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Offline JS550

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550 Sticky float???
« on: July 31, 2008, 11:49:36 AM »
Just got my 550 out on the road and the first time I went to get gas I parked & when I came out, gas was draining out of one of the drain tubes under the bike. Sticky float? Or normal? It stops after about a half second or so & its not alot of fuel.
                                                             Jim
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joerinnis

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2008, 03:26:30 PM »
Jim, If it doesn't last it's probably nothing to worry about. My CB550 floats stick every once in awhile. A couple things to consider though when it comes to floats. If you are up to pulling apart the carbs try this: Adjust the float height per OEM specs (this is important anyway).  Carefully clean the float pins with some very fine sand paper, emery cloth or a toothbrush and carb cleaner.  Also I add several ounces of SeaFoam carburetor cleaner to my tank every time I fill up.  It does wonders to keep the carbs clean.  If you are not familiar with SeaFoam you can pick it up at auto parts stores. Happy riding.
Joe
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Offline JS550

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2008, 07:14:43 PM »
Thanks. I was hoping to wait untill the winter to pull the carbs apart, so I'll try the seafoam.
                    Jim
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Offline jason teamshralp

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2008, 11:02:40 PM »
pull the carbs now its not that hard to clean them. the only thing that slows you down are those damn airboxes. If you have pods its cake. plus you might find some other stuff blocked up and it could help your bike out.

also you might try loosening and then tightening the drain screws. my buddies bike was dumping gas, out of carb #1, all I did was pull it out put it back in tight and it stopped the leak.
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Offline Hush

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #4 on: August 01, 2008, 02:55:32 AM »
I second that, drain the carb bowl that is losing gas and then let it refill.
Sometimes a little bit of crap from your tank will get jammed in under the float valve and cause this problem, releasing all the petrol can dislodge it and save you a carb teardown.
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Offline Deltarider

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2008, 07:29:04 AM »
Quote
I second that, drain the carb bowl that is losing gas and then let it refill.
Sometimes a little bit of crap from your tank will get jammed in under the float valve and cause this problem, releasing all the petrol can dislodge it and save you a carb teardown.

+1 Sometimes just ticking (not hammering) with the stub end of a screwdriver against the floatbowl will make the particle (under the float valve or on the needletip) fall down.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2008, 07:52:54 AM by Deltarider »
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Offline ajinreno

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2008, 08:07:42 AM »
I'm going to hijack the thread if you don't mind, but not off tangent. Are there other symptoms if a float is sticking? Is that all that happens, an overflow of gas when you shut it off or will a sticky float cause other problems?
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Offline Deltarider

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2008, 10:25:58 AM »
Yep, they can keep sticking for a while and then come down nevertheless, so causin' an irregular level of fuel... BUT, IMHO there's too much worrying about float levels in this forum. If you have the bowls removed, you could check for smooth movement. You could polish the parts a bit. But unless you are sure the level has been tampered with, I wouldn't worry. Sometimes I have the feeling that modern gasoline is - how shall I put it - less 'lubricating' than the old lead containing gasoline. Not that I want that lead back, oh no.
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Offline JS550

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2008, 08:37:47 AM »
Ok, took the carbs off, norrowed it down to one carb. Its wierd, if I shut the fuel off on the petcock it stops? Took the bowl off & cleaned it. Looks like the carbs have been rebuilt before. If I leave the fuel on, it keeps filling up the bowl.....?????It drains out of the (Im guessing?)over flow tube that comes off of the bowl. The bike is running great, idles great, accelerates good,no bogging, plugs look good. My top end also sounds noisy. I read an article somewhere that said thats ok , noisier the better, that the SOHC gets quieter as more miles & wear are put on the motor. Is this correct? My bike shows 11000 & change.
                                                                               Jim
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2008, 08:48:53 AM »
A stuck float AND a plugged overflow can lead to cylinder flooding through the carb which can lead to oil contamination or worse!

Noisy top end?  Is it just at idle or all the time?  adjust your tappets (engine cold) and tension your cam chain.  Did the sound change?  What year is your 550?  The early years had a design flaw that allowed the cam rods to spin and wear prematurely.  Search the forum for how to diagnose and fix if you suspect this.
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Offline JS550

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #10 on: August 02, 2008, 09:16:45 AM »
The float seems to work fine. If the over flow was plugged, wouldnt it not drain? If its that how do I un-plug it? Its just noisy at idle, it gets quieter as I increase the RPMs, but still makes a little clatter.
                                                                      thanks,Jim
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Offline JS550

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #11 on: August 02, 2008, 09:17:48 AM »
Its a 76....sorry forgot that!
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #12 on: August 02, 2008, 10:25:11 AM »
Float movement is only one part of the float mechanism.  Movement of the float actuates a valve which controls flow of fuel into the bowl.  If the valve fails to move, or if it is blocked from full closure by debris, the bowl over flows.

The noise at idle could be many things.  But, it is pointless to complain about them until the bike has had its regularly scheduled 3000 mile complete tune up, followed by a vacuum synch of the carbs to get all cylinders firing evenly.

Over flowing carbs can place fuel in the oil supply.  Fuel in the oil supply can lead to a replacement engine.

Cheers,
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Offline JS550

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Re: 550 Sticky float???
« Reply #13 on: August 02, 2008, 10:45:56 AM »
Did the cam chain adjustment per the manual. Sounds pretty good now. THere is still some tappet noise, but doesnt sound as bad.
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