Topic: have to run at half choke at all times???

[boknox]

Ok. I have another ? 74 cb550, sat for who knows how long, pulled carbs cleaned and did carb kit. Here is where i don't get it. put carbs on without airbox had to run at half choke but ran very well. hooked airbox back up and still have to run with half choke. Runs well at half choke still. Any ideas? If it isn't going to matter if the airbox is on or not i may go with pod filters. Again thanks in advance.

[uptworedline]

def sounds like your bike isn't getting enough fuel to the cylinders. richen up your mixture about 1/4 to 1/2 turns on each carb. make sure all the carbs are at the same screw setting.

[kghost]

Sounds like you missed something and still have a jet clogged.

I know..now your shaking your head and saying no way brother them suckers were clean as a whistle....

If its any consolation I had exactly the same problem on a 400...I would have sworn on a stack of bibles the carbs were clean.

I aint exactly a rookie either...I have 7 SOHC's of various displacement and years...

Done countless carb cleanings over the years....

But I missed a piece of trash and sure as Christ made little apples....half choke.

Number 4 jet had a piece of trash when I took them back apart.....

It happens....

[spdiii]

Newbie chiming in. Assuming all your adjustments are correct and the carbs have been thoroughly cleaned, one question come to mind. Are the replacement jets in your rebuild kit identical to the ones removed, (if any)
Nick

[mystic_1]

How's your air filter?

mystic_1

[333]

How are the intake boots?  A leaky one could do that.

[boknox]

Ok i was being dumb. I was thinking i was opening the choke when i was actually closing them. Now I have a different problem. The bike was running great took it for a run after about 5 miles it started to bog and lost power. it would run kind of then take off then bog again. I don't know what is going on.

[TwoTired]

Has it had a complete and thorough tune-up in the last 3000 miles/3 months?

Are the spark plug tips black with soot?

Is the battery voltage low?

[HondaMan]

How are the intake boots?  A leaky one could do that.

What he said...

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Is your fuel line straight?  Did you put an in-line filter on it?  I once had a high-speed stumble when warm which I traced to my in-line filter trapping air and restricting flow.

I'd say if your in-tank filter is good, get rid of the in-line.  Keep your fuel line as straight as possible and always on a down slope.

[cafe750]

Did you clean your fuel tank before you cleaned your carbs? If you didn't, crap will find its way down into them and bugger up the whole works...

[boknox]

what is the best route to run the gas line from the tank to the carbs. Right now it has inline filters, (which i will take off) and the lines run from the tank down to the filters on the outside of all of the carbs then back in and then connecting to the carbs. Really ugly looking with the lines and filters showing like that.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

IMHO, if your in-tank filter is good, trust it and ditch the in-lines.  Run the fuel lines however they aesthetically please you, but always on a down slope.  You don't want any high spots that might trap air.

If you feel you really need to have in-line filters, mount them standing on end, say right on top of the carb fuel gallery.  Just make sure the filter itself doesn't become an air trap.