Mystery Carburetors

[Frankmowthelawn]

I went to the local metal recyclers to recycle some ahhh... aluminum. I was talking to the dude about stuff and I looked between my feet and there was a set of four carburetors tied together in a nice pretty row with all of the linkages and everything. I got aroused severely. I tried to look cool and asked him about the price for the carbs. He must be some kind of dumbass because he had no idea what he was looking at and said $25!!! I only had the $17 I got for selling the cans so he put them on the shelf with my name on them. Like McArthur; I SHALL return!!!

What can I do to identify them and order the proper rebuild kits. They really look like a set of complete Honda Four carbs and the slides all moved when I rotated the linkage!!!. I didn't see any obvious markings on them. My plan is to rebuild the set and sell them to finance my own CB350 project. When I have them in my hands I'll post pictures so the benovelent gods of the forum can tell me whaI bought.

Hope your interest is piqued!!

Frankmowthelawn

 

[DesmoBro]

Dude sick!....I just shelled out $160 for a set of 4 carbs....If you look at the Carb they should have Identifying numbers probably either Keihin or Mikuni

 

[Frankmowthelawn]

Told you I'd post pictures of the carbs when I got them. Here they are. If anyone can help identify where they came from, what they went on or anything else about them I'd appreciate it!!

FMTL

 

[Sonreir]

CB350F or CB400F carbs. Probably the former.

 

[my-79-750-k]

There should be a number stamped on the left side (if facing the air side), VB, VM, VA, etc, then a number, then maybe another letter. Mine are stamped VB42A on the sides, that's where I learned mine weren't from a CB750 at all!

 

[Frankmowthelawn]

Alright, I just spent the last 10 minutes with a flashlight and magnifying glass looking for some stamped numbers and if they're there, they're invisible!!! The only marking of any kind I could find was the Keihin on the side of each carb. I haven't pulled the mounting plate off or removed anything else so they might be hidden by some linkage. If you have a picture of a carb showing where the number is it would help.

Thanks,
FMTL

 

[Frankmowthelawn]

If anybody might have a set of 350 four or 400 four carbs sitting on their bench I'd appreciate it if you would mike the openings front and rear and report back here. This might help me figure out what these things are. As I said, I can't find any stampings on the carbs to identify them at all.

Thanks for any help,
FMTL

 

[frogman]

I just had those in my hands about a month ago rebuilding for a friend, They are either for a 500 or a 550/550SS, Difference is in the jetting, SS had the 4 into 1 exhaust. I forget what the numbers are now. They should fit many of the smaller 4's

Pull the float bowls and make sure they are CLEAN, his originals were so corroded that the jets wouldn't sit in their sockets at all, he had to buy a different set. I'd never seen that before.

The caps on top should shine up nicely, watch out for lots of little parts and SPRINGS when/if you take them apart. WAY more than a 350/360 twin carb.

Lots of nice pictures on this auction.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB550-CB-500-Four-CB-550-CB500-carbs-carburetors-627B-bodies-Restored-/330743209256?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d01d4dd28&vxp=mtr

And another

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB550F-CB-550-Four-CB-500-carbs-carburetors-69A-bodies-Restored-Chrome-/330743258927?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AHonda|Model%3ACB&hash=item4d01d59f2f&vxp=mtr

 

[Frankmowthelawn]

DAMN!!! I hope he gets $550 for those carbs!!! Those are the exact same carbs I've got!! I can rebuild mine and just get them looking pretty and if I get half that I'll be happy!!

;D FMTL ;D

 

[Frankmowthelawn]

Frogman,

Thanks for the heads-up!! I pulled the bowls off and only one of the carbs has any corrosion at all!! There is no gum, no varnish, not even any discolorization. I held them up and when the floats dropped down the needles dropped with them!!! The needles are all tight but still turn with my fingers. It looks like the bike just ran out of gas, got abandoned for next year and then was forgotten. Eventually the carbs got pulled off and sold as scrap aluminum!!

I guess the old adage "One man's trash is another man's treasure." is actually true on occasion!!

FMTL

 

[kopcicle]

If anybody might have a set of 350 four or 400 four carbs sitting on their bench I'd appreciate it if you would mike the openings front and rear and report back here. This might help me figure out what these things are. As I said, I can't find any stampings on the carbs to identify them at all.

Thanks for any help,
FMTL

Have two complete rebuilt sets on the shelf . You still need the dimensions ?

~kop

 

[Frankmowthelawn]

Kop,

I'd appreciate it if you could mike the inlet and outlet dimentions of your known carbs and let me know what they are. Compared to the Keihins on my CB350, even individual carbs for 750s look kinda small. I'd hate to spend $60 for a set of 550 carb kits and find out they're really 400F carbs.

Thanks in advance,
Frank

 

[hmenzies]

They look like the carbs from a 74 cb550k. If they are stamped 022A thats what they are. If they are stamped 069A the are from the F model.
Here is a helpful chart:
http://www.motorcycleproject.com/motorcycle/text/specs.html

 

[rockcitycafe]

definitely 550, the 400f had a different shaped cap on the slide