Topic: 1977 CB550F - General Q&A/Maintenance thread

[Clinto]

Well, I've been a long-time lurker on the forum trying to soak up some knowledge over the past year or so. I finally bought my first SOHC this weekend:


(bad quality cell phone pic - better ones to come soon)

I bought my first bike (1974 Suzuki GT550) last summer but it wasn't in great running condition and kept leaking fuel everywhere. I couldn't find a new petcock for it and didn't have the tools, time, or knowledge to fix it up so I sold it last fall hoping to get a more reliable bike this Spring.

I have very basic tools and little to no mechanical knowledge really other than what I've read in general motorcycle mechanical books and workshop manuals. So this is a thread for general questions and advice. Not really a project but I thought this was the best place to post it. This is an awesome forum full of a lot of great information and was one of the main reasons I bought the bike I did.

Please try to be patient with me and thanks ahead of time for any help or advice you can throw my way.

[TwoTired]

That's a mighty purty bike there.  I like the Maroon.  Mine are Blue (in that model year), which I like, too.

Step one: clean and polish the fuse clip contacts in the fuse box.
Step two: New air filter or the Uni NU-4055
Clean the engine breather at the bottom of the air filter box.
Do the routine 3000 mile and /or the 12000 miles scheduled maintenance
As time permits;
Change fork oil.
Change brake fluid.  And, get the rubber cap that belongs on the caliper bleed nipple.

Clean, lube, adjust, drive chain.

If you didn't get the owner's manual with the bike, get one separately.
If you didn't get the Honda tool kit, at least get the Honda spark plug tool.

Cheers,

[Clinto]

Awesome, thanks for the advice. Quite a collection of bikes you have there.
It this the honda spark plug tool you were talking about?: amazon.com/Motion-Pro-Spark-Socket-Wrench/dp/B001DDABGG

Okay so this is the basic info I have on the bike:

-Clean tank, all signals/lights work, horn does not work, spokes have light rust...
-It has sat all winter
-PO says it def needs a carb clean
-Front brake and master cylinder was supposedly rebuilt with the original parts (last summer I think?)
-New battery
-Has a Martek electronic points system


I started it up yesterday. It took a while to get it to go but once it started it idled fine. I drove it around the block to my friend's house where it pooped out. I could start it back up but the RPMs wouldn't get much higher than 4500 and then it continued to loose RPMs until it eventually just wouldn't start anymore. Pushed it home and put the tarp on it.

I need to get it in a garage so I can start to tear into it and see what all needs to be done for sure. I want to attempt to clean the carbs myself I think. Other than that, I plan to check out the air filter and see what condition it is in. Also, the clutch has almost no leeway and engages super quickly and the brakes don't feel right either. Front brake almost feels like it's not working 100%.

Hopefully I can get someone a little more knowledgeable to give it a once over.

[TwoTired]

Awesome, thanks for the advice. Quite a collection of bikes you have there.
It this the honda spark plug tool you were talking about?: amazon.com/Motion-Pro-Spark-Socket-Wrench/dp/B001DDABGG

Definitely not.  See pic below.  The bell mouth engagement feature is crucial.

I started it up yesterday. It took a while to get it to go but once it started it idled fine. I drove it around the block to my friend's house where it pooped out. I could start it back up but the RPMs wouldn't get much higher than 4500 and then it continued to loose RPMs until it eventually just wouldn't start anymore. Pushed it home and put the tarp on it.

Check the fuel valve.  ON works until the fuel level gets low, then RES is selected to get at fuel nearer the bottom of the tank.
Also, pay close attention to the choke markings.  Up is on, down is off.  When warm, down is the running position.

These things are why the owner's manual is so helpful.

Cheers,

[Clinto]

Okay, so I have a Clymer manual on the way and I've saved a couple PDFs and other articles I've found online for the bike. I am super busy with school and don't have a lot of time to tear into the bike right now but when I move back home the first thing I plan on doing is a carb cleaning. It seems like it should be pretty simple as long as I take my time and all the gaskets, jets, etc are still reusable.

Question: After I clean the carbs, do I need to re-sync them? If so I want to go ahead and purchase a carb synchronizer? [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carburetor-Synchronizer-carb-sync-Gauge-CB-550-650-750-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4cf68227d8QQitemZ330553239512QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools]