How many of those losers, that downvoted this video, have spent the time and effort to create a video like this that is SO helpful. Thank you and I just subscribed. I have 13 bikes at the moment : ). One of them is a '77 CB550 SuperSport that my son and I drove 800 miles in one day up to Wyoming to purchase for 500.00. It's in very solid shape but I'm going to put "carb intimidation" aside and attempt to perform a rebuild based on this video. Thank you so much.
As a hobbyist restoration person, $425 for piece of mind done correctly tested literally new carbs back is priceless. It takes a lot of time to do it right. This video will help so many as well and the video is free. Thank you and I love your work.
@@evdawg7757 you can make carb sticks yourself. its just a manometer. i use fish tank tubing. that clear vinyl stuff. grab a ruler. run yourself a length of hose along the ruler. fill with water. use the ruler as the scale to refference vacuum. make one hose for each cylinder. the water just has to be even in each tube when you start. the actual reading doesnt matter. just equal between all cylinders.
@@DieselRamcharger rebuilding them is so much fun, at least for me so I would do it myself,love projects like this,patience an direction following is Paramount for a job well done.
My local shop charged $450 but that was 12 years ago. If you don't know what you're doing that's not a bad price especially if he cleans them up the way he did in the vid, using a media blaster and sonic tank. My local shop, it was just a part replacement an simple adjust of the carbs, that was about it.
My son just bought me a CB550 K1 assembled in Japan November 1974 from a used bike shop in Brighton, West Sussex, England. They imported it from others via No Bull Salvage of Marion NY who seems to have got it from a guy in La Grange, Chicago, IL. Now it's in my shed in Crawley, West Sussex, England. My No.4 carb is full of stuff and so this video plus all the others you have done are Brilliant you are deffo one of the best on UA-cam. I am subscribed and a big thanks to you. Saw my first CB when a young school kid in 1975 and just WOW. THERE'S LIFE IN US OLD ONES YET, just reliving my youth. Rock on Elvis is still the king.
I used this video as an instructional manual and rebuilt some really messed up carbs. Went with a 110 main and a 40 slow as suggested and followed the instructions to a T. Our 44,000 mile 1975 cb550 started right up and runs so much better. Thank you Taylor and good job.
I have the same bike. Do you have pods or airbox on your carbs? Also, are you running factory exhaust or anything aftermarket? I want to know if I should do the same jet sizes. Thanks!
Add another thanks from me. I have owned a 74 CB550 for many years that I have restored from my friends dad that owned it for 25 years. 14K original miles and this rebuild was just what I needed after 3 of 4 floats weren't working correctly. Runs better than ever. Keep the great content coming for these old bikes so we keep them on the road.
Hi Taylor, thanks for the step by step carb rebuild video. I'm a retired hot rod builder in The Woodlands Tx. Getting ready to build my first 1975 CB 550 Cafe Racer. I'm not a motor head, so that video will help me out a lot. Thanks for a great video.
Probably one one the best if not the best tutorials I've seen online, and I do a lot of car and MC repairs. Outstanding work on all aspects - knowledge, camera work, lighting, just everything. I am subscribed. Thanks for doing this. You need a TV show!
Just finished rebuilding the carbs on my 73 CB 500 Four using your video. Outstanding video! Best DIY that I have seen. Thanks so much for removing some of the mystery you get from the "book".
Absolutely the best video on rebuilding vintage Mikuni round slide carbs. This is the perfect example of why I’m a subscriber and a big fan. Thank you Taylor.
I've done a bunch of carbs. bikes, trucks, vintage everything, etc. I have 20 on my schedule at the moment. As far as bikes go, this is the best vid on this subject i have found. Attention to detail is really the key, and it is well presented here. No frills and BS either, right to the point and all details discussed. How refreshing! Very well done and a great primer for DIY guys. Excellent across the board. -Jim, Metric Motorcycles.
Hi Taylor, my name is Marco and i am from the other side of the atlantic and i am starting to do a restoration on a cb500 that i have inherited from my grandfather and your videos are a live saver. Thank you for your hard work and patience. Never forget your videos are helping many of us (new beginners) to have confidence and start our projects big or small. Keep doing those awesome videos, have a good one.
Great job Taylor. This is the most detailed multi-carb breakdown, stripping, cleaning, and reassembly video that I have seen. If I had a CB-550 I'd be confident to tackle a DIY carb cleaning by following your excellent video.
TO ALL WATCHING THIS AS A NOVICE: The length of the video and the detail in the video may at first seem overwhelming, but like anything in life, take the time to watch, learn, and listen. It's not that hard. The level of detail in the vid makes it so you can (almost) not screw it up. If you're not sure, pause, rewind. I watched it once, then watched it again as I was doing the job. Don't be skerred and be patient. Watching this again. I have a 550F and I'm having some issues so I'm thinking I need to go through these carbs. Again. But that's on me because I think I fluffed it the first time putting stock jets on a bike that was modified. That's on me. I would love to have you do all this for me but I couldn't afford it. Vapor blast looks fantastic BTW.
The local Honda shop charged me nearly 600 to rebuild my carbs without the blasting. I dropped the bike off and they did all of the work. I was leery of doing it myself because it looked too complicated for me. Next time I will send them to you. I watched a few videos on the subject and yours was the most thorough. I could do it myself now if I studied your video long enough but for what you charge I will leave it to a pro.
Man I have to give you props on this video. I have never messed with carburetors before until I watched this video yesterday. I followed you step by step. I have a bit of a fuel leak but I know what the problem is. Other than that