Anyone have old honda carb experience?

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Bike is a 74 CB550. I know the floats are out of adjustment, and that should be an easy enough fix, but I'd like to attack all issues in one go.

The bike won't pull past 5K or so. Should redline around 10. This makes hills at speed an issue. It feels like it's getting too much fuel. Crank the throttle open and it falls on its face. Back off just enough and it goes.

When I got it, it was a complete wreck. Had been sitting god only knows how many years, carbs & tank were a mess. Cleaned the carbs, cleaned the tank, and got it running.

A few of the float pins are finish nails (don't ask me, I got it like that), which could be part of the float problem, but from what I understand the floats are unlikely to be related to the bike not pulling up in the revs.

Also won't run choke on, or choke off, depending which position is which. Didn't think to note which was which when the carbs were off.

Any input on what to look at next time the carbs come off is appreciated.

[Sheppo]

No I don't have specific knowledge BUT I think I know where there is a rack of carbs for a CB550... let me know and I'll call on them

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Got an idea on a ballpark price and condition?

[Sheppo]

Got an idea on a ballpark price and condition?

good condition, on a shelf for the past 10 years or so... no idea on the price.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I really want to fix what I have rather than part swap... but I may be interested. If it comes up find out how much for me, if I end up needing one I'll let you know.

[Awesome]

Shepp can you find a rack of cheap CR/CRF rear dirt wheels? I only need one, or maybe two and a front.

[whynot]

From what you describe, sounds like it could be a fuel supply problem. Petcock problem? Blocked tank breather? Breathers are often in the cap and get blocked fer one reason or 'nother.

[scottieducati]

Dan, if you get too lost, I'll point you to the way of my guru. He does awesome work and definitely can work with older Hondas. He's down here in Watertown tho.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

From what you describe, sounds like it could be a fuel supply problem. Petcock problem? Blocked tank breather? Breathers are often in the cap and get blocked fer one reason or 'nother.

Petcock should be good - freshly rebuilt. tank breather, no idea. It's worth checking out, or just riding it without the cover latched shut.

Dan, if you get too lost, I'll point you to the way of my guru. He does awesome work and definitely can work with older Hondas. He's down here in Watertown tho.

Thanks Scotty. I'm going to try to figure it out on my own with some help from friends though, I prefer to work on my own shit and learn as I go, or get shown and learn as they go. Not a big fan of just throwing in the towel and paying someone. If it comes to that I'll let you know though.

[Sheppo]

The reason I said swap out the rack DANK is, you have floats held in place with finish nails... how fucked is the rest of the carb???

I'll get you a price.

Jay, I'll ask I am not sure he has something.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

The reason I said swap out the rack DANK is, you have floats held in place with finish nails... how fucked is the rest of the carb???

I'll get you a price.

The rest is pretty bad. One of the posts the pins go through is JB welded onto the body My buddy AJ has some old pins from 350 & 750 carbs though, I'm hoping they're the same size so I can use those to replace my finish nails.

I appreciate it. Let me know.

[Jim]

TLRman knows carbs, talk to him

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Thanks Jim, I'll shoot him a PM.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Update: Turns out the bike runs like shit with the choke off, and with the choke on. there's a sweet spot in between that'll let me rev it to 8-9K under load, pushing be to a blazing 75MPH, possibly a little better. So, I'm thinking it's a choke and/or air/fuel issue.

Another couple notes that may or may not be relevant.
1) regardless what I do wiht the idle screw, it will not idle choke off.
2) it's getting piss-poor fuel economy, something like 20MPH, without even getting up in the revs (except for 5-10 miles this AM.

[Jim]

TLRman is Mister Wizard of carbs. still wouldnt hurt to get in touch with him and have him work his magic

[obsolete]

My advice. Full rebuild (or replace) on the carbs replacing all removable parts, sync and tune. When some thing is that fucked starting over is almost always the best and usually the cheapest solution.

[Sheppo]

still dirty and partially plugged.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

My advice. Full rebuild (or replace) on the carbs replacing all removable parts, sync and tune. When some thing is that fucked starting over is almost always the best and usually the cheapest solution.

Full clean, removing cleaning and reinstalling all removeable parts is done. I don't know how to tune these particular bikes, which I assume is a large part of my issue. I'll probably try to figure it out this weekend.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

still dirty and partially plugged.

So you think teardown, clean again, and flush jets again? Be odd since that was all done pretty thouroughly, but it could be and it's a cheap fix. Guess if I'm pulling them to adjust floats anyway it won't hurt to do that as well. I'd really like to have new jets to throw in, but nobody stocks the goddamn things.

[Sheppo]

So you think teardown, clean again, and flush jets again? Be odd since that was all done pretty thouroughly, but it could be and it's a cheap fix. Guess if I'm pulling them to adjust floats anyway it won't hurt to do that as well. I'd really like to have new jets to throw in, but nobody stocks the goddamn things.

YES... good chance you missed something.

[JohnnyV]

Dan, check these guys out for parts. A while back when I was tinkering with the CB160 they had a lot of N.O.S. stuff, such as carb rebuild kits, new stock air filters, etc.

http://www.ohiocycle.com/

[JohnnyV]

As I just noticed looking through their parts list, they don't seem to have stuff for the 550.

This website however, whom I've also ordered parts through, should have what you're looking for. After a quick glance, they have carb rebuild kits for your bike for $14 per carb.

http://www.olypen.com/retro/

["Dangerous" Dan K]

YES... good chance you missed something.

If it were just me, I'd concur. However, it was with the assistance of a motorcycle mechanic, which leads me to believe that's less likely. All the same, i've gotta take them off to play with floats anyway, so I may as well do that also. Thanks for the input.

Dan, check these guys out for parts. A while back when I was tinkering with the CB160 they had a lot of N.O.S. stuff, such as carb rebuild kits, new stock air filters, etc.

http://www.ohiocycle.com/

I'll check them out, thanks.

[Sheppo]

If it were just me, I'd concur. However, it was with the assistance of a motorcycle mechanic, which leads me to believe that's less likely. All the same, i've gotta take them off to play with floats anyway, so I may as well do that also. Thanks for the input.

.

you have a PM to explain my reasoning...

["Dangerous" Dan K]

As I just noticed looking through their parts list, they don't seem to have stuff for the 550.

This website however, whom I've also ordered parts through, should have what you're looking for. After a quick glance, they have carb rebuild kits for your bike for $14 per carb.

http://www.olypen.com/retro/

Sweet. Unfortunately, based on what I'm seeing in that kit, and the fact that most CB's the age of mine have brass floats and mine doesn't, I'm thinking my bike may not have original carbs. I'll have to check part #'s before I do any ordering.