Topic: CB550K slow jet removal

[Johnie]

Been helping a friend out with his 78 CB550K. Want to get the slow jets out which are pressed in. Before an attempt to remove them I want to check with you guys on the proper way to remove them without breaking them off. He is having an issue with the slow idle only staying put sometimes. Then it revs and he manually turns the screw to slow it down. Then he throttles it and it stays high, but sometimes comes down. Checked the rubbers and did a sync to see if they were at least close. Tomorrow we check the compression. I am talking him into carb removal to check float level, etc. Otherwise the bike runs great at the cruising speeds.

[Tews19]

SO is the bike idling fine when first starting up? Then the idle hangs once it has been driven for a while? Does it climb and if so where does it level off and hang up at? I have the same bike and it does this... Sometimes though and it runs great otherwise besides the piss poor idling when warm...

[TwoTired]

The pilot jets in the PD style carbs pull straight out.  Grab and pull.  If you don't have a parallel jaw pliers, then a leather pad & pliers can substitute.

Have you checked the head pipes for even temps?

Also make sure that the floats weren't set to the wrong height.  S/B 12.5 or 14mm NOT 22mm like the earlier carbs require.

Cheers,

[CoachDoc]

What exactly is meant by PD style carbs??? Is that what I have on my "74 550? Getting ready for a carb cleaning and gasket/ O-ring replacement.

[bollingball]

Coach I don't have a 550 but from looking at the part fiche I say yes you have PD carbs. The first giveaway is the keyhole top Also they have a accelerator pump. Below is a break down of your carbs if your bike is stock.

http://www.servicehondapsn.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=123061&category=MOTORCYCLES&make=HONDA&year=1974&fveh=2941

[TwoTired]

For the CB550 only the 77-78 K models had PD carbs.  The PD letters are cast into the carb bodies.  There are no accelerator pumps on the Cb550s.

Earlier carbs have the leaf spring main jet retainers.  The 74 Cb550K0 should have earlier style 022a carbs, which are stamped on each carb body mount flange, top right.

Cheers,

[bollingball]

TT Thanks I learned something I thought from the pic they had a pump.
Do you think I pulled up the wrong pic. Just trying to learn like I said I don't have a 550. So I look at serviceHondas site I don't know what I did wrong But I am sorry to CoachDoc for the error. I don't want to spread misinformation.

[TwoTired]

I know the CB750 and CB650 PD style carbs had accelerator pumps.  I kinda wish the CB550's did.  They'd be a little better to tune for mods if so.

Cheers,

[CoachDoc]

TT, you are right- no accel.pump in these carbs. Is the slow jet unscrewed to remove it on these earlier 550 carbs?
BB, thanks for the effort in looking at the fiche.

[TwoTired]

Pilot jets screw in on early style carbs.  Press in for the PD style.