Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel"

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's a good-looking bike Chris. I hope you are getting some riding in this weekend.

[riverfever]

Custom gauge faces would really be cool but then I'd have to wire some things again. And......well.....I'm never wiring anything else ever again.

Thanks for the kind words. Unfortunately, it snowed yesterday and is supposed to do so most of the day today (spring in the mountains) so no riding. Last night I was tired and being too much of a cupcake to do it but today I'll do another idle chop and see what that dreaded #4 plug looks like. I swear that cylinder is my nemesis. Also need to air up the tires and Loctite the bolts for the clip ons.

And I actually believe Heather would throw up if someone threw clams on her. She doesn't eat fish or anything that swims for a living. When she was a kid she used to eat tuna salad and LOVED it (as her late grandmother used to enjoy telling me the story). One day someone slipped a "fish" in after the tuna and Heather went on hunger strike because Nana had been lying to her all these years. Heather had assumed it was chicken.

[Stev-o]

I'd throw some clams toward that project!

+1

You think you have problems with squirrels, check this out...

http://www.onehotlap.com/2011/09/six-baby-squirrels-go-flying-around.html

[riverfever]

He said the car felt squirrelly!!     

I got the Woodcraft bolts smothered in Loctite and torqued down and the tires aired up. I did another 2 minute idle chop and things look exactly the same despite swapping the wires for 1/4. I suppose it could still be an issue that will resolve itself with the NGK caps but I kinda doubt it. Right now I'm thinking back to when I first rebuilt these 627B carbs and how that number four body looked internally. Here it is again.



Not sure if this could be part of the problem or not. The fourth plug is noticeably wet and more lean than 1-3. I suppose I should verify fuel level again in carb 4. I do have a set of O22A carbs that I rebuilt and tried last year but could not get running right but...I've also made a lot of changes since then too.

[riverfever]

And the education continues. I did about 4 or 5 idle plug chops today and noticed that I was getting different results at times without having made any adjustments to the IMS screws. Also noticed (actually the other night) that the rpm was fluctuating about 300rpms at times. I started wondering about vacuum leaks today but only focused on the areas between the motor and the carbs. I used new o rings on the intake manifolds and I don't think the larger rubber boots (although really hardened) were leaking. I'm ashamed to admit this publicly but...if it will help someone else out down the road...I KNEW there were tears in the boots between the carbs and the air box. In my head I just didn't think they would be an issue but it makes sense now I guess. I assume they are allowing air in that is not at all controlled?

I will do it right and order new boots for both sides from 4 into 1 as well as some new clamps for both. Then we'll see what plug 4 looks like. There is actually a large tear on the number 4 boot that I.......ummmmmm......might have made with a screwdriver when putting them back on after the top end rebuild. Laugh if you must. I'm still learning. I won't even post a picture of that, although, several of you have now seen it. It's not pretty.

[riverfever]

Damn. Now that I think of it I should have just blamed the chewed up boots on the squirrels.

[calj737]

Damn. Now that I think of it I should have just blamed the chewed up boots on the squirrels.

That story wouldn't fly. We all know you ferried him to safety on the other side of town, in that lovely little glen filled with oak trees and posted No Hunting. Cupcake.

[riverfever]

I'm like one of these motors. They are very sensitive to air. The squirrels are the air to my inner motor.

Mmmmmmmm......cupcakes. 

[calj737]

Please never call me again. 

[riverfever]

I'll send doughnuts. With extra gluten.

[calj737]

We can still be friends. I was only kidding before. Salted Caramel creme filled from Krispy Kreme please 

[Stev-o]

Yeah, the squirrel did it, I'd go with that! 

[RAFster122s]

Saw this and thought it must have been written for you...
Enlarge and enjoy...

[riverfever]

Yesterday I got new rubbers (on both sides of the carbs) installed along with new clamps. I did a two minute idle chop just now at 1250 rpms with all screws out 3/4 of a turn. Idle was rock solid this time with no hunting at all. All 4 plugs look exactly the same. They are a touch lean which I still can't believe because for years now I've been fighting very rich plugs. Header 4 was actually hot and I wasn't able to hold on to it. We have been getting hit hard up in the high country with snow the last week and got 8" yesterday and are supposed to get more all week but I think I'm going to hold off on doing any further adjustments until I can get out for a ride and see what a WOT chop looks like.

[Stev-o]

Yesterday I got new rubbers... and got 8" yesterday

WOW I bet she is happy!

[riverfever]

8"? Haha!! Not even with the wind at my back!

[flatlander]

hey squirellman, you're nominated for BOTM. be a good squirrel, get over there and accept!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

hey squirellman, you're nominated for BOTM. be a good squirrel, get over there and accept!

Get to it!   

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Congratulations, Chris.  The Squirrel is Bike of the Month for June 2017.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,165779.0.html

[riverfever]

Thanks a lot my friend.

Just to let everyone know...I'm in the final two weeks of school so I haven't been doing much to the bike but I have gotten some tuning completed. Right now I'm back to running 100/38 jets with IMS screws out 3/4 of a turn. Plugs looked great at idle. Having a bit of an issue at WOT because 105's were too rich and 100's were a touch lean. 1/2 throttle was lean so my next move is to raise the needles one clip and see what the impact is at 1/2 throttle and then recheck the WOT and see if it's better. It's the closest it's ever been to being able to enjoy it.

Thanks for all of your help and input. Everyone.

[Stev-o]

WOW..........BOTM!  CONGRATS!!  The squirrel would be happy.

[RAFster122s]

Congrats Chris, everyone apparently was scared off to submitting another.
Glad she is running and hope yor tuning goes well...
David

[riverfever]

Thanks a lot Steve and David.

I did get a few minutes to go down and remove the slide and needle from carb #1 tonight. The clips are in the fourth position (towards the top and thicker portion of the needle) so that's pretty lean. I will lower the clip back to the middle slot and see what changes at 1/2 throttle. Supposed to snow tonight and all day tomorrow and into tomorrow evening though and then be crappy this weekend so I'll probably just hit the river after getting things swapped. Guess I'll also have to go back and vacuum sync the carbs again after fussing with the needles though but that probably needed to happen anyways after swapping out the torn rubbers.

[calj737]

Uh, no wonder our earlier chat was so confusing to you. The slot one down from the top (fat end) is the second notch not the fourth. So you are set up vey lean right now. Slots are counted top to bottom, 1-5. Stock on your bike is 4th slot, second from the bottom. Imagine how much richer you'd be down there!

So, yeah, middle slot with the 100s next go at WOT ought to be a great result.

[riverfever]

Yeah. I did some head scratching. Haha!! I'm sorry. I was using the wrong numbers.

It's truly amazing what impact the porting/polishing and oversized intakes has had on things huh? Sorry for confusing things. I'm on the edge of my bean bag to get the needles swapped and see the result.