Author Topic: My new Cb550k - Father and Son project (Read 4573 times)

Bellard · « **on:** June 10, 2011, 06:51:28 PM »

Ok so this is a Father son project bike. I the Son know a little more about engines then father does. But this is my dads bike. My bike is the Cb350k3 Twin i bought a month or so ago. We both live in Va We picked this bike up from a very nice man near by. Luckily we picked her up at a great price. Anyways Any advice or wisdom u guys have to helping me on my path would GREATLY be appreciated. Anyways so far Ive tryed to clean the carbs and the way it looks 1st carb was Damn clean 2nd little bad... 3rd little worse then second and full of gas even with drain open. and forth bad.. 2 3 and 4 main jets were clogged. Wheres the slow jet i see a thingy above the main jet is this the slow jet.. Can it be removed and cleaned? Ive tried to remove the diaphragm needle but its connected somehow. Is there a guide on this site to show me how to dismantle it? ive looked at the manual a little not much help. Including some pictures.. The carb looks likes its been rebuilt a little.

Thanks.
-Corey

Bellard · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2011, 06:54:55 PM »

Clogged main jets

burmashave · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:03:05 PM »

Welcome! It sounds a great project for both of you.

As for the carb rebuild, there's some good info in the Carb FAQ. I think there may be a rebuild guide there. Your questions are pretty specific, so if the FAQ isn't a help, you would prolly do best to start a thread in the Tech forum because the carb gurus prolly won't see your question here.

Oh, and post pictures of your bikes if you can.

Bellard · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:01:21 AM »

Ok so far ive went out worked on the carb. Ive removed a couple of peices from the bike to spit shine

. I took off the muffler to Inspect it and clean it up. To my suprise i found in my 4 in 1 A Small hole right at the main connection for all 4 pipes major rust and a big black mark under neither engine. There was no engine melting or anything that god. I also noticed something about the carburetor. Correct me if im wrong but theres suppost to be (4) diaphragm adjustment dohickys i only see 3 of the 4. I will post more pictures.

First picture is of bike Gas tank and side panels not on (put up for protection) Gas tank is a bit rusted up.

Bellard · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:03:03 AM »

More pictures

Bellard · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2011, 11:20:45 AM »

Ok so today I ripped off those Ape hangers.. and put on my spare Shortys

MasterChief750 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2011, 03:19:34 AM »

just a heads up if you take off the choke butterflys those screws are one time use, they are flared at the end and you may get a couple back in but you could end up breaking off some when you go to put them back in

Bellard · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2011, 04:20:52 AM »

I wasn't going to they seem fine and to my knowledge the only thing that can be harmed due to Carb cleaner is the top felt gasket correct me if I'm wrong though please!

MasterChief750 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2011, 04:29:35 AM »

you should be fine if the top gasket is removed/replaces before or after cleanin respectively

Bellard · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2011, 04:36:28 AM »

Thanks bud just being safe

Bellard · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2011, 07:39:37 AM »

Ok updating the gas tank was a bit rusty with four pounds of rust in it.
My dad shook her clean while I got the electrosis ready.
at this point its doing its magic cleaning her every few hours.
Were going to repaint it to give it its Kent brown look again. Does anyone know of any paints I can buy that's close to this color?
Thx

burmashave · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2011, 08:25:20 AM »

Nice. Put your pa on the heavy lifting parts. ;-)

Bellard · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2011, 08:30:01 AM »

Heavy lol not heavy

I had to carry 5 gallon bucket lol

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2011, 11:18:34 AM »

When you ask carb questions, make sure that the year of your bike is stated (I just list mine in my signature) because all 550's don't have the same carbs.

Bellard · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2011, 11:25:16 AM »

Sorry thought I did must have not it accept she's there now

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #15 on:** June 15, 2011, 04:13:28 PM »

Better, I have the same bike and just refreshed my carbs (new gaskets only) a couple months ago so they are still relatively fresh in my mind.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2011, 04:16:24 PM »

The manuals are VERY unhelpful with this carb. The Haynes manual doesn't include a single picture of this setup or even address that the 77-78 K bikes have different carbs from the 76 and earler K's and all the F bikes.

