Before I start not quite answering your questions, I want to thank you because you always seem to be around to help TwoTired.
You're welcome.
But, be warned, I've found that not everyone likes my "help".
Oil light comes on 99% of the time when the key is turned to on, but once the engine is on, the oil light does not come on. Oil light was not on while I was driving today. I really hope I was just going nuts when I was outside earlier and I'll check the oil again and find it's there but I don't like the gasket being stretched.
I missed the gasket stretch point. It could be that someone used the wrong material o ring on the plug, and oil aromatics have caused it to swell. However, if your carb overflows are plugged and the float valves are leaking when the petcock is left on, then gas could be leaking into the cylinders and past the orings to dilute the oil and cause the oring to swell.
Does your oil smell like gas?
The rubber tubes for the carb overflows can get plugged with insect nests (mud daubers, for example), making them unable to function properly.
Bought the bike in June, have probably put 1.5k+ miles on it from daily driving and a handful of longer trips. Tackled the oil change about 600 miles ago. The bike came with a Clymers, but this is my first bike and I'm still trying to get a handle on the routine maintenance. I mostly don't know what all needs to be done, and when I start making a list I still need to learn how to do half the stuff. Never had any mechanical training, I just pick it up as I go along. I'm reasonably competent(i think) but I still have a lot to learn and don't usually have a lot of confidence in my ability when I try something new until it's done.
I think the chain is alright but that was next on my list to verify, inspect and adjust or replace. I also need new tires. I pulled the air filter once, no mice but it could probably use replacing. I looked into this, can these pods be sourced at a local generic store? I was planning on going back to the stock airbox but I haven't figured out what parts I need or where to get em, asked once or twice but don't think I got an answer because it was probably in the middle of 6 other questions. Doesn't help that I work and go to school so I'm away from the house for 11 hours a day and work just gave us some mandatory OT for the next 2 months, but I'd like to find a weekend day where I have a checklist to work through on the bike.
Probably should pick up an owners manual for your bike. If you decide to work on it, nothing beats the real Honda Shop manual.
Can't help with the pods. Some can be cleaned and re-oiled. I much prefer the stock arrangement, as I think it is far better for street use on a reliable daily driver. But there are a lot of parts to find, big and small, if you want a restoration.
Second, if you don't have a fuel contamination problem, which could cause you're bike's symptoms, I'd guess the points have crusted up, gotten wet, or simply slipped their adjustment.
Would these fit into a sudden onset of craptastic running?
Probably, we're going to need a bit better problem description in order to help with that. But, yes... I think. Simple tune ups can cure a myriad of woes.
It's been in regular service. Last friday I parked it for the day with the charger on it, drove it briefly late sunday night and the battery died for good but otherwise it was running fine. The reason I suspect the air filter is because it's right next to the battery and that's the only thing that should have changed. I've been meaning to verify, inspect and adjust the points etc, but taking the tank off seems like a project to me and I haven't had a weekend in town to mess with it for almost a month now. I thought this weekend would work but now I have to go buy a new car for the lady. Sorry, I'm venting off topic right now.
Uh, yeah, well machines are like that. They work fine until... Then they either stop altogether or degrade in function. Often, the bike will tell you whats wrong with it. But, you have to learn it's language.
The carbs have been leaky since I got it, I'm thinking gaskets and new floats are in order, but I had bad luck on my car's last car rebuild so I'm worried about tearing into them, and I'd like to do one big tune up parts order from an internet site and haven't been able to come up with a complete list. It's been running well enough despite the leaks though.
Just get rebuild gasket kits from Honda. I don't know just how a Cb550 float can "go bad" on it's own. You can get fuel line tubing from Honda, as well.
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Right now my plan is to remove the battery and air filter in the parking lot before I leave work and see if I can spot anything obvious, then I need to ride the mile to campus for class, the closest place to get oil is farther than school. Once class is over I'll ride home, again it's as close/closer than a auto store to top off with what oil I have.
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I think you're asking for trouble operating with severely low oil. The mechanical damage this causes can lead to power plant replacement. Leave it, hitch a ride, come back to it later. when time permits. Learn the lesson of checking the oil before riding off.
Here's an owner's manual excerpt:
