Honda-SOHC

Hi Madoc/Steve,

It's stood for 24 hrs and is still showing 12.7V. I haven't connected it to the bike yet in case that's draining it for some reason (although I don't think it is).  So it seems the battery is ok, should I run those tests again or can we go from here?

Thanks for your help.

OK I will.

Thanks!

Hi, I have a CB550/4 k1 which is in unrestored condition but running nicely. I've ironed out a few problems over the summer including an irritating oil leak. The trouble I have now is a lack of charge, it's been like this since I had it but is going to be an issue with the shorter days now as I need the lights.

If there was a class for Motorcycle Electics I'd definitely be in 'Remedial' so I'm not anticipating an easy fix for this. I've looked through the manual and other posts but am still not clear on any of it. The battery seems to hold its charge when the bike is doing nothing and will seemingly charge on long fast motorway runs. Normal day to day stuff and it completely discharges.

If anyone here could give me a step by step diagnosis to start with that would be great and if you can avoid talking about flux capacitors and so on that would be even better. Thank you.

Thanks Florence - it slips on quick revvy changes, I'd assumed it was worn plates or springs but haven't inspected it yet. I'm suprised to hear you say that they all are prone to a bit of hard revving slippage, I thought the clutches were supposed to be particularly good on the 550's? Are the heavier springs easy to source?

Glad my original post has sparked some lively debate, thanks for the advice - all of which is useful.

On the subject of insurance I also have a '92 TDM bored out to 898 and with so many modifications it is unrecognisable as a TDM (thankfully) including FZR1000 swing arm and wheel, Aprilla RS250 seat hump, flat slides, high level Renegade cans and so on and even with these declared the insurance wasn't much more than the CB. I think it is always better to declare mods as the amount of interest the insurance company take in the bike will depend on the size of the claim, if you've ploughed in to a line of bystanders at 80mph (God forbid) it would be reassuring to know that at least your insurance is valid.

As for the bike, I ha vent yet run it without a filter or with a new one when it finally turns up but I did take the old one out. I was mildly surprised to find that what I now know to be the 'gas scavenging device' had a plastic cap over the end of the steel tube. It looks like the sort of thing that would be removed on fitting. I can't imagine this is connected to the running problem as surely the engine breathes sufficiently through the filter but I'm also sure this cap shouldn't be there - any ideas?

Thanks again.

Hi, I have recently acquired a CB550 k1 as a rolling (light) renovation project. Initial impressions of the bike have been good but I hoped to benefit from the combined wisdom of forum members regarding a couple of pressing issues, I'm not hugely mechanically knowledgeable.

The first is a running problem which I think is a misfire noticeable from about 3000 revs up. Having just returned from a 120 mile round trip the problem was most noticeable on the motorway where max possible speed was about 60mph (speedo wavering between 40 and 80mph), engine sounded lumpy especially up-hill where lack of power was very noticeable, you know things aren't going well when you re overtaken by a string of artics. Fuel consumption was poor (30 odd mpg). At low revs performance isn't noticeably effected and she can be coxed up to red line without too much trouble in low gears. Starting is always great, single kick hot or cold, tick over isn't bad but engine has to be fully warm for it to settle. I'm not sure if it's relevent but it only needs choke for a few seconds when cold, and on inspection this evening the plugs are a little sooty. I put some premium unleaded in it and for a while it seemed to run a bit better but soon went back to it's bad ways. I know it could be a hundred things but if anyone has got any suggestions of where I should start I'd be grateful. It has had a recent service, still waiting for a new air filter bu the existing one has had a blow through.

The second less important problem (if anyone's still reading) is the throttle control. Despite being free moving, gripping and holding the throttle open for more than five minutes at a time is cramp inducing agony. Not sure if its down to the shiny hard grip or if there is any other means of improving things. It doesn't sound much of a problem but I'm not exaggerating when I say it made the long ride flipping hard work, especially coupled with the lack of power.

Thanks