Honda-SOHC

My advise: don't "adjust" anything. Float heights are always right in my experience unless PO messed with them (this ofcourse after reading "interesting stuff" in manuals). My floats are in there for over 130.000 kms and have never needed adjustment. BTW, this floattang bending has become epidemic in the International site. Please don't spread it here.

Although I've never seen one in real (they were not imported in Europe) the 550K2 '76 for me is the most desirable of the 500/550 series and here is why. It's the last model with the four original trumpet exhausts, that allow precise finetuning. In spite of the 550Fand F1, that had most power to offer, I prefer the looks of this model. The oldstyle carbs, that are so easy to work on compared to the later PDcarbs. It's all in all the model that stays closest to the original (the 500) by offering most of the features that were good from the beginning and least of what had become 'mode' later. In detail: there is the reliable engine and updated transmission. There are those wonderful harmonicarubbers that used to protect forkseals so well before shiny legs became mode. There is the oldstyle, elegant and sober dash with just four idiot lights and not the cheaplooking setup with that insulting fifth idiot light (I mean who needs to be informed WHAT indicator is on? Who else but a true idiot). The modest ignition key is still under the tank, where it can do no harm. No hanky panky with a choke knob to mimick a car. I bet the wires are still tidy inside the handlebars. A pity it only came in Candy Garnet Brown and not in Excel Black as the 500K2 '76 did (European models). If I had one I'd change the US for the Euro handlebars and would have those big and cheap looking indicators and rear light replaced by the earlier and smaller ones.

Yes, you can. We all do.

Try to avoid spending unnecessarily. Start as close to the original as possible. Then evaluate what you like and don't like. These bikes should run good in stock condition. No need to buy fancy stuff.

The 500 had various front legs. I remember decades ago a Honda mechanic and I looked at a view of the front legs and he commented: don't look at the picture, it is wrong. The stupid thing is I can't recall what picture it was, so I know nothing...

think it was groove side down

I'm afraid I don't understand. Groove means what?

You're right the K3 was the better tourer. The offered riding position was and is perfect. On the continent the K3 was marketed as the tourer version of the somewhat sportier F2.

Show, don't tell.