Topic: Float Bowl Gasket Q - '76 cb550

[xruss]

I've pulled the carbs off my 1976 cb550k.  I purchased carb rebuild kits and have a question on a gasket.  There is a round black gasket in the kit that I assume is the float bowl gasket.  The float bowl themselves are shaped much like home plate on a baseball diamond.  Is this the correct gasket for this, or should there be a gasket that is already formed like home plate?  I didn't want to start scraping out that old gasket without making sure the big o-ring gasket in the kit will fit into some kind of channel on the bowl itself.  I'm accustomed to rebuild kits for outboard motors, which have always been pre-formed gaskets, so I'm just second looking for some assurance.  Thanks.

[BobbyR]

A lot of kits use a round gasket rather than a fitted one for the float bowl gasket. That is what I suspect you are looking at. If it is they are a bit tricky to hold in place. 

[Bluto]

Yep....that's it.  My kit had them as well.  It was a Bit#h gettin em to stay put.  If i recall it was like a 4-5 beer deal.

Cheers

[BobbyR]

A bit of contact cement in the groove  will hold them in place.

[BAchvytrk]

i made a set for a  cb550 i was working on for a guy. went to napa and got some fel pro gasket material, the blue stuff, and about an hour later with the exacto knife, had four nice gaskets that worked great.

[Nortstudio]

I had the same issue as well. Tried the dab of glue at first, which ended up causing a leak. Next time I tried a tiny dab of grease under the gasket on the 5 "points" to hold it in there, just before I replaced them. Worked like a charm.

[xruss]

Thanks, everyone.  I have the first carb soaking in cleaner now.  One other question...I can't figure out what the small brass replacement spring replaces in the carb.  I've pulled everything apart, consulted the manual, and just don't see the spring in the original carb to replace it with the new one.  First rebuild, so its definitely serving as a learning experience. 

[Nortstudio]

I didn't have a whole kit - but there is definitely a spring in the air mixture acres on the individual carbs. I had removed the screws and nothing came out with them, had to dig around gently to pull them out.

Hope that helps...

Scott

[Duanob]

You're lucky those springs come with the kit. I found two missing and got lucky finding a guy that had parts carbs to pilfer. The gasket isn't as hard to install as everyone says they are. There are tabs on the bowl to keep them in place. Push the o-ring in all around the bowl. Don't chase it around, it will stretch and not fit right. I never had to use anything to hold it in place on four carbs. I used a Honda OEM gasket kit.

[BobbyR]

You're lucky those springs come with the kit. I found two missing and got lucky finding a guy that had parts carbs to pilfer. The gasket isn't as hard to install as everyone says they are. There are tabs on the bowl to keep them in place. Push the o-ring in all around the bowl. Don't chase it around, it will stretch and not fit right. I never had to use anything to hold it in place on four carbs. I used a Honda OEM gasket kit.

He was given generic round gaskets not the nicely formed Honda. A VERY thin bit of contact cement and even nail polish will hold them in place. Something that dries fast is best.

[xruss]

Got the first one rebuilt last night.  I figured out the spring situation and got everything set.  22mm on the floats.  One and a half turns past fully seated for the air mix screw.  PIA gasket in the float bowl.  Polished up the shinny parts.  Now, number two is sitting in the carb cleaner can until this evening.  By the fourth one, I should have the hang of it and realize I somehow screwed up the first one. 

[c(b)hris]

Hey man, I had the same problem with the float bowl gaskets.  a lot of frustration for sure.  These are what I ordered.  Fit perfectly.

http://www.siriusconinc.com/search_result.php?make=&model=&part=&partno=SCI2634&x=48&y=11&search=search



Can't beat the price too :-)


And when you clean them if the gaskets stretch out just drop them in a pot of boiling water for about a minute.  They'll shrink back to exactly the right size.

[Nortstudio]

The link shows gaskets for a 350.  Did this work for a 550?  Definitely the right shape and price.

[c(b)hris]

Definitely fits my '75 550K like a glove.

[Nortstudio]

Awesome. Great link and info!