OK, I looked on here for the answer to my questions but turned up with a bunch of good information that only hinted at what I need. My carburetor was pretty screwed (not terrible but bad enough) so I decided to rebuild it. I took everything apart, cleaned it, left the old main jets in (as they weren't bad at all) and put it back together. Now it runs but I think it's running pretty lean. Am I going to have to sync my carbs? Or can I just adjust the pilot screws somehow to get it to run better (that statement should make clear how ignorant I am)? If I do need to sync my carbs how do I do that without any fancy tools? Thanks in advance for the help!
1974 Honda 550k carburetor rebuild
- Thread starter tacoking
- Start date
blackbuddha1
79 CB650-74 BMW 60/6
check compression, ajust valves, clean or new air filter, buy a box of plugs, run new plugs 10-15 miles, check color of plugs, ajust pilot screws, put new plugs in repeat till plugs are nice tan(rich is better than lean) take to shop to get sync
frogman
'74 CB360, '71 CB450, '75 CB550SS
What you haven't said is what you HAVE done to the bike that would cause it to run lean. That means any changes to the air filters or the exhaust. If that is all STOCK then next major step is to obtain the correct manual if you don't have one and give a the bike a good tune up. If you HAVE changed the air filter system or exhaust then you will have to dial things in the hard way.
My suggestion as always is to get the bike running as good as it can STOCK then go towards modification. Getting things to idle, setting sync for the first time, and all that silly stuff is much simpler with the bike in stock condition.
FWIW you have 4 carbs on a 550, when you had them out did you at least bench sync the throttle plates? Are you getting FUEL to each carb? LEAN means you can make it run BETTER if you give it some CHOKE while its going down the road. In order to properly sync carbs you will need a tool that will help you do it. Like this
http://www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?itemDescription=Vacuum+Gauges+4+cylinder&item=EM84-68594
I'm just getting back into working on 550s, just bought one from a friend a week ago. Guy pretty much took everything off, got tired of it, and sold it to me for cheap. Now I have to deal with his mess.
My suggestion as always is to get the bike running as good as it can STOCK then go towards modification. Getting things to idle, setting sync for the first time, and all that silly stuff is much simpler with the bike in stock condition.
FWIW you have 4 carbs on a 550, when you had them out did you at least bench sync the throttle plates? Are you getting FUEL to each carb? LEAN means you can make it run BETTER if you give it some CHOKE while its going down the road. In order to properly sync carbs you will need a tool that will help you do it. Like this
http://www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?itemDescription=Vacuum+Gauges+4+cylinder&item=EM84-68594
I'm just getting back into working on 550s, just bought one from a friend a week ago. Guy pretty much took everything off, got tired of it, and sold it to me for cheap. Now I have to deal with his mess.
carnivorous chicken
Over 1,000 Posts
Too many questions here to answer, and Frogman's right: What did you change in terms of exhaust and air filter, or what is on the bike? What makes you think it is running lean? Your post makes me think you don't have a manual for the bike (a cheap do-it-yourself manometer to sync the carbs is in the manual, but I'd recommend buying a good set of gauges or a mercury one) -- did you just tear down and rebuild the carbs from memory? When you say you left the mains in, did you at least take them out, inspect them including o-rings, and clean them? Your best bet is to find someone who knows what he's doing to help you go through this so you can learn, or take it to someone who does and pay them.
snmavridis
Gettin my life together. One bolt. At a time.
Dont mind me. Just Following this post
