Author Topic: 1974 CB550 Project: Rust Bucket 1st project for me (Read 8461 times)

Nekneit · « **Reply #25 on:** August 21, 2011, 11:45:48 PM »

We did a bench sync. I dismantled the bowels changed out all the jets and removed and cleaned the needles and emultion tubes.then I soaked in simple green.

fastbroshi · « **Reply #26 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:16:03 AM »

Quote from: Nekneit on August 21, 2011, 11:45:48 PM

We did a bench sync. I dismantled the bowels changed out all the jets and removed and cleaned the needles and emultion tubes.then I soaked in simple green.

OH THE HORROR!!

Seriously though, you replaced the points. So you're confident the adjustment afterward went correctly? And your bench sync, how was this accomplished?

Nekneit · « **Reply #27 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:19:55 AM »

Ill check the points tomorrow just to make sure. I used a drill bit to do the bench seat.

fastbroshi · « **Reply #28 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:50:34 AM »

Cool. You didn't mention anything about the idle adjustment screw. I believe a correct baseline is a couple turns in from just touching the arm. Shouldn't cause the symptoms you describe, but it's good to check. It's ridged on its outer diameter like a quarter, and has slots cut into its face like a pie.

Nekneit · « **Reply #29 on:** August 22, 2011, 01:27:50 AM »

For sure. Idle adjustment is at what you described. I'm really hoping it's something simple like that but I'm doubting it unfortunately.

Nekneit · « **Reply #30 on:** August 28, 2011, 04:32:13 PM »

Double checked the points last night with a gun. Had to make a small adjustment. Then we adjusted the tappets. Still having the idle issue. I'm hoping that syncing the carbs not that everything else is perfect will eliminate the issue but we'll see.

Nekneit · « **Reply #31 on:** August 28, 2011, 08:51:08 PM »

o and I bought a new battery.

Nekneit · « **Reply #32 on:** September 03, 2011, 09:07:26 PM »

So I haven't written much lately because I've been having too much fun riding

. The new battery seemed to fix everything. And after all the maintenance we did to try to fix the problem It's running like a champ. soooooo fun.
O yea and then the ignition switch stopped working so I took it apart and sanded the points and all was good... and then it died again because the ignition switch kept coming unplugged so I used electrical tape to hold it together and boom the good times are rolling.

Also, I bought a grinding wheel and mounted a polishing disk to it and I've started polishing. Very therapeutic. soon to have a sparkling shiny bike.

Nekneit · « **Reply #33 on:** September 05, 2011, 01:55:59 AM »

Did some clean up today. Got some cleaning a polishing tips from http://www.dimecitycycles.com/blog/cat/tech/post/aluminumpolishing101/

Before

After

It took a while and it's not perfect but I'm pretty happy. Looking forward to my whole engine looking this good.

Nekneit · « **Reply #34 on:** September 12, 2011, 11:51:22 PM »

After getting the petcock situation set up my float bowls started leaking gas on 1 and 2 so I've got the carbs off again and taking a look to see what the heck the issue is. Nothing seems to be sticking and all the overflow tubes are in good shape. I did notice a small bit of tape from when I installed the gaskets on one of the bowls so I'm hoping that was the problem. Any suggestions?

fastbroshi · « **Reply #35 on:** September 13, 2011, 12:46:08 AM »

Have you checked the float height?

Nekneit · « **Reply #36 on:** September 13, 2011, 08:25:36 AM »

yea the float heights are good. I'm thinking the issue may be the needle and seat under the floats but everything seems to be moving freely. not sure. I'm going to open up the hing on the float so it moves even better and see what happens.

Nekneit · « **Reply #37 on:** September 16, 2011, 12:51:34 AM »

So I replaced the petcock and the fule lines and now I've got no leaks from the petcock. Yea!!!! However 3 and 4 are still leaking like crazy from the overflow. I checked the over flow valve for crack and there are none. I set the float heights. Not sure what to do. I just want to ride and I keep running into problems. HELP!!!

Nekneit · « **Reply #38 on:** September 16, 2011, 12:52:46 AM »

And I got my new needle and seats for the two old ones and replaced them. Everything seemed perfect with floats but.... still leaking. UG!

fastbroshi · « **Reply #39 on:** September 16, 2011, 01:13:49 AM »

So...using a little deductive reasoning, what piece of the puzzle could possibly be the problem? You've replaced the stopper valve (forget what it's called), so it can't be a "leak" there. What did your float height measure at when you checked? Judging by the carb gaskets you used, you have the 022a carbs and the height should be 22mm.
Are you sure the floats weren't reinstalled upside down by someone?

lucky · « **Reply #40 on:** September 16, 2011, 07:08:45 AM »

You can stop that rust!
Just soak the parts in phosphoric acid and it will kill that rust and then you can paint it and it will be protected for another 30 years.

