Recommendation for 550/4 service.

[Eloise666]

Hi, I have a 1976 550/4 that needs a service. Any recommendations? I live near Luton. Thanks

[Bryanj]

Most shops wont take on old bike, most of it is easy enough to do yourself with a Honda manual

[Johnny4428]

Hi Eloise, can’t recommend someone to carry out service but just like to point out that drive chain does look rather slack also is that joining link spring clip broken? I think it might be coming into contact with the bottom of the side stand! Could be wrong though!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Well spotted Johnny, that clip certainly looks broken unless it's a trick of lighting and staining that makes it look like a broken link.

Nice looking Alloy Wheels btw Eloise.👍

[Eloise666]

Hi, I have a 1976 550/4 that needs a service. Any recommendations? I live near Luton. Thanks

Thanks for the info guys. Wish I had time to work on the bike but time doesn’t allow. It ran great last summer but I’ve stored it too long and am paying the price.

[Seabeowner]

Well spotted Johnny, that clip certainly looks broken unless it's a trick of lighting and staining that makes it look like a link.

See what you mean on the lower run near the sprocket. The clip lower part should be a mirror image of the top part.

[Johnny4428]

Hi, I have a 1976 550/4 that needs a service. Any recommendations? I live near Luton. Thanks

Thanks for the info guys. Wish I had time to work on the bike but time doesn’t allow. It ran great last summer but I’ve stored it too long and am paying the price.

It’s normal to have a bit of fettling after storage. Depending on old fuel, battery tyres etc. I drain the fuel and swish some diesel round in the tank before I store for winter also remove battery and run the carbs dry of fuel. That saves a bit of headache with fuel blockages. I’m sure with a good service and check over you’ll be up and running again, hopefully if you can find some enthusiastic assistance.

[deltarider]

The clip on mine sits like the one in the pic. I see no problem.
As far as carbs, during extended periods of time of inactivity, this has proved best for my CB500.
Realise that after carbs have been in contact with fuel, best strategy is to keep carbs in a natural state, which is wet. If not, the seals - now used to plasticizers - will shrink, causing leaks next spring. Keeping the same fuel in the floatbowls isn't good either though, unless you have added a fuel stabilizer. So in winter, I drain the bowls, say every 7 weeks. After draining I crank the engine a few times, so the downgoing pistons can suck the jets clean and then I open the petcock to refill the bowls with fresh fuel. Gasoline by it self is good cleaning agent. I have practised this for the last 20 years and never had a problem. The only time I had left the carbs drained, the seals had shrunk, causing temporary leaking.

[Johnny4428]

Maybe I’ve just been lucky Delta! Haven’t had a leak yet storing using the draining down method. And the good thing is I put the bike away and never have to look at it until spring. Each to their own.

[deltarider]

Maybe I’ve just been lucky Delta! Haven’t had a leak yet storing using the draining down method. And the good thing is I put the bike away and never have to look at it until spring. Each to their own.

And... you wouldn't have added some fuel stabilizer, would you?

[Johnny4428]

In the past I have used Frost Ethomix in the 550 but ran out last year and didn’t buy any more. Now I use a little castor oil. No E10 either so that’s a bonus!