Honda-SOHC
General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: bigmockuk on December 15, 2014, 12:57:04 PM
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Hi all just getting back into the motorcycle scene,picked up an aged honda cb550k,garaged for 25 odd yrs,everything seized as expected but coming along just nicely,lots of tlc needed but will get there,got the engine turnig over now tho a squeel from no 4,never seen carbs in this condition in my entire! float chambers still full of what is now varnish and now tainted red,slides jammed solid,alternator,clutch,brakes the list obviously goes on! have spent 3 weeks on it now and electronic ignition system is fully functioning,starting system all set after overhauling the motor! FINALLY figured out the annoying clutch/diode saftey mechanism! after hours of studying wire diagram to work out it only basically stops the nuetral light from coming on Grrrrr.The P.O has changed it to alloys and twin front discs which looks quite cool so may stick wi that,Im doing away with the full rickman touring fairing which is in amazing condition so will get that posted for sale,anyway,glad to be here and finding out lots more about these bikes,ttfn
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Hello and welcome. From the photo's it does look exceptionally clean for it's age. The idea of that diode is so you cannot start it in gear unless the clutch is pulled in, American safety legislation I'm afraid, obviously they are that dumb they can't think for themselves! ;D
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Hello and welcome from Orkney,
Certainly looks like one worth doing and also that you are proceeding well. I have a good friend on Lismore who is up to the same tricks as you and I. I sometimes meet up with another friend from South and we have Springtime tour of the Wild West - might meet up for a brew sometime. I'm on with another 400/4 at the moment - engine out next for the usual cam chain, repair tensioner and fettle the cosmetics.
Keep in touch with your progress,
Ian
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Good luck with it, 550k are great bikes in my oppinion. Yours looks quite tidy. I agree with you the alloys look quite smart, I had a 550k3 with comstar alloys and quite liked the look, and the twin disks.
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Welcome from the other end of the UK. Don't know the land side of West of Glasgow very well (only the Airport) but used to sail out of Inverkip quite often, beautiful place, fantastic sailing
Julie
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Welcome. Are you going to put the original wheels back on? why people change them is a strange thing, spokes look so much better. Nice to see it still has the 4 into 4 exhausts.
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Diode doesnt stop the neutral light comming but stops the starter working unless either the green light is on OR the clutch lever pulled in
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Hi bigmockuk, welcome to the forum fella
pete
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Plus one with me too
Cheers
Bitsa
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welcome, the 550 is a great bike good luck with it
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Greetings from Motherwell
Archmill
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Hi Thanks for all the Greets and comments! feel at home already haha Im Thinking the P.O changed the wheels due to the weight of the fairing and the two panniers i removed,the front having the extra braking power of the disc brakes,not sure tho.3 of the orignal pipes are good except the bafles look like they have collapsed? the other pipe is blowing but may be sorted.I am at this very mo looking at the carbs on the bedroom floor lol,it was getting cold/dark up the garage so took my work home with me,the carbs are,i believe fully functional/clean but it was real tricky getting the o-rings/washers back into the slow running mixture orifice! finally used a wooden tapered artist paint brush to locate the rubbers.i see the float chambers for this carb should be 14.5mm? would it hurt to set them at 1.5cm which is what i have on my ruler? thanks everyone i`ll keep things updated!!
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Yep, welcome from me. Nice to post pics when introducing your bike.
Looks like the PO swapped the front end - may be 750F2 or 650, not expert enough to know. Agree about spokes but always liked (non-reverse) comstars as you appear to have. All depends on whether you hanker for the original spec...
Good luck with it.
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Hello and welcome. From the photo's it does look exceptionally clean for it's age. The idea of that diode is so you cannot start it in gear unless the clutch is pulled in, American safety legislation I'm afraid, obviously they are that dumb they can't think for themselves! ;D
On my VFR the ignition is cut if you engage gear with the side stand down. Now that *is* a worthwhile feature!! ::)
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You need to get the pilot jets out, they are a press in fit and removal has been discused on here many times
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3 reasons previous owners might have ditched spoked wheels. Rear hub liners crack, specialist job to repair, twin disks go in easily and often spokes get rusty, the constars do have a few practical pro's. On my 550 it was how it came to me. I prefer the spokes but I preferred to have the £200 odd that reverting to spokes would cost at the time, and if I ever get around to rebuilding my 550, I bet I will feel the same.
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Hi,
I agree that cb400N forks are a nice and easy way to obtain twin discs on the 400/550 that actually do stop the the bike efficiently, I have done it myself. The downside is normally 19in. front wheel that does effect steering, 18in front wheels with 5 bolt discs can be found, they are rarer.The rear wheel also needs the correct spacing/spacers to line up.
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19 inch front wheel is standard on the 550's:))
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My cb550 was done using cb650 parts ( rear wheel swaps streight over) though the front wheel might have been super dream for all I know as i bought back a van full of bits from various bikes from the one chap. Either way, it works and looks quite good. Mine had a 19 inch front hoop if that helps identify the comstar source.
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Hi all,i managed to get the pilot jets pulled tho it took quite a bit of twisting with standard straight pliers,they were totally caked with hard crude,had to soak in carb cleaner and careful use of wire strand from a cycle brake cable,set the float heights to exactly to 1,5cm,put them together and although not overflowing,they ARE leaking fuel,another strip down showed all 4 float chamber seals are squashed flat almost the whole way round,may be able to prise out and clean,turn over and reinstall,failing that they will need replaced.Fuel hitting plugs 1-3 with 1 flooding,no fuel at 4 and 3 spitting back thru carb so suspect valves not seating which is todays job! Thanks for all the relys and input guys!