Topic: WTF!!?? HELP!!

[Tews19]

You have a manual? on this site scroll down on the main page and click on the 550. Manuals are given there.

[brycegp]

got the manual...read it.  it's easy...

[FuZZie]

was the oil and filter clean no bit's in it?

[crazypj]

When you do tappet adjustment, 0.002" in 0.003" ex, use the 0.003" to check intake isn't too loose and a 4 thou to check exhaust.
 Correct size slides in 'easy' next size up wont go.
 Also make sure you rotate crank 360 degrees before second adjustment, you do 4 on TDC 1.4 then the others, again on 1.4
eg
cyl # 1 tdcc, 1 in+ex, 2 ex, 3 in.
cyl #4 tdcc, 4in+ex, 3 ex, 2 in

[fishhead]

Woe is you, karma is a #$%*

Just be glad that you didnt sell the bike and then the new owner has the problems that you are now having.

 It could have turned REAL ugly, REAL fast.

Good luck with the repair

[brycegp]

I would never let it get ugly.  If any unfortunate thing like that were to EVER happen on my watch, I would be a man about it and make it right with the buyer. 

There are some really shady sellers out there that would blame the buyer in that situation saying "Buyer Beware"...but I would have considered that my fault and fixed the issue.

[brycegp]

When you do tappet adjustment, 0.002" in 0.003" ex, use the 0.003" to check intake isn't too loose and a 4 thou to check exhaust.
 Correct size slides in 'easy' next size up wont go.
 Also make sure you rotate crank 360 degrees before second adjustment, you do 4 on TDC 1.4 then the others, again on 1.4
eg
cyl # 1 tdcc, 1 in+ex, 2 ex, 3 in.
cyl #4 tdcc, 4in+ex, 3 ex, 2 in

I did exactly that...EXCEPT I did .005 intake and .008 exhaust per the manual's specs.  Why do you go smaller?

EDIT: sorry we did the same sizes...mine are MM's and yours IN's...ahaha...that's the same size...

[Tews19]

Lol. Hey how does she sound now after the adjustment? My 550F sounded as if it had a rod knock, once I did the adjustment she literally purrs. Got to love the people here who help out

[brycegp]

Lol. Hey how does she sound now after the adjustment? My 550F sounded as if it had a rod knock, once I did the adjustment she literally purrs. Got to love the people here who help out

Dunno...waiting for my new oil filter housing bolt to arrive so I can put her back together...and fill the oil.  Then warm it up and do a compression test...

the original seizure that started all this is still a mystery...I gotta figure that out.

[lucky]

So the crappiest part of this story is that I am selling my bike and it was DEATH BY DEMO!!! 

How is it that this happens so frequently...you demo your bike to someone and something catastrophic happens...UGH!!!

So I started up the bike for this guy and he was loving the bike.  Then I turned it off...and then minutes later went to demo the kick start and it start right up as always.  And THEN with in about 5 seconds it became labored as if not getting fuel...and stopped running.  I went to kick start it again...and it was LOCKED UP.  The kicker wouldn't budge.  Then I went to start it with the electric as I've done a thousand times.  And I can feel the starter motor try to turn but doesn't.

I've tried putting it in a high gear and push it to turn the motor.  But it just drags the rear wheel.  I even tried to turn the wheel backwards and still doesn't budge.

Please tell me its something simple....but I am fearing the worst. 

HOW COULD AN ENGINE JUST CEASE LIKE THAT???

You have to tell us the history of the bike.
Otherwise we are working in the dark.

[lucky]

Put some anti-seize under bolt head .
 It's possible to get some corrosion between head and the 'O' ring.
 It's not much area but can make life difficult

thx!  I'll do that...

anyone have a link to a good "how to" for valve adjustment and timing on this bike.  I searched and there is no concise step by step explanation in the FAQ.

You really need to buy a workshop manual.
IT has STEP BY STEP information.
I would not just rely on internet information.

That is like just asking anyone walking by.
How could you sell a motorcycle not having adjusted the valves?

BTW....You have to get the slack out of the cam chain BEFORE you do the valve adjustment.

[lucky]

You do have oil in it?
 Sounds like something seized?
What have you done to motor, carbs, etc?

I immediately checked the oil and while it was low, there was oil on the last 1/8" of the dip stick.

I haven't done anything to the motor...had the carbs worked on a few weeks ago....but that's about it.

Only 1/8 showing on the dip stick!! WOW

Now tell us that that was when the dip stick was screwed in all the way.
You know the dip stick is just supposed to sit down in the hole and NOT be screwed in when taking the measurement. But you would know that f you had a manual.
I think it is in the workshop manual too.

[lucky]

Woe is you, karma is a #$%*

Just be glad that you didnt sell the bike and then the new owner has the problems that you are now having.

