Topic: question for the engine builders, 550 K

[jsaab2748]

Had a bad experience fitting a 555 cc bore up off E bay. Just wanted to freshen the engine when I restored the bike. I want to get rid of this kit. New plan is to
go back with the original bore cylinders and pistons that came with the bike. The cylinders appear to have no ridges or gouges, and the pistons
look as good as well. My question is this: since I didn't mark which bores the pistons came out of, is it going to hurt anything if they are
reinstalled in different bores? Rings will
be new genuine Honda. What do you guys think?

[FunJimmy]

What went wrong with the 555 kit?
Didn't you just bore the 550 cylinders accept the bigger pistons?

[kayaker43]

The pistons and bores wear to fit each other,.. bad idea to mix them up, especially if they have enough miles to wear out a set of rings. Not exactly my idea of freshening up an engine...

Having said that,.. I'm sure others have done it and got away with it, it will certainly start and run. I'm genetically incapable of doing such a thing though. My Dad had a saying for stuff like that.

"If you can't find time to do it right,.. how will you find time to do it over"?

Not trying to put you down, but its not the right way to go.

[Cvillechopper]

I put the 555 kit into my 550 with GREAT results.  Took my jugs and the pistons and rings that came with the kit to a local machine shop.  He bored and honed the jugs to fit perfectly.  If you didn't get the jugs done and are trying to fit an over bore kit it won't work.

[Gordon]

New plan is to
go back with the original bore cylinders and pistons that came with the bike. The cylinders appear to have no ridges or gouges, and the pistons
look as good as well.

Sounds to me like he still has the stock cylinders.

[jsaab2748]

I removed the original cylinders and pistons from the engine, but didn't use them with the 555 cc kit. I had a cylinder set from a different
engine bored to accept the new pistons. I've heard good and bad things about the 555 cc kit off ebay, and unfortunately, mine uses oil to the point of it dripping out the end of number 3 pipe. Other members of the forum that know have advised that the one piece oil ring that the kit comes with can be a problem. I probly didn't need to even install the kit in the first place, but thought it'd be a good idea to refressh the engine anyway, as I was doing a resto. That being said,
could it be possible with some degree of accuracy to mic the o.e. pistons
and bores to come up with the closest matches? Seems unlikely that any two would be the same. Opinions welcome, and thanks so far guys..

[FunJimmy]

You should be ok measuring the bores to best match the pistons and then deglaze the bores and install new rings.
Lots of people just deglaze and re-ring engines that are within service limits and have no problems at all.

[bryanj]

Knowing Hondas tolereances whilst it wont be ideal it will run OK especially with new Honda rings---just be sure they are 3 piece, one piece work ok but honda found you had to top up the oil between regular changes so modified them. If you have oil dripping out irt aint just the rings its either a bad bore job or valve stem seals

[paulages]

yeah, what bryan said.

if it were me, i'd fix the problem with the kit rather than reverting back to stock just to possibly have the same problem. get three piece oil rings, have a machine shop check the cylinders for wear, and have them deglaze with a light hone if everything is within specs. have the head serviced. my machine shop does head disassembly, inspection, ultrasonic cleaning, valve seat regrind on a serdi machine, and reassembly for $85. another $40 to resurface the mating surface if necessary. this is good, cheap insurance if you ask me. if you do all this and space the rings properly at 120 deg. intervals, you shouldn't have any reason to be consuming so much oil.