Author Topic: cb 550 dilemma  (Read 3666 times)

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Offline anthony

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cb 550 dilemma
« on: March 25, 2011, 04:48:06 pm »
last year i road over 4000 miles with little cross hatch in the cylinders and a oil leak at the head gasket in the middle due to not enough cleaning on my part. now that i have to do the top end for the second time i will get the cylinders honed and get new rings. what problems have come up in this kind of rebuild. this bike has 48000 miles on original rings.











i did clean the carbon off with a/c delco combustion cleaner.

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2011, 04:34:04 am »
does any one think i can get away with using the original pistons and getting standard rings. i am trying to do this for as cheep as i can.

Offline Stev-o

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2011, 06:19:23 am »
Did you check your compression before you pulled it apart?
If it was good, it is possible to use standard rings.
How was it running?
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2011, 07:10:53 am »
Did you check your compression before you pulled it apart?
If it was good, it is possible to use standard rings.
How was it running?

+1.  I had a 400F with 40000+ on it that didn't need bored.  Take it to a machine shop and have them measure it...
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1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
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Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2011, 02:16:03 pm »
the compression was 75 psi cold when this pic was taken that was 1.5 years ago their was not a lot of blow by gas it ran good all last year. now when i do the head gasket i may disturb the base gasket witch means that will have to be replaced. then i may need to hone or bore. witch means pistons and/or rings.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2011, 02:18:08 pm »
All that work because you didn't do a proper compression test?

See the engine FAQ.
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2011, 02:33:44 pm »
no all that work for a oil leak

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2011, 02:36:31 pm »
no all that work for a oil leak
Must have been a really bad leak.  ???
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2011, 02:47:17 pm »
the oil leak is more of a piss off i go for a half hour ride and half to wash oil off the side covers the side of the motor. its right in the middle it runs across the fin.

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #9 on: March 26, 2011, 03:07:01 pm »
what about putting gasket goop around ware the leak is. what brands are suggested.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #10 on: March 26, 2011, 03:23:49 pm »
the oil leak is more of a piss off i go for a half hour ride and half to wash oil off the side covers the side of the motor. its right in the middle it runs across the fin.

Sounds like those rubber oring/pucks under the cylinder cover/cam cover had hardened.

what about putting gasket goop around ware the leak is. what brands are suggested.

Any "Goop" that breaks off and plugs the tiny oil restrictor holes will trash the engine pretty good.

But, in some places, I will use GASGACINCH.

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #11 on: March 26, 2011, 03:30:35 pm »
for the recored the motor is assembled and running right now. i just want to get the oil leak fixed.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #12 on: March 26, 2011, 03:40:34 pm »
Best to isolate where the leak source really is.

Clean off the oil, and spray with foot powder where you think it might be coming from.  Then run the engine to see where it gets weepy.
Let us know.

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #13 on: March 26, 2011, 03:59:14 pm »


in the center where the cam chain goes through and head metes the cylinders

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #14 on: March 26, 2011, 04:03:19 pm »
If you are certain it's at the head gasket join, I think you may have to take it back off again to investigate.

Sorry,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #15 on: March 26, 2011, 04:07:02 pm »
 :'( i thought you would say that  :'(
do you think gasket maker would slow it down to get me through the season.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #16 on: March 26, 2011, 04:33:26 pm »
I'm not too hopeful.  Most of the sealants need a clean oil free surface to bond to.  But, you already have oil where you need to make a seal.

If there is any pressure inside, a patch on the outside will just dislodge.  You'll be bonding to paint.

Have you checked the engine breather tube?
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #17 on: March 26, 2011, 05:28:05 pm »
the breather tube is fine

Offline anthony

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Re: cb 550 dilemma
« Reply #18 on: March 27, 2011, 09:04:54 am »

i ran it for 20 min this morning at 1500ish rpm and did a compression test. i need to clean the carbs when the main jets  because the mechanic that tuned my carbs did not do a good job. he drilled out the original mains and went to big. this worked fine until i sent it to the dealership for a carb sync and found a intake leaking.


 
cylender 1 is on left