Topic: Lots of questions....

[sandiego550cafe]

I have a '75 cb550. When I try to start the bike with the kick and the clutch lever pulled in the bike jumps forward and there is a lot of resistance in the kick, but not if I just have the bike in neutral, and unless it's already warm, it usually wont start without some starter fluid (air filter? carb adjustment?). Also, if I haven't been able to start it with the elec. starter, with or without starter fluid, and the bike rolls forward a little. But wait, there's more. While riding and the shifting is really chunky (that's the best way I can describe it), the bike jerks a little and sometimes I can't even shift up. I assume the problem is clutch drag but I'm no expert and I thought you guys could help me out.

Thanks!

[number13]

Regarding the hard starting, you might try just cleaning or replacing the air filter.
Remove it and see if that helps, if it does then you know it was clogged.
For cold starting be sure to use the choke. If the problem persists try adjusting your air mixture screws,
they should be about 1 1/2 turns out from GENTLY seated.

Your shifting problems are most likely a dragging clutch try adjusting it, but
if that doesn't work a good dissasembly and cleaning of the clutch plates may help.

keep us posted and LOL mate.

#13

[csendker]

I just asked a similar question --> http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=8369.0

The answer is, 550 kicker is through the tranny.  So, gear in neutral, clutch open and kick away.  As for the starting, there's a neutral kill-switch thing to prevent starting in anything but neutral when you're using the starter button.  You need the holy triangle of air, fuel & spark.  Pull the plugs, lay them on the engine block, turn it over and see if you're getting spark.  Adjust the points.

Check to make sure your choke is working properly.  Do you have a standard airfilter setup or pods?  Is everything clean and/or clear?  

How long has it been sitting, could be varnish/gunk in the carbs.  Is there an in-line gas filter?  It doesn't take much crud to totally gum up the jets.  It also sounds like a clutch issue.  Is it adjusted properly?  

Give some more info on you're set-up (air filter, carbs/jets, exhaust...).

[TwoTired]

With the clutch lever pulled in, the clutch should be disengaged.  If you are in gear and kicking the bike (totally the wrong thing to do normally) and it lurches forward, your clutch is dragging and not disengaging as required.  Operating a bike with a dragging clutch will soon damage the transmission or its shifter mechanism, if it hasn't already.

If you can't get the bike's clutch to work right by external adjustments, then it will need to be dismantled to determine cause, possibly warped plates.

Your starting issues may or may not be related to clutch problems.  But, it is clear that the clutch must be sorted out before addressing those.  Unless, of course, transmission overhaul is something you look forward to.

Good luck!