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Messages - CB5501977K3

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1
Hi Again
Thanks very much for clarifying this for me, it's definitely off an earlier model and noted re the size of the later 550 grabrail being longer.
This explains the non fitting of the part.

Many thanks again and query now resolved. It will have to go back on ebay!

Regards Chris

2
CB500/550 / CB550 1977 Grab Rail Dimensions - replacement won't fit.
« on: April 12, 2020, 09:46:42 AM »
Hello all 550 owners.
I finished my 550K3 restoration back in November but the machine came without the grab rail. They are like hens teeth but I recently acquired one off ebay after doing some careful comparisons on the size and the angle of the bend on the tubing over the rear mudguard.

The rail has arrived and is in excellent condition but it's too short to fit my 550. If I mounted it on the top of the shocks it would be covered by around an inch of the back of the seat (which isn't right).

I am wondering if there is a difference in size from the 550 F or perhaps this is off an earlier model.

I have attached two images of the rail against a tape measure and tried to show the side profile too.

If you have a CB550K3 could you compare and let me know the length of the rail and any comment on the elevation of the rear bend in the handle compared with this one.

My 550 was a machine originally built for the South African market, perhaps it was never meant to have one and the seat is a little longer - just a thought?

Perhaps it's something to stimulate the mind during lockdown !

3
CB500/550 / Re: How open should slides be on idle (PD46A)
« on: January 20, 2020, 08:22:12 AM »
Hi Mitchtag
I have spent hours getting my PD46A's running well on my 550 and grew a beard trying to sort out an intermittent problem (which may cause the fast idle)?
I had a choke flap which was catching the carb body and sometimes didn't release as it should when closing the choke.
You can see the score mark on the attached image, just check the choke mechanism is fully moving freely by observing the choke linking rod.

Good Luck

Chris

4
Anorak's Corner / Re: Vintage Honda Tester SRH500 Kowa Seiki Ltd
« on: January 15, 2020, 07:05:33 PM »
Hi MCTID
It had several cards (I have shown one) and they give instructions or a procedure and which test leads to use to connect to which part of the bike.
I don't think he would know how it's testing it but he seemed to be pretty competent doing my caps.
I know it did ignition coils and had a dated strobe light with it for doing dynamic timing (we didn't use that).
He did tell me in the mid 70's  if your motorcycle workshop wanted to become a "Five Star" agent you had to have certain test gear and Honda tools. Perhaps this was part of the kit you needed at the time?

Chris

5
Anorak's Corner / Re: Vintage Honda Tester SRH500 Kowa Seiki Ltd
« on: January 15, 2020, 08:55:21 AM »
Correction re measurement - it should read 0.24 microfarads, not 24!

6
Anorak's Corner / Vintage Honda Tester SRH500 Kowa Seiki Ltd
« on: January 14, 2020, 08:29:56 PM »
My mate came around today to test condensers on my CB550.
He brought his 1970's Honda Motor tester with him which seemed to work and measured the capacitances at 24 micro farad and tested resistance which was slightly deficient on both caps.

I have not seen a tester like this before and thought the forum may find it of interest. It comes with a series of cards; shown is one for some test on a CB750/550.

Sorry but I can't answer any tech questions on it..........

Chris

7
CB500/550 / Re: CB550 Valve Guide O Rings - not valve guide seals
« on: January 12, 2020, 05:43:05 PM »
Many thanks for taking time to read my post and your suggestions.

This afternoon after Bryan's comment re my 3.2 litre of oil (it sounds too much) I checked the dipstick.

Why I didn't do this before I don't know but I carefully measured - I think, 3.2 after changing the oil filter. Anyway the level was far too high and well over the top mark position.

I have now removed around 600ml and level is midway not screwing the dipstick in.
I took the bike up my 20% gradient testing hill on Llandudno's Great Orme and no light grey smoke where there had been before.
The only thing I could think of initially was the O rings I hadn't replaced which were the valve guide O rings.

I just have the later type PD46A's carbs to get running correctly now but it's well on the way to running how I want it.

