Topic: 78 550K Carb cleaning help needed

[ugmold]

All is stock as far as I know except it has a 4 into exhaust system, don't know the brand, and I put a fuel filter in-line from the tank to the carbs.

Do you think re-assembly to the filter box will make a difference?

The sound that the bike makes at 4k is like if you left the petcock off. But then again we are talking 4 carbs, so it may not be all of them at once.

ugmold

[jason teamshralp]

All is stock as far as I know except it has a 4 into exhaust system, don't know the brand, and I put a fuel filter in-line from the tank to the carbs.

Do you think re-assembly to the filter box will make a difference?

The sound that the bike makes at 4k is like if you left the petcock off. But then again we are talking 4 carbs, so it may not be all of them at once.

ugmold

YES, It's like your running pods or Velocity stacks. you are changing the level of vacuum that the bike at stock would get. Read through TT's explanation again and then go put the air box back on. and test the bike.

[kevio]

On another note, anyone have a source for jets for the 78' 550k?  Will these work?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=007&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=170188284648&rd=1

Also, I read somewhere on here a formula for figuring out what jets you need.  But now I can't find it.  I have a 78' 550k4 that will have velocity stacks and a modified non-stock 4-1 exhaust (off a CBR600).
Thanks,
Kev

[TwoTired]

All is stock as far as I know except it has a 4 into exhaust system, don't know the brand, and I put a fuel filter in-line from the tank to the carbs.

Do you think re-assembly to the filter box will make a difference?

The filter box, and more importantly the stock paper filter, will certainly make a difference.  It seems unlikely that your 4 into 1 has the same back pressure than the stock 4 into 4 mufflers.  This means cylinder scavenging will be greater and more oxygen available for combustion.  Carbs will need to provide more fuel to compensate.

So, be warned that while the stock filter should improve matters, but it may not be enough to restore full performance from the engine.

Don't forget to open up your IMS.

I doubt you're going to put the stock pipes on it, so I think you will have to face getting larger mains, possibly raising the slide needles, and getting larger pilot jets (or drilling/reaming the ones you have now), particularly if you run without filters or a lower restriction filter than what it had when stock.

Isn't bike engineering fun?

Cheers,

[ugmold]

TT,

Sounds like you know your stuff, I appreciate it.

I'm guessing that is why the IMS were turned out around 2 1/2 to 3 turns instead of the usual 1 1/2.

Of course at this point I'm not sure what the PO did to compensate for the 4x1 exhaust.

I'm going to test for air leaks and then if all is ok, hitch up the air box, which has a new looking, stock looking filter.

Thanks,

ugmold

[kevio]

Ok I'm tearing my carbs apart right now.  Got some rebuild kits thanks to alltherightpills.  Thanks!  Anyway, how the heck do you get the individual carbs off the rails?  I'm following the addendum in the Honda shop manual and did all the steps.  It seems like the Link Arm Assembly doesn't want to slide off.  Do I have to take this apart somehow before sliding the carb body off?  It seems like neither 1 nor 4 want to slide off.  Here are some shots...

[TwoTired]

Ok I'm tearing my carbs apart right now.  Got some rebuild kits thanks to alltherightpills.  Thanks!  Anyway, how the heck do you get the individual carbs off the rails?  I'm following the addendum in the Honda shop manual and did all the steps.  It seems like the Link Arm Assembly doesn't want to slide off.  Do I have to take this apart somehow before sliding the carb body off?  It seems like neither 1 nor 4 want to slide off.  Here are some shots...

Why do you want to?

All the bits that get gunked up are accessible for cleaning right now.
 

[kevio]

Ha ha, I knew you would say something TT.    Well I wanted to polish the housings and all the external bits. Just about all the rebuilds I've seen on here remove the individual carbs for cleaning.

[ugmold]

TT + BK,

What a difference hitching it back up to the airbox! The box was already mounted but I had to put the rubber connectors back in (bia-tch) I put in the air filter that came with the bike, nice and clean and it seemed to fit, but the it was stamped CB550F on the side, most likely they are the same.

It sputters a little bit here and there, but not much, starts on 1st kick, idles smooth. Going to give it its second oil change today!

I can't thank you guys enough!

ugmold