Topic: Oh Dear... Bike apparently is in need of some work!! A few questions

[Short Round]

So apparently my 1974 CB550 K has some bad rings!!!!!!!!!!!  It was running fine last year but now the #4 cylinder is not popping and it is burning oil so I have to pull the jugs off and take a look at the mess.  Anyone here done it before and how much work am I looking at, should I just go ahead and do everything while I am in there or just the top end, is it worth all the work??  Any help would be great.  Thanks ..........Chris

[jaknight]

Reglaze?

     That's what happens to my eyes when I see a beautiful woman.........

     I think someone's semantics has been turned around here.....

     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[scunny]

don't feed the tigers 
first off you neef to know if it's rings or valves, if it's rings it will blow smoke on acceleration, if valves it will burn smoke at start up after sitting a while. a compression tester can verify this.
I think you mean de-glazing. the head and jugs can be removed with the engine in place. as for how far you go, that depends on the condition of the motor and depth of your pockets

[jaknight]

Seriously,

     First thing I would do is a compression check before I started to dismantle anything.  After initial compression check, do the old trick of adding a little oil to that cylinder and see if the compression improves.........

     If it shows low compression......... well, we all make decisions about how much we like the bike.  If it needs work on that cylinder, I don't see any easy way of going about it.  If you open up the cylinder, take some measurements on its diameter, in several different locations..... compare the results to Honda's specs.  If the diameter is too large.......Hone walls and install oversize rings?....... still a lot of work even for this short cut....... personally, I wouldn't shortcut...........

     Maybe it could be a bad ring......

     If you do take the engine apart, you could use plastigage on the connecting rod bearings and the main bearings; again, compare results to Honda specs and see if you could live without having to redo all the bearings......... just a thought........

     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[mrbreeze]

So apparently my 1974 CB550 K has some bad rings!!!!!!!!!!!  It was running fine last year but now the #4 cylinder is not popping and it is burning oil so I have to pull the jugs off and take a look at the mess.  Anyone here done it before and how much work am I looking at, should I just go ahead and do everything while I am in there or just the top end, is it worth all the work??  Any help would be great.  Thanks ..........Chris

Since you omitted what you originally said....I omitted my whole post!!! Hope you get er straightened out!!!

[TwoTired]

THanks for the help mrbreeze (insert Middle Finger Here)

And with this single post, I have lost all interest in providing any help, as I expect I'll get flipped off, too.
Perhaps the parenthetical gesture has a different meaning where you are.

[Tim.]

leak-down test at your friendly local garage.  find out if its rings or valves and which valve.

if all is bad I'd buy the 555cc kit often found on eBay for $100 (pistons rings pins and gasket) and have the cylinders bored 0.5mm over.  I have done this with good success - took my 550F to 150PSI across all 4 cylinders nice and even.

Kit + bore is going to be cheaper than new rings + hone + head gasket if you can find rings.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-CB500-Four-BIG-BORE-555cc-Performance-Rebuild-Kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35595QQihZ012QQitemZ220107285467QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

I've bought two of these kits from this seller - the pistons are ART, Honda's OEM.

[Short Round]

Yeah the Compression is bad on the #4 (60), plus none of them are popping over 100.  The # 2 is right at 100 but the 1 and 3 are around 80-85. Also the #4 plug has oil all over it. Thanks for the advise so far everyone and Ill look into the bigbore kit Tintin.  Any other feedback would be great.  Apologies to everyone about my parenthetical gesture earlier I was a little upset.  Didn't mean to offend anyone

[EdB]

"And with this single post, I have lost all interest in providing any help, as I expect I'll get flipped off, too.
Perhaps the parenthetical gesture has a different meaning where you are"

hey, you out finger him 6 to 1 

[SteveD CB500F]

And in tune with the general air of forgiveness, I've changed the title so that it doesn't appear so inflammatory.

Steve

Oh, and those compression figures are bad. My 500 isn't much better (2x100, 1x110 and 1x95) but I've been putting off a topend strip for over a year now.  You may prove my inspiration.

Let us know the results if you go with a leak-down test.

[dusterdude]

wow!!!!,what a way to start a monday.