Regards Chris....

8
CB500/550 / Re: CB550 Valve Guide O Rings - not valve guide seals
« on: January 12, 2020, 09:37:09 AM »
Hi Julie
It's not damage, just a small carbon deposit probably or the light on the image.

Chris

9
CB500/550 / Re: CB550 Valve Guide O Rings - not valve guide seals
« on: January 12, 2020, 07:27:56 AM »
I have now managed to attach a few images of the rebuild showing piston rings.

10
CB500/550 / Re: CB550 Valve Guide O Rings - not valve guide seals
« on: January 12, 2020, 07:04:04 AM »
Hi and thanks for the quick responses..........

I will check air filter for oil - good point Julie.

Re re rings Bryan, I didn't replace the rings and didn't hone. Before I took the engine apart it was not producing this smoke under load.  The rings seemed rather gummed up before I cleaned and lubricated them. They moved more easily around the piston groove afterwards. I was careful to position rings back as per Haynes manual - so many degrees apart.
Compression feels good on kickstart and it starts well.

11
CB500/550 / CB550 Valve Guide O Rings - not valve guide seals
« on: January 11, 2020, 10:26:36 PM »
Hi All
I have now finished my top end rebuild and replaced all the gaskets and O ring seals but I didn't remove the valve guides so didn't replace the eight O ring seals which fit under the pressed in guide. (I did replace the valve guide seals and lapped in the valves)
All went well and components looked in good shape, bikes done around 15,000km (9500 miles) and spent it's life in South Africa. Barrels looked immaculate and no signs of ware or scoring and the engine reassembled well with a genuine Honda head gasket and all parts torqed back to specification.

The machine starts 1st or second kick from cold, has plenty of power and is running very smoothly and sounds like a sewing machine when ticking over.

The reason I am posting this query is that it suddenly seems to produce smoke out of all four pipes when the engine is working hard - say dropping down to 4th at 50 to overtake something. Once the engine has been taken off peak load it's runs clean with no exhaust smoke.
Could it be the valve guide O rings are shot, they were not disturbed during the rebuild but wondering what would cause this intermittent smoke. Could oil fumes or oil be coming down back into the air filter box somehow and burning via the emissions breather pipe?
I have 10/40 semi synthetic in with new filter - 3.2L
I have attached a couple of images to show pistons and barrels best I can.
Any thoughts appreciated
Chris

12
Humour / Shopping
« on: January 10, 2020, 09:20:54 AM »
Husband and Wife are shopping at a busy shopping precinct.
The wife suddenly noticed that her husband was missing and as they had a lot to do, so she called him on his mobile phone.

The wife said " Where are you, you know we have lots to do."

He said ..... "You remember the jewelers we went into about 10 years ago, and you fell in love with that diamond necklace?  I couldn't afford it at the time and I said that one day I would get it for you?"

Little tears started to flow down her cheek and she got all
choked up…

"Yes, I do remember that shop." she replied.

"Well I am in the motorcycle shop next door to that."   :D

13
CB500/550 / PD46 Carbs Viton Rubber O Rings Size Advice
« on: December 01, 2019, 04:32:38 AM »
Hi All......
Anyone know the size of the tiny O rings on the idle jet (mixture screw) on these carbs. There are a few suppliers on ebay who will sell at a reasonable cost, they list their O rings in metric sizes but quote internal diameters.
The old ones are not an easy thing to measure being worn and stretchy!




14
CB500/550 / Re: Head Gasket Advice
« on: November 20, 2019, 04:51:03 AM »
Noted re the O rings comment, are the pattern ones not too good?
I ordered a pattern top end rebuild kit but a genuine Honda head gasket as forum members report issues with non genuine head gaskets.

15
CB500/550 / Re: Head Gasket Advice
« on: November 19, 2019, 08:40:34 PM »
Thanks for the prompt response, it's not arrived yet but didn't know it was sticky.
I am new to the forum and this is my first query - think I will find it very useful.

Thanks
Chris

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