Topic: What did you do to your bike today ?

[Stoli]

Spring finally arrived in NH today. Pulled the bikes out of the dungeon for another year of fun. Leaky front caliper on build #1 and fork seal leak on #3. The carbs didn't leak on either this year though, so I guess that's progress. These bikes aren't made to be put away for 6 months every year.

[DaveBarbier]

repaired some rust on my K2 frame, guess letting it sit for 10+ years on the side stand is a bit to much...

Beautiful work space. Mine work space is about the size of one of those blue plastic bin drawers you have on the right.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[evanphi]

Changed a tire using my father in law's tire changing rig. We pinched a new tube. %!%@#&^%#@%&^@#%@# (expletives).

Brought it home, popped the bead off with a couple BFSs, put the old tube in, put the tire all together with the same two BFSs. Not a single leak. Sometimes the simple way works best.

Pictured: All you need for changing a tire... New tire, old tire, bicycle inner tube (aka rim protector), soapy water in a spray bottle, and two Big Fcuking Screwdrivers (aka tire spoons).

[joeyvans]

Removed my points plate, took off the advancer and snipped a coil from each spring. Reinstalled everything, set gaps, got 1-4 perfect at idle and advance, but still can't get 2-3 lined up at idle... no adjustment left and the timing is slightly advanced. I forgot to check 2-3 advance marks at 2500 rpm. But what are thoughts about this? If my advance marks are on at 2500, should I just forget about idle? Or is there another way? Thanks... in.... "advance?" Doh!

[evanphi]

Removed my points plate, took off the advancer and snipped a coil from each spring. Reinstalled everything, set gaps, got 1-4 perfect at idle and advance, but still can't get 2-3 lined up at idle... no adjustment left and the timing is slightly advanced. I forgot to check 2-3 advance marks at 2500 rpm. But what are thoughts about this? If my advance marks are on at 2500, should I just forget about idle? Or is there another way? Thanks... in.... "advance?" Doh!

Try live-setting your points gap. Closing the gap will retard the timing. Just make sure everything is within spec for your points gap afterwards. \

Condensers good?

[joeyvans]

Try live-setting your points gap. Closing the gap will retard the timing. Just make sure everything is within spec for your points gap afterwards. \

Condensers good?

Live setting gaps? Go on....

I set gaps at .014 thinking it would be better to have leeway, but maybe I should try .012 instead?

I knew I forgot to do something... will test the condensers tonight. If faulty, what is recommended for replacements? I hear Sudco is out. How are K&L or Hitachi?

Thanks man! Sorry the tire changer didn't work out.

[ekpent]

Picked up a 1975 Kh400 at a yard sale this weekend. Pretty rough shape. Engine turns and has a title."Ran when parked" back in 1998  Seller has owned it for 30 years. 13000+ miles showing. Have two of the 400's now and a 350 triple but Mercy will my day ever come when I finally turn up a nice early 500 or 750 ?? Guess I need to keep huntin' or spend some big cash !!

[evanphi]

Try live-setting your points gap. Closing the gap will retard the timing. Just make sure everything is within spec for your points gap afterwards. \

Condensers good?

Live setting gaps? Go on....

I set gaps at .014 thinking it would be better to have leeway, but maybe I should try .012 instead?

I knew I forgot to do something... will test the condensers tonight. If faulty, what is recommended for replacements? I hear Sudco is out. How are K&L or Hitachi?

Thanks man! Sorry the tire changer didn't work out.

Loosen the adjuster screw for adjusting the gap slightly. see the two little knobbies beside the contacts, and the little notch right beside it?
use a flat head screwdriver to adjust your gap, using this notch to move it around. Closing the gap retards the timing. Have the bike running, and the timing light flashing from the appropriate (2 or 3 in your case) spark plug wire.



I just went through the same issue... 1/4 could get right on by adjusting the main plate (using shims), but 2/3 had to be live adjusted. My gaps are 0.011" now, with no ill effects.

Also TEC is the recommended condenser brand.

[DaveBarbier]

Removed my points plate, took off the advancer and snipped a coil from each spring. Reinstalled everything, set gaps, got 1-4 perfect at idle and advance, but still can't get 2-3 lined up at idle... no adjustment left and the timing is slightly advanced. I forgot to check 2-3 advance marks at 2500 rpm. But what are thoughts about this? If my advance marks are on at 2500, should I just forget about idle? Or is there another way? Thanks... in.... "advance?" Doh!

Try shimming the plate? I had an issue like that and shimming helped. Also, I've read a lot that below 3000 timing isn't critical since we spend about 95% of our time above 3000 anyway. But if you can, might as well make it perfect.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[joeyvans]

Thanks for the tips, Evan and Dave! Evan, I see your 2-3 plate is maxed clockwise like mine, so I'm really hoping the combination of these 2 things will work! I will try both of them tonight. I think my neighbors are getting pissed with me constantly doing warm up laps, then running & revving in the garage. F 'em if they can't take a joke.

[evanphi]

Thanks for the tips, Evan and Dave! Evan, I see your 2-3 plate is maxed clockwise like mine, so I'm really hoping the combination of these 2 things will work! I will try both of them tonight. I think my neighbors are getting pissed with me constantly doing warm up laps, then running & revving in the garage. F 'em if they can't take a joke.

Yeah if your 1/4 is OK I would leave it, then just adjust the 2/3 how I described.

[MoMo]

Picked up a 1975 Kh400 at a yard sale this weekend. Pretty rough shape. Engine turns and has a title."Ran when parked" back in 1998  Seller has owned it for 30 years. 13000+ miles showing. Have two of the 400's now and a 350 triple but Mercy will my day ever come when I finally turn up a nice early 500 or 750 ?? Guess I need to keep huntin' or spend some big cash !!

cool looking old plate MI had.   I have a fairly decent tank for the S2 if you ever need one. Keep hunting, it'll show up...Larry

[evanphi]

New tire on and re-installed. Turns are much more confident now!

[ekpent]

  Rainy and 50 today so some down time for me and good time to make a fire in the shop. Been posting a little on a 72 I am working on,bought it probably 3 years ago but have yet to ride. Well in 75 degree heat inside(thanks wood) I installed the air box with new filter and my freshly cleaned tank, fuel lines etc.. Also knocked off the front brake for a total clean, wow you should have seen the 'mud' behind that piston. Looks like I may have been the first one in. While I was there drained what was probably original fork oil. Got water out of both sides so that tells me it will need new fork seals in the future if I keep it. It is now a good runner on the kick stand and look forward to a dry day to clean/lube and adjust the chain and cut it loose on the road finally. Am motivated this spring to start wrapping up projects that I have started in the past and have got in the way while I buy more    Parts get lost if you do not follow through.
  Found a Dyna today in an engine I bought sometime last summer,(never know what you may find) now just need to remember where the the hell it goes or came from    Next up maybe is a GS1000 whose petcock has decided to bleed all over the place out the carbs(have rebuild kit) or tinker with a new Kh400 I just bought. Have a few tanks lined up for cleaning also for a perfect day, mostly a V65 Sabres so I can finally mount that and ride.   Later------   Eric

[Stev-o]

Hey Eric - about all that is needed on that K2 is to ship it to TX so I can slap some 341's on it!

[ekpent]

Hey Eric - about all that is needed on that K2 is to ship it to TX so I can slap some 341's on it!

I got some I can put on for you but I think you should wait for an orange or gold one--- sorry and not to offend other members but this color does not do it for me . I think it is my least favorite.

[eigenvector]

New tire on and re-installed. Turns are much more confident now!

That's a nice tire evanphi, what is it?

The D402's that are on mine don't give you much other than they are round.

[Stev-o]

Hey Eric - about all that is needed on that K2 is to ship it to TX so I can slap some 341's on it!

I got some I can put on for you but I think you should wait for an orange or gold one--- sorry and not to offend other members but this color does not do it for me . I think it is my least favorite.

I like that it's differant.  Seems everyone has a Goldie and my K1 has an Orange tank on it.

[JetgreenK1]

Found an old seized front brake. Hooked up a grease zirt to the hydraulic line and pumped out the piston. Piston was in great shape! Too bad the bleeder valve threads were torn up (had to fill it with epoxy so I could pump out the piston). Now I can finish my front brake! Yeah buddy!

[joeyvans]

Finally got my 2-3 timing spot on. Thanks again, evanphi!  Installed Uni foam filter in stock airbox, set air screws. Too late to sync carbs, so will do that this weekend. Took a couple pics close to dark. The 'ol girl looks way better in this light.

Kyle

[MoMo]

^nice looking 550 JV...Larry

[evanphi]

Finally got my 2-3 timing spot on. Thanks again, evanphi!  Installed Uni foam filter in stock airbox, set air screws. Too late to sync carbs, so will do that this weekend. Took a couple pics close to dark. The 'ol girl looks way better in this light.

Kyle

Glad it worked out!

[evanphi]

New tire on and re-installed. Turns are much more confident now!

That's a nice tire evanphi, what is it?

The D402's that are on mine don't give you much other than they are round.

Bridgestone Spitfire. I have a 17" rear rim... 130/90-17 is the size I used. They are dual-compound (harder in the center) sport-touring type. That's what was on there before, and after who knows how many years, had become quite squared off.

[Tews19]

Did 30 miles on my 605 build.

[paul_nz]

Looked at the bike, checked the oil level and thinking that I could do an oil change this weekend