CB550 starting woes

[justinsteube]

Looking for a little help here!

I'm going to give you as much info as I possibly can at the moment, so please bare with with if this is a long post.

I have a 77 CB550F that is having what I thought was some charging issues, now I'm not so sure.

I thought that the bike was draining battery when running, but I'm starting to second guess that issue. After running some electrical tests, here's what I found....

With a freshly charged battery, the bike fired right up first shot with the electric start. The battery battery voltage stayed strong and steady at idle, and spiked up to about 15 when ran around 5000 RPMs, from what I understand, this is all good and normal.

Here is where the problems start....

When I killed the motor and gave it a rest, it would not start back up, it sounded as if the starter was struggling to get enough power to turn over the motor, but the multimeter showed that battery was still fully charged.

Problem #2 is that the kick start does not work, it feels stuck and gives me much more resistance than what I feel should be normal.

As I'm new to bikes, I'd love to hear what people think I should look into next.

Am I wrong to think that It could potentially be a clutch issue? If I'm right in this line of though, Any direction as to what I would be looking for when I pop the clutch cover off would be much appreciated.

Actually, any help would be appreciated!

 

[TheCoffeeGuy]

The kick start issue sounds to me like a screwed up seal or a problem with the return spring, or a gear issue. pop the side cover off and have a look.

The electrical issue is more difficult. first off its the cranking Amps that have the power to turn the engine over. how old is the battery? Take it someplace and have them check the Amperage of the battery.

JMO

 

[Bert Jan]

Sounds to me something is jammed up inside. When the battery shows 12.5 and the startermotor makes as bruzzzz bruzzz sound, its not good. I suggest taking of the right cover and investigate the kicker issue. Could be something really jammed up and you could potentially damage vital parts.

How many amps is your meter showing at the battery terminals when startermotor is applied? And how many without?

Do you have enough oil aboard?

 

[brightrider]

I might suggest checking the starter button and other electrics in the right handlebar control. Starter buttons get crudded up and corrode especially considering the small area they use in order to make physical contacts.

 

[Bert Jan]

I might suggest checking the starter button and other electrics in the right handlebar control. Starter buttons get crudded up and corrode especially considering the small area they use in order to make physical contacts.

The starter works with a magnetic switch (solenoid). Small current is used for the button, solenoid switches full power. If the switch works, you hear the starter. If the switch does not work, you hear jack. But, always good to check those stupidly designed handlebar switches. Be carefull not to lose or break parts!

 

[Bert Jan]

a dirty way to bypass the starter button is to locate the solenoid (looks like a big D-cell battery and has 2 terminals on top- one of the terminals is connected to battery positive) and bridge the terminals with a screwdriver. Now, its 15 amps, sparks will fly around. Dont back out and check if the starter rotates.

Do this if you're absolute sure about the engine being ok. Kicker was bad i remember??

Like Sonreir said once:

'Real men lick their hands and bridge the solenoid with their fingers.' -Sonreir.

 

[justinsteube]

Hey thanks for the suggestions.

Tried to bypass the solenoid with my wet fingers, sparks flew, hair was raised, but still the same ol' buzz from the starter motor. (actually it was a screwdriver)

Checked oil level, its okay. The bike HAS been ridden for small amounts of time... usually only quick little neighborhood rides for 10 - 15 minutes and the engine seemed surprisingly healthy, So I don't think there is any real issue there.

Tried to get the cover off to check kick starter issue and it is STUCK. So, I'll be working on trying to get that thing off...

Any thoughts?

 

[Redliner]

Pull the spark plugs and turn the engine over at the timing plate. You should be able to turn it with one hand continuously, hitting only a little resistance as the rocker arms are actuated.

I lived on one of these for about a year. By the time I sold it, I had forgotten it even had an electric start. I honestly never tried it until the fella asked me if it works. I looked at the dusty neglected button and pressed it. She cranked up and I just went, "Hm, I'll be buggered..."

Kicking this bike is as easy as kicking just about anything else, but if you catch it at the wrong part of a stroke, it can be difficult to get just the right leverage on it and it will feel like resistance.

I always hold the clutch in and just slowly press the kick lever until it's closer to horizontal. Then I release the clutch and pop the kick start and that's usually enough to get it first go. It will be a bit more difficult if it's more vertical, is all. Try it when you're done rooting through the insides. Not sure what you'd even be looking for under the clutch cover, but I hope you have a replacement gasket on hand.

 

[Bert Jan]

Pull the spark plugs and turn the engine over at the timing plate. You should be able to turn it with one hand continuously, hitting only a little resistance as the rocker arms are actuated.

I lived on one of these for about a year. By the time I sold it, I had forgotten it even had an electric start. I honestly never tried it until the fella asked me if it works. I looked at the dusty neglected button and pressed it. She cranked up and I just went, "Hm, I'll be buggered..."

Kicking this bike is as easy as kicking just about anything else, but if you catch it at the wrong part of a stroke, it can be difficult to get just the right leverage on it and it will feel like resistance.

I always hold the clutch in and just slowly press the kick lever until it's closer to horizontal. Then I release the clutch and pop the kick start and that's usually enough to get it first go. It will be a bit more difficult if it's more vertical, is all. Try it when you're done rooting through the insides. Not sure what you'd even be looking for under the clutch cover, but I hope you have a replacement gasket on hand.

good tip on kicking it! gonna try that tomorrow. i even removed the startermotor completely. stupid electrical shit breaks down eventually.