Author Topic: 1978 CB550 carb question  (Read 1155 times)

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Offline stevenwr

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1978 CB550 carb question
« on: August 10, 2011, 02:46:15 PM »
Hello, I'm restoring a 1978 CB550 and have a question about the carb. I made a Youtube video to better explain my question:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1JDNZmk-Zw


Thanks.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: 1978 CB550 carb question
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2011, 03:09:45 PM »
The big belcrank doesn't reallyhave it's own stop apart from the the big idle knob on the right hand side.  The fats idle cam will hold it open farther with choke application.

As to actual idle speed, that is controlled with the throttle valve opening.  The big idle stop knob should both allow the slides to completely bottom in their bores, and have adjustment to hold them open enough to allow a low idle (after warm up).

If it is not coming down in RPM enough, it could be carbs slides out of sync, which will make the cylinders fight each other for dominance of crankshaft rotation speed.  However, turning out the big idle knob should allow a near total shut off of air supply to the cylinders, provided the choke mechanism is not actuated and the fast idle screws is not set to ridiculous positions.

Certainly air leaks will mess up idle, as well. 

I'd set your pilot screws to 2 turns with today's ethanol fuel contamination.  You can fine tune them inward later for a leaner idle, or tolerable response to the throttle twist.

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline stevenwr

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Re: 1978 CB550 carb question
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2011, 03:36:54 PM »
Thanks for the info. I'll set the pilot screws 2 turns. The big idle stop knob I've backed out all the way so it doesn't even contact the stop. I'm cleaning the boots right now and they look pretty good. As for the carb slides I've sync'd the carbs so I'm assuming the slides are working together now. After cleaning the boots I'm going to put the carbs back in and fire it up again and see what's happening.

Thanks again.