Topic: My non-chop 550 project (new pics of paint)

[Cvillechopper]

Don't think that's the same problem.  A cracked tube or mal-adjusted floats would cause a steady drip.  I'm getting a dump (about 2 to 3 oz) of gas at once, then nothing for a few minutes, rinse, repeat as necessary.  I've never had an issue with the carbs that was intermittent like this before.  Read the FAQs and didn't see anything like this.  I'll go through them again.

[dkruitz]

Could you have a float with a hole in it - it's filling up with fuel when the bowl is full - sinking, overflowing the bowl and then emptying in the "down" position?  repeat ad nauseum?

[Cvillechopper]

Starting to think I'm going crazy (almost a deffinate) or that it was some small debris.

Saturday I took her out for the first spin to the gas station (about 3 miles each way) and the drip appears to be gone.  I did, however, notice a nice oil drip toward the rear of the engine.  Traced it back to the drive gear housing and immediately thought, chain oiler.  Half an hour later I realize, after getting the chain loose, pulling the housing and cleaning up the area, that I don't have a chain oiler... wait for it... 

DOH!   

I forgot that, 1.  I don't have an oiler, never did.  2.  I soaked the chain in old motor oil for several weeks while in the middle of the rebuild.  Letting gravity work for a couple weeks while it was installed before I ran it must not have really done much.  Centripital force, on the other hand....

Back together and out for a few more miles.  Runs great over 3k but I won't take her over 5K until she's broken in properly.  Low end seems a little lacking but I've not had the chance to do a plug chop yet so not surprised. 

Once I get back home I pull the plugs and just as I thought they've got a little soot built up on them (only 20 miles or so and about an hour idling in front of a fan while I synched the carbs Thursday).  Turned the air screws out another 1/4 turn but haven't had the chance to get her back out since then. 

I forgot how much I love riding this bike.  After being on the M50 for about 1K miles the 550 feels like a big dirtbike.  Cornering is much better (at least 15 mph better  ) but I have to keep reminding myself that rpms are ok...

I'll have to update once I get the paint done but until then it's just tweak, tweak, tweak...

[Cvillechopper]

So I finally got the paint done (sort of) and got her tuned up pretty well.  I'll still have to tweak the carbs some and will be just about ready for re-torquing and re-tuning next weekend.  She's been parked for over a year due to the gas leak that was very real I just missed where it was coming from.  Turns out that the paint where the petcock seals was all messed up so it couldn't seal right.  Was leaking down the back on the fuel line and dripping all the way down.  The new paint fixed that right up.  









Time to just enjoy the ride until the new bars get in.  I'll be painting the rear fender to match the tank and sidecovers while I've got the bars pulled apart so will have to post a final pic once she's all done.