Topic: New to me 1978 550K

[rlrick]

Just a quick greeting. I just aquired a 1978 550K. It's been sitting since 1995. I'm doing a bunch of cleaning right now. I pulled the plugs and shot a little oil in to soak. It turns over fine. I changed the oil and filter and installed a new battery. I'll be needing tires and tubes before I get it on the road. All in all it's not in too bad of shape for it's age. I'm rebuilding the carbs Friday. I hope to get it running in a week or two. I'll check back in later. I'm sure I'll have a bunch of questions right after I hit the starter button

Rick
Northern Calif.

[BARDAR]

Welcome from SoCal 

[rlrick]

I knew this time would come. I got the carbs back together adjusted the floats, new points and hit the starter. It turned over fine. I shot a little gas in each carb, pulled out the choke and hit the starter. it fired right up. The problem is it only ran until the shot of gas ran out. I have checked everything I can think of and still no luck. Runs for a second after a shot of gas then dies. Seems like the float is close. Any suggestions?

Rick

[fastbroshi]

  One thing I know about these carbs is they have to be squeaky clean.  So it'll run given fuel.   If you loosen the drains on all the bowls, does fuel come out?  If so, prob a clogged jet. 
  I take it you've got the stock airbox.  What about the exhaust?  Is it stock?  If not, the jets may need adjustment or replaced w/ a different size. 
  Sometimes folks will put a float or two in upside down.  And the floats need to be able to go up and down freely on their brass pins.  But hey maybe you should post your problem in the Project forums, it'll get more views there.
  Oh and make sure you got a good charge on the battery.  Plugs should probably be NGK D7EA, or ES, can't remember.

[rlrick]

Hey, thanks for the suggestions. You hit it on the head.."Upsidedown floats". I feel dumb. The carbs were already taken apart when I got the bike and I figured the flat side would go up but I was wrong. It's running now. Still needs tweaking but at least it's running. I have a ways to go before I can put it on the road. I'll be putting new tires on it this weekend. Last time it ran was 1995.

Thanks again for the reply.

Rick

[fastbroshi]

  Oh and in case you didn't know, the 550s' charging systems eletrical connections usually need a good going through because stock the darn things weren't engineered to charge from idle in the first place.  Mix in 30 years of corrosion on the connectors and even in a good dry atmosphere you'll lose some power potential.
  I just went through my whole system and cleaned, repaired or replaced every connector, replaced my regulator w/ a new one, made sure I had the right turn signal bulbs, and I still have a dim headlight at idle that brightens when revved.  The bulbs are 1073's and 1074's, can't remember which is front or rear.  This will save you about .5 amp per bulb. 

[rlrick]

Well it took almost a month but it's running great. Here is a link to a couple of shots I took of the before and after.

Rick 

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2655309120033133681QjXxRt