Topic: Need some HELP!! and positive thoughts...

[Scrubs]

Oh... and I would stay well clear of any mechanic who took a drill to my jets 

[dustyc]

Oh... and I would stay well clear of any mechanic who took a drill to my jets 

+1,000,000

That right there is telling you alot about them.  Run!  Go and get your bike back ASAP and tell them you aren't going to pay for them screwing up your carbs.

You can get some taxis to work while you fix your bike and still come in under what they're going to charge.

[Dave-and-his-550]

Unfortunately the mechanic working on my bike drilled out the pilot jet and ruined the carbs

^I love this photo 

Run!  Go and get your bike back ASAP and tell them you aren't going to pay for them screwing up your carbs.

I couldn't agree more. It would probably be best to go in there and politely refuse though, you don't wanna get to upset, if this guy drilled out ur jets thinkin it was a good idea, you don't know what else he might think is a good idea...

I guess your jets were just stuck and he drilled em out? How did that ruin your carbs?

Just for the record, I saw a set of carbs on ebay. Looked pretty nice, but I think they were for a 750k.

Browse through here if you haven't already:

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=CB+carbs&_sacat=See-All-Categories

[bookjockey]

Would '76 carbs work in my '77?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1976-Honda-CB550-CB-550-Motorcycle-Used-Keihin-carbs_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em14Q2el1318QQhashZitem250269223976QQitemZ250269223976

[dustyc]

If someone can measure the distance between a '77's carbs, I can measure the distance on my neighbor's '76.

Or we could wait for bryanj or TwoTired as they probably know off the tops of their heads.

[BlindJoe]

Why not just get another pilot jet...I'm kinda confused.

[Scrubs]

Yeah I think I misunderstood too...

I assumed when you said the mechanic drill your pilot jet, that he drilled the hole to make the diameter bigger?

[TwoTired]

Usually, when someone drills jets, they are making the orifice larger so they can deliver more fuel.  It's a shade tree approach to carb tuning, with varying results.  Jets orifices are precision holes.  Your standard twist drills do not make precision holes.

While the 76 carbs will work on the 77, they have different bore spacing, end to end length, and outer diameter for the couplers.

To make the switch, you will need the manifolds, couplers (front and rear), and air plenum for the carbs you wish to employ.  I think the throttle cables are different, too.

You still have to make jetting/tuning choices for the exhaust type and air filter arrangement you choose, regardless of year model carbs you select.

Cheers,

[bookjockey]

Thanks for advice.

Awesome bike that's not in my possession + good weather + not having a good grasp on the mechanics of what's been happening with the bike has equaled loads and loads of frustration. After "consulting" my parents I've decided to let the service station fix their mistakes. I have literally zero experience in working with bikes and don't feel comfortable with carb cleaning as my first attempt at motorcycle repair. I know a lot of you guys could disassemble, repair, and reassemble carbs in your sleep... but I'm not there yet so I have no real other option other than to hope the mechanics at the shop can get my bike running.

Meanwhile, if anyone is selling carbs from a '77 550k PM me.

I'll keep everyone updated.

Thanks again. This forum has become my favorite and most visited site since I joined. You guys know your stuff.

[dustyc]

I limp my way through.  But I sure appreciate the efforts of those that know their stuff.  Thanks to all of you.

[BlindJoe]

Do you know you need new carbs or did the mechanic tell you you need new carbs? Still confused as to what your plans are......

[bookjockey]

Went down to the shop today to check up on things and learned a few things. The mechanic brought the carbs out to show me the issue. I guess one of the jets (the one that looked to be in the center of things and can't be removed) had a whole drilled through the center because the mechanic made a mistake in trying to clean it out. It's the number 1 carb that has the issue. So I'm still looking for carbs from a '77 550k. The owner of the shop found some on ebay. The ebay carbs look decent and the seller started the bidding at $75 so the owner of the shop was going to try and contact him and see if he could get them for $125. (Very) Hopefully the guy is willing to sell them at that price because the auction doesn't end for another 5 days and I want my bike. Are there any other places I should be looking for carbs? I tried hondaparts-direct.com but the carbs are a discontinued part... obviously. Any other places? I've looked around the board and checked some sites like that David Silver site, but couldn't find much.

All the advice has been greatly appreciated. I'd be much more frustrated if I didn't have this site to keep my occupied while I'm not riding...

Thanks again.

Dan