Topic: Did I mess up?

[jcarter]

I have removed the carbs from my 550. Instead of taking them loose from the boots I just removed the intakes, boots and all. Should I remove the boots from the carbs and put the boots and intakes back on the heads? Should I just wait and leave the intakes off. im guessing after sitting for so long (12 years) that the gaskets will need replacing and the ports a good cleaning.<-- (right or wrong?) Im just kinda worried about debris getting inside the heads. Also, is there any advantage to soaking the carbs, minus the floats and gasket, with the insides still assembled. Will that make everything easier to take apart before a final soak and cleaning. I will be doing the carbs one at a time from start to finish.

[stresssolutions]

Put some tape over the gaping holes.  Sounds to me like it will be easier to reassemble all the components on the bench.

[TwoTired]

Why don't you follow Shop Manual procedures?

[kghost]

Why don't you follow Shop Manual procedures?

Thanls Llyod I blew coffee out at that one.

I know you meant it in all seriousness but that is Funny

Keep up the good work.

Tim

[754]

I was actually going to suggest that they, read, read, & reread the part in the manual about cleaning the carbs...

Lest we get yet another , "Cant be the carbs, I had them apart  3 times"... thread...

 But I am trying to be nice so I wont mention it..

[jcarter]

Why don't you follow Shop Manual procedures?

I took them off before I found a manual to look at, hence the question. But thank you for responding with an informative answer. Im sure it will help me greatly in the future. The boots were stuck on pretty good, there is not a great deal of wiggle room in there and i didnt wont to tear the boots or bust a knuckle. I thought the boots would be easier to remove once the carbs were on the bench. But thats ok ill be your whipping boy, but just for today.

[Bodain]

Why don't you follow Shop Manual procedures?

I wouldn't disagree. But almost every shop manual I've seen leave gapping holes. I love this line!
"Assemble in reverse order that you took it apart."  That assumes I was paying attention when I took it apart. <GRIN>

[Patrick]

I liked that line too, Bodain. In my case, however, it would have meant that the first time I went to remount the carbs on my K5 750 my starting position would have had to be sitting on my butt on the floor behind the bike with the carbs sitting on the back of the crankcase....

Patrick

[bryanj]

If you have any 550 prior to 77 and you mean the manifold rubbers between carb and head get new ones from Honda they aint that dear and make re-fitting a damn site easier, also the boots between carb and airbox are now available as an aftermarket part www.davidsilverspares.co.uk

[brianzenk]

I have a cb 550 1976.
Finally figured out the easy way to get carbs on and off with as little struggle as possible. When taking the carbs off pop the boots into the air box.
After the carbs are in place reinstall the air boots from the out side
that go between the inlet of the carb and the air box. Take
the clamps completely off.   

[goon 1492]

If you have any 550 prior to 77 and you mean the manifold rubbers between carb and head get new ones from Honda they aint that dear and make re-fitting a damn site easier, also the boots between carb and airbox are now available as an aftermarket part www.davidsilverspares.co.uk

and if your like me i'm not only a low budget kinda guy, i'm a no bugdet kinda guy and have to reuse the rubbers, put them in the oven at 250 degrees for about 5 mins or more (just keep an eye on em' so they don't get too hot) they will get really soft and you have to move fast with gloves too, it helps to rehearse all your moves for installation as to when you do the actual install it will need to go fast before they lose too much heat and get hard again. I learned this while installing my rock hard velocity stacks, and oh yeah it helps to rehearse it all, it took me five trys before i got it down and had to start with the two center stacks onto the air box first while separate from the bike and then the two outer stacks onto the carbs and then cram it all in as fast as humanly possible. I know this will probably be easier with the rubbers inbetween the carbs and the motor but the same principle prob. is usable.