I know it's too late, but pre-dissasembly phots can be very helpful. I you like I can e-mail some of the ones I took, but I probably won't be able to get to it for a few days.

Bellard · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2011, 05:43:28 PM »

Thank you guys for following my project I bought a lift today. For 250

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2011, 07:28:56 PM »

I envy you. I have my eye on a couple Goldwing project bikes and I may have to break down and get a lift.

Bellard · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2011, 08:02:15 PM »

Ya there really better on the back.. Easier to change a tire too!

db22 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 16, 2011, 04:23:29 AM »

Corey -- Here's what I learned about jets for PD carbs, being a total newbie. The main jet proper is just a tiny thing screwed into the emulsifier tube. Your picture of clogged jets shows the jets and tubes still screwed together. If you need to replace your main jets, very carefully unscrew the jet (the slotted part on the tip) from the tube. That's the replaceable part. Be careful of the tube -- they're hard to find. A 7mm wrench fits the flats on mine.

Slow jets are the brass cylinders between the main jet in the middle and the external air screw. On my carbs, the originals were a press-fit, but as far as I know, those are no longer made. The threaded replacements will fit, however, by carefully screwing them in. Use just enough pressure to get them to seat all the way down, and use a screwdriver that fits the slot (a hollow-ground gunsmith's screwdriver is ideal). If they are loose, some Loctite may help. Just don't force them and risk cracking the carb body.

Man, I'm glad you got rid of those apes! Looking forward to seeing your Dad's bike when it's done!

Bellard · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2011, 04:29:33 AM »

As far as the bike goes I've rebuilt 3 of the 4 carbs waiting on another float. Ill be buying aftermarket airfilters just because I don't wanna deal with the big bugger.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #22 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:07:52 AM »

If you mean individual pods, don't do it. You will find thread after thread from 550 owners complaining about how they can't get their bike to run right with them.

The stock airbox is a pain in the ass to be sure, but really you whouldn't need to take the carbs off that often and a once a year or every couple year hassle is a small price to pay for better daily performance.

Bellard · « **Reply #23 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:13:59 AM »

Ok on that note is there a guide to putting this thing together I got it disassembled

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #24 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:39:56 AM »

Someone asked that same question yesterday. Unfortunately no assembly manual.

However the exploded parts diagrams that are found all over should help. I've had mine all apart a couple of times since March, it's actually pretty straight forward to reassemble. The trickiest part are the boots from the airbox to the carbs. They aren't a straight fit, they have to positioned in a specific way to fit onto the carbs correctly.

Bellard · « **Reply #25 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:43:41 AM »

Me and dad sitting here trying to figure out how and in what order the gaslines hookup to the Carb and petcock. Air cleaner I might be able to figure out but without knowing how it hooks up....

Bellard · « **Reply #26 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:50:35 AM »

Ok correct me if I'm wrong you have two ports on petcock not sure about this considering we need to order one. But if there's 4 ports I'm stumped. Me n dad just trying to get her running.

db22 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:59:26 AM »

If your carbs are like mine, and I think they are, you have only one gasoline input to all four carbs. It's on the left, as you're sitting on the bike. If your petcock has two outlets, just plug one with a short piece of fuel line plugged with a screw, and feed your real fuel line to the input.

Bellard · « **Reply #28 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:05:29 AM »

All four carbs have 1 hookup. I don't have a petcock for my 550 yet but the cb350 I have has two ports on it. Can I temporary use this one and if so how do I go about hooking up four carbs with two petcock lines? A tee?

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #29 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:52:13 AM »

Yep, the '77 is a single out from the petcock and single in to the carbs.

If it fits you could use the 350 temporarily, the T should do the trick. I bought a new petcock assembly from Powers Edge Motorsports in Michigan. it wasn't very expensive, about $50 with shipping I believe. It was worth paying extra for a new assembly rather than getting a 30+ year old one.

Figuring out the carb linkage was the most difficult part for me, and that was despite having the exploded parts diagram and pictures of the carbs before I separated them. I should have taken far more pictures. Live and learn.

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Author Topic: My new Cb550k - Father and Son project (Read 4573 times)