 It could have turned REAL ugly, REAL fast.

Good luck with the repair

Good point FISHHEAD!!! I was thinking that very same thing.
And what if the new owner had changed the registration too.

[lucky]

When an engines seizes it causes permanent damage to the cylinder walls and piston rings and possibly to the piston too. You cannot sell it after it seized until you take the top end apart and check the damage.

[brycegp]

When an engines seizes it causes permanent damage to the cylinder walls and piston rings and possibly to the piston too. You cannot sell it after it seized until you take the top end apart and check the damage.

and if a compression test proves good compression?

if it was a piston seizure a compression test WILL reveal a problem.  And I will fix it.

On the other hand...there is no verification that it was a piston seizure.  when I turned the crank by the stator bolt, it turned no problem.  And at that time, it was still not cranking by using the kicker.  The problem was still persisting.  BUT the motor was turning by the crank.

I'm not fully convinced it wasn't something in the kicker spindle that got outta whack.  Guys here have stated that that has happened to them...

[FuZZie]

When an engines seizes it causes permanent damage to the cylinder walls and piston rings and possibly to the piston too. You cannot sell it after it seized until you take the top end apart and check the damage.

Altho I agree lucky, as he stayed up on the oil changes "IF" I saw no evidence of damage in the oil or filter I would try a compression test. "IF" the compression looked good I would try a start and if it goes let it run for a few minutes to let the oil cycle tru so I could check the fresh oil and look at the exhaust for unusual smoke.

As he's not sure exactly what happened, I'd want to see some sort of sign pointing to the cause before i started ripping and guessing.

Edit: you posted before i finished brycegp but I'm posting this anyway. ;}

[brycegp]

Good point FISHHEAD!!! I was thinking that very same thing.
And what if the new owner had changed the registration too.

WHAT IF...WHAT IF.  That didn't happen.  And if it did, I'd pay for a rebuild and give the buyer a fresh motor.  I'm an enthusiast and want people to just have fun.  I'm not a mechanic...

But posing these kinds of hypotheticals as if to passively accuse me of some ill-intent...sounds like you're just stirring up trouble. 

If was a trying to hide something...you think I'd be on here trying to sort it out for the world to see?  This bike just came back from the mechanic with a clean bill of health less than 100 miles ago.  So all this comes as a shock...cuz minutes before it died, it was purring like a kitten.

Your help is appreciated...

[lucky]

I think it was all a blessing in disguise.
If it had run good and that person took a test ride and got dumped or hurt that would have made a very bad day.

Any way it turned out good. No one got hurt, it was ideling etc.,.

[brycegp]

I think it was all a blessing in disguise.
If it had run good and that person took a test ride and got dumped or hurt that would have made a very bad day.

Any way it turned out good. No one got hurt, it was ideling etc.,.

I appreciate the insight...however, I'm not really on this forum to debate the philosophic reasoning behind the goings on of this world. 

I just want to fix the bike so I can sell it for someone else to enjoy...safely.

[Randy]

Hey Bry!..i need to change my oil..want to do it?... I'm at the Petersens automotive museum at lease once a week..

[brycegp]

Hey Bry!..i need to change my oil..want to do it?... I'm at the Petersens automotive museum at lease once a week..

I don't live to far from there.  If you really need help, I'm happy to help.  Me thinks you may be pulling my leg however...

[brycegp]

So I am going to do a compression test before I attempt to start it up.  If there is no compression, what's the point?

I know standard compression reading should be 170psi, with the bike fully warmed up.  But since I don't want to fire until I see at least some compression, what COLD readings should I be looking to see??

[crazypj]

Anything over 110 and it will run.
 You can warm it up and re-check 'hot'

[TwoTired]

I know standard compression reading should be 170psi, with the bike fully warmed up. 

Only, if you use the same very low volume gauge Honda used in the service manual.

But since I don't want to fire until I see at least some compression, what COLD readings should I be looking to see??

You are looking for numbers within 10% of each other.  Absolute numbers will vary with the volume of the tester.
There is a post in the engine FAQ about compression tests.

[brycegp]

I know standard compression reading should be 170psi, with the bike fully warmed up. 

Only, if you use the same very low volume gauge Honda used in the service manual.

But since I don't want to fire until I see at least some compression, what COLD readings should I be looking to see??

You are looking for numbers within 10% of each other.  Absolute numbers will vary with the volume of the tester.
There is a post in the engine FAQ about compression tests.

Thanks, TT!  Here are my COLD and DRY compression numbers.   155, 140, 140, 155

I wasn't able to tighten down the gauge in 2 & 3 as tightly as in 1 & 4 cuz its limited accessibility.  Don't know if that is significant but thought I'd mention it.