Topic: 78 CB550K Start Up Question

[tg305]

My 78 CB550K will start immediatly upon regular use.  When I don't ride it for a few days ( a week or so, like last week when I was on vacation) it takes a fair crank on the starter to fire it up.  Maybe 15 seconds total time.  I have clean carbs, dynamically timed ignition, adjusted valves.....  Is this common for the beast?   Thanks   Tim

[Bob Wessner]

I noticed a similar condition on my 750. After all my resurrection work on the tank and carbs, I installed transparent fuel lines, at least for the time bing. What I noticed is, that when I turn on the petcock, a certain amount of fuel always starts flowing to the bowls. You would think that having just run it the day before, for example, there should still be full bowls and fuel in the lines. I'm not sure if it evaporates from the bowls, if so how much, if there is a tickle leak (don't see anything though) or what, but perhaps you have the same condition. Do you turn on the petcock and wait a few seconds before you try cranking? If not, might be worth a try.

[tg305]

I was thinking it was a fuel starvation thing too.  I will wait a bit before I crank the starter next time I leave it for a duration.  Good point!   I have an in line filter but it's somewhat hidden and to be honest I can't recall if its transparent.