Flying J · « **Reply #41 on:** September 16, 2011, 07:09:25 AM »

Put the carbs on the bike. Take off the bowl on one that is leaking. Hold the float up with your finger, with light pressure. Turn on the the fuel end see where your lashing from. If your needle isn't seating and allowing fuel to flow by you know what the problem is. If it stops the fuel fine then you know its either the floats or an overflow tube.

akinz · « **Reply #42 on:** September 16, 2011, 04:06:53 PM »

Quote from: Nekneit on August 22, 2011, 01:27:50 AM

I'm really hoping it's something simple like that but I'm doubting it unfortunately.

I have a shot in the dark for you. I had the same problem with mine. There are o-rings on my 77 between the intake port on the head and the intake part of the carb. They were cracked and allowing air in, causing a lean mixture. The way you can find out if you have leaky rings or boots is if you spray wd-40. The engine idle will change instantaneously if this is your culprit.

Flying J · « **Reply #43 on:** September 16, 2011, 04:26:43 PM »

I had that same issue with my 76. We tried the carb cleaner on the intakes with no help. It was the bad battery in the end. Now the leaky carbs are givng him hell. Im going to go over today and see if i can help fix the issue.

Nekneit · « **Reply #44 on:** September 22, 2011, 05:51:34 PM »

had a good time riding with J the other day. Took some cool pics

Nekneit · « **Reply #45 on:** September 22, 2011, 06:03:31 PM »

I'm thinking some rust got into the carbs after using a loaner tank while ordering my new petcock. Once we got everything cleaned out she was running good. had some idle issues but realized it was because I didn't tighten down the carb hoses

. Having a lot of fun on the bike. Took it out to my in laws house and my father in law Greg got super geeked out about the bike. First time we've ever bonded in 13 years

very cool.
Carb sync as soon as FFJMoore and I get our new sync tool (we split the cost). Then I'm looking forward to doing some acceleration tests /wink.
Thanks for all the help. I'll need more once I start stripping the bike down to get my cafe on.

Flying J · « **Reply #46 on:** September 22, 2011, 10:49:36 PM »

It looks like (from your profile picture) that you need to invest in some riding gear. IE gloves, riding jacket, pants that fit....

Nekneit · « **Reply #47 on:** September 23, 2011, 01:01:52 AM »

That is all official riding gear.

Nekneit · « **Reply #48 on:** September 27, 2011, 11:25:29 PM »

So I am at a loss. My idle is inconsistant. I'll be sitting at 1k and then when I rev the throttle it pops up and then will get stuck from time to time. Today during syncing every time I popped the throttle I would get different readings. Very frustrating.
So far I've...
-Completely cleaned/rebuilt the carbs
--set the float hight
--set the idle screws (out 1.5 turns)
-replaced the fuel lines
-replaced the petcock
-Replaced the battery
-Replace the spark plugs
-Adjusted the tappets
-Set the timing
-Replaced the timing coils with brand new ones
-sprayed wd40 at the hoses to check for leaks (none found)
-replaced the boots

I really don't know what else I can do. I can't even sync the carbs with the way it is it keeps giving me inconsistent readings.

SOME OBSERVATIONS

-when I am at a stop and I rev the engine the head light gets brighter and then dimmer as the engine slows
-The RPMs seem to get stuck and not come down for a long while and have a general inconsistency when the fuel is set on and when the gas isn't topped off. It still does it with a full tank and on reserve but it seems to do it less (this might not be a good observation but I'm trying to explain everything).

any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

Kevin

Flying J · « **Reply #49 on:** September 27, 2011, 11:33:58 PM »

Try cleaning those plugs or putting in a fresh set and see if it make a difference. Those were pretty fouled looking. Also im thinking clean the connections for the coil.

I cant figure this one out. it will idle and ill adjust the carbs to sync and then when you blip the throttle, the bike either drops down in idle or starts to accelerate way up, then you have to blip the throttle to get it to come back down and the gauges are all in different places again.

I think we need to do a compression test, that is one thing we have not done yet

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Author Topic: 1974 CB550 Project: Rust Bucket 1st project for me (Read 8461 times)