Topic: Having one of those weeks.

[crazydog]

I must be having one of those weeks were nothing goes right on one of my projects.  Went out for a ride for a couple of hours and stoped to chat with a friend. One of his co workers comes over to look at my cb550k0 and notices a little oil seep coming from the head gasket and recommends that I check the timing. When I get home and pop the cover off the points and start trying to make adjustments I realize that my 1/4 point isn't open till I see the spring mount next to the 1/4 marks lines up with the timing mark on the case.  I take it apart and the spark advance "seems" to be the correct one(323).  Could the mount the pin goes into be out of alignment?  I might switch the ignition over to electronic.  Then when I go to move the bike I realize the front brake isn't opening correctly and I remember that the kid I bought it from mentioned he broke off the bleeder valve !  Thankfully in the box of parts he gave with the bike there's another caliper(in need of an overhaul). 

[crazydog]

Now that i think about it an electronic ignition doesn't bypass the spark advance.  Anyone have an idea of what is up with it?

[dave500]

the boyer ignition does away with it .

[Frostyboy]

I'm thinking that the friend's statement was on 2 topics because I can't see how the timing would cause an oil leak at the head.
However, that aside it certainly does sound like your timing is somewhat retarded. When the spring post lines up with the timing mark that's about 15° ATDC, that's according to cam chain adjustment procedure anyway.
If the dowel for the advance mechanism is installed correctly, I'd have to suggest replacing the points & then see if the correct ign timing can be achieved by normal adjustment.
It musn't have been running real well with the timing that late surely?

[crazydog]

Low end power wasn't so good and it acted like there was a speed limiter around 70mph.  My friend said that his tracker(?) that he had years ago has a small seep coming from the head gasket shortly before it blew and he was told that it was caused by bad timing.

[lone*X]

Low end power wasn't so good and it acted like there was a speed limiter around 70mph.  My friend said that his tracker(?) that he had years ago has a small seep coming from the head gasket shortly before it blew and he was told that it was caused by bad timing.

Almost all (if not all) stock SOHC's will eventually leak around the corners of the head.  Probably the number 1 issue that makes people tear into their top end.  Problem is not timing, but o-rings and gaskets that get old and dried out.

[gnarlycharlie4u]

the boyer ignition does away with it .

as does the Dyna 2000.

Almost all (if not all) stock SOHC's will eventually leak around the corners of the head.  Probably the number 1 issue that makes people tear into their top end.  Problem is not timing, but o-rings and gaskets that get old and dried out.

I'm so glad I saw this. I didn't realize that this was a common thing with these bikes. I've got a leak at the corner that's been scaring me away from getting one of my 750's up and running.

upon further reading I found that they aren't the most level-headed bikes.
that is... the gasket surface will most likely need some sealer.

[dave500]

plenty off old bikes have a little leak,wait till most of these new fangled watercooled super bikes and crotch rockets are this old,imagine all their dramas with water contaminated oil ,corrosion etc.water cooled engines left in barns for 40 years?

[crazydog]

OK.  More questions than answers today.  Taped the pods to half sounds a lot better, doesn't heat up as fast.  Seep seems to have stopped on it's own.  The braking effect on the front wheel seemed to be caused by fender rubbing (when I pulled it out of the garage I could hear rubber rubbing) seems better now. Did a test run.  Crappy power in 5th, could barely do 60 mph.  Could get more speed in lower gears.  Had a trail car following me found out that my speedo is consistently showing 10mph over actual speed. Will search to see if there is a fix.  Cleaned and readjusted the points to .014 at full open.  1/4 timed in perfectly 2/3 seemed to jump around 2-3 degrees above and below with a visible spark between the points. I assume this is bad. Will try to find where I dropped my emery paper in the morning and reclean 2/3, re-time and go for a test ride hopefully before work.  

[dave500]

if you have a substaintial spark between the points you need new condensors.

[crazydog]

Thanks. They are now on order.  I think I'll start a project thread for this bike.

[SOHC4ever]

OK.  More questions than answers today.  Taped the pods to half sounds a lot better, doesn't heat up as fast.  Seep seems to have stopped on it's own.  The braking effect on the front wheel seemed to be caused by fender rubbing (when I pulled it out of the garage I could hear rubber rubbing) seems better now. Did a test run.  Crappy power in 5th, could barely do 60 mph.  Could get more speed in lower gears.  Had a trail car following me found out that my speedo is consistently showing 10mph over actual speed. Will search to see if there is a fix.  Cleaned and readjusted the points to .014 at full open.  1/4 timed in perfectly 2/3 seemed to jump around 2-3 degrees above and below with a visible spark between the points. I assume this is bad. Will try to find where I dropped my emery paper in the morning and reclean 2/3, re-time and go for a test ride hopefully before work.  

I suggest reading the pods vs. airbox thread. You might find that your top end issues are airflow related rather than timing related, and end up going back to the box, or re-jetting to get those pods right.  Time the bike first, though.
Good Luck.

[Frostyboy]

Will try to find where I dropped my emery paper in the morning and reclean 2/3, re-time and go for a test ride hopefully before work.  

Oops. Although I also have in the past been forced to use similar to that to clean a bad set of points, it's really important to clean up after using that sort of abrasive on contact points. Some here have suggested soaking a business card in contact cleaner or even brake cleaner & wiping through several times.

[Duke McDukiedook]

I forsee a tune up in your future if you haven't done it yet.

[crazydog]

This whole odyssey started with when I bought the bike the carbs looked like they hadn't been cleaned since they left the factory, the rear tire had been worn flat and both were dry rotted. So I had the carbs completely rebuilt.  When I removed the carbs the stock airbox was such a pain to work around I pulled it out and decided to get pods instead.  Then I waited to have enough cash to buy tires.  Now that the bike has enough "good" parts to road test I'm trying to get it all to work together. 

As much as I love japanese engineers for their ability to get more bang for you buck they leave something to be desired in the ease of repair department.  The stock airbox is back on.  I need a new box of band-aids. New condensers and points should be in by friday (my day off) so I "should" have everything squared away before the end of the day.

I'll try that trick to clean the points with a business card.  Think I've got about 250 left from when I tried to start a business.

[crazydog]

Ok. Bike is running much better now.  Timing is really good.  2-3 won't advance far enough to match up I'll try to have it machined a few more degrees.  I think I have a wonky oil pressure sensor, after running about 20 miles if the rpms drop below 1500 the light starts kicking on and it's obvious that it is lighting with the engine speed.  I stopped let the engine cool a bit and checked the oil and the level was fine.  Should I replace it?

[dave500]

i have an old pressure guage from something,i think its from an oxy bottle, with a length of grease gun hose on it,perfect thread to test the pump with a guage.the guage goes to 150 psi.

[crazydog]

Sweet tool!  I'll try to replicate one.