Topic: CB550 Trying to sputter to life

[dbq1928]

I am having trouble with trying to get my 77 CB550 going. I have spark and when I try starting the bugger it turns over. When I squirt some starting fluid into the carbs it sounds like she is to get started but just dies down. From what I have read on the wonderful forums it seams like that would mean the carbs are not getting fuel right?
I would just love to have some feedback and some experienced hands help me out before I make more work for myself then I already have.
Thanks alot

[BobbyR]

One thing you have not mentioned is doing any cleaning of the carbs. If you have spark and air, you are missing fuel. The symptom of spraying ether in the intake is a giveaway.

[dbq1928]

I had the carbs off before cause the guy I purchased the bike from said he had already cleaned them. When I opened them up it looked as if there were new floats in there and everything looked dandy. Should I take the carbs back off and spray them down with some cleaner or is there something I should look at soaking them with?

[MasterChief750]

take the jets out and make sure they are clear. trace your path of fuel. start at the tank and make sure that gas come out of the petcck then open on of the float drains and turn the gas on, if fuel comes out then fuel is getin to the bowls. try cleaning the jets and check o make sure all passges are clear

[TwoTired]

I don't know if you have and F or K model (different carbs).

But, you should probably verify that the carbs are getting gas and filling the bowls.  They have drain valves at the bottom, but work differently depending on model.

Once you verify they are getting gas, then move on to why they aren't giving any gas to the cylinders.

[dbq1928]

Thanks guys. Gonna get this all figured out tomorrow.

[fletcha221]

Had the same issue with my 550. I thought I had the carbs cleaned correctly, but they were still jammed up. Clean the jets, (main and Pilot), using a guitar string or very thin wire, and make sure you can see a pinhole of light through the jets when they are removed. Also, If you have an air compressor, take apart the carbs and blast air through all of the passges. That did the trick for me!

Kind Regards,

-Christian

www.cendse.com

[dbq1928]

Gahhh. Cleaned the carb out, (pt them through a ultrasonic cleaner and used a guitar string for the lil holes), threw the puppies back on. Trimmed my fuel line down a little so I new fuel was getting them. Fired he up and she reved all the way up then died again. Now I cant get her to even start on starting fluid and one of bowls are leaking,  . I thought maybe I flooded it out and when I checked one spark plug it looked a lil wet. But then I checked another and it was completely dry?

[articblue]

are the valves set correctly? Could be that, or just more carb issues, just getting them synced up since you've now had them apart and it seemed to have new floats in there.

As for the leaking bowls, try tightening down the screws...just not too tight don't want to strip the threads.
If that doesn't seal them up, get new gaskets. It's worth it for the piece of mind of non-leaking carbs.
Don't use gasket seal crap, just gums them up more, and the gas usually eats it anyway.

[dbq1928]

Played with the timing. Backfires made me just about deaf. Should I be thinking about changing the points?