Topic: recently purchased 77 cb550

[le_sterls]

I just recently purchased a '77 cb550, I'm 18 years old and this is my first motorcycle, I bought it for two hundred dollars, so I understood that it would need some work. Cosmetically the bike looks great, the gas tank is a little bit rusty on the inside, but my biggest concern is the carburetor issues. I've gotten the bike started a few times, and I believe I'm having issues with the float seat in the furthest right carburetor, also my gaskets on the bowl have gone to hell. If any of you have any input on where the best place to buy carburetor rebuild kits it would be greatly appreciated, also, what do I do about this gas tank.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Welcome to the Forum/Madness Le!  I too have a '77 550.  Mine is the "K" model (4-4 exhaust, not a Super Sport).  I got carb kits (bowl gasket, slider gasket, various O-rings) from a Honda dealer.  Yep! Honda still sells them!  There is also www.servicehonda.com www.z1enterprises.com and a number of others.  Look in the FAQ section for good/bad vendors.

Rust in the tank can be removed with several different potions.  I hear a lot of good stuff about "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner.  Empty the tank  and rinse well with water.  Drain and dry as best you can then swish in some Works.  Rinse again and dry.  Spray in some "fogging oil" to protect the tank until you are ready to fill with gas or want to use a seal kit. 

Remove the petcock (fuel valve) and pull out the fuel filter (long plastic tube sticking up into the tank.  Clean/replace the filter.  An in-line filter could be fitted, but they are usually more trouble then they are worth.

Carbs:
one by one, drain the bowel into a glass jar.  Is there any water or crud coming out?

[le_sterls]

I had no idea Honda still sold carb kits from 77 ha ha, what a relief, I've cleaned the carbs three times and each time i do it, it seems like theres more crap than the last time. I've never heard of using toilet bowl cleaner for my gas tank, but ill certainly give it a try, I'm currently using an inline fuel filter, just because i didn't want to damage carburetor components any more than they already were, and it is quite a pain, thanks for the input, also where in Michigan do you live, i live there as well

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I'm in Battle Creek.  I know, I know, Lucky me!

I assume you have the PD carbs (should be a PD stamped on the base of the carb body where the float bowl connects).  If so, then you prolly have pressed in idle jets.  They can and should be pulled out for cleaning.  Use a strand of copper wire as copper won't widen any of the holes.  When I say a strand, that would be ONE of the strands of copper pulled out of a spare peice of automotive electrical wire.

You should be able to see light through the jet hole in the bottom of the barrel.  Next, there are several holes along the length of the jet tube (aka emulsion tube).  You can use the same strand of copper to clean these holes too.  There are some down low which are commonly so plugged you can't even see them.

The main jet screws off it's emulsion tube.  Here again, the jet and the holes in the tube need to be clear.

In the inlet throat of the carb are two brass nozzles.  Make sure you can shoot air or better carb cleaner through those holes and out the emulsion tube holders.

To syncronize your carbs while they are off the bike, use the flashlight method.  Take all four caps off the tops of the carbs.  You see that #2 does not have and adjustment screw.  #2 is your reference carb.  Place a flashlight in the inlet throat of #2.  Now adjust your idle speed screw until you see the light fade to nothing on the outlet side.  Once you have that set, adjust carbs 1,3 & 4 so that they too atr set to the point where the light fades to nothing.  You are now ready to reinstall the carb bank.

If your in-tank filter is good, then there won't be anything for the in-line filter to block.  It's more likely that it will trap air and restrict fuel flow.

Keep us posted!

[le_sterls]

thanks for the info, ill certainly have to post some pictures once i get a camera haha