an icon that still runs to this day.

[Deltarider]

that early falcon platform got developed into an icon that still runs to this day.

Really? With that medieval solid rear axle and 'western age' springleafs as suspension?

[dave500]

umm?you aint got a clue what these current mustangs are.

[newday777]

that early falcon platform got developed into an icon that still runs to this day.

Really? With that medieval solid rear axle and 'western age' springleafs as suspension?

It's because of your drum beating

[Kelly E]

Delta, why do you refuse to accept that Americans have their own way of doing things. We don't just accept someone else's methods we find our own. It's one of the things that make us great.

[bryanj]

And he still wont accept that it dont matter a #$%* what year it was built when a po fits used different parts

[scottly]

Also, sometimes even the Honda documentation is incorrect. For instance, the Honda shop manual for the '82-83 FT 500 Ascot shows that the rear brake caliper uses 30mm pistons, like the front caliper, but in reality the rear caliper uses 27mm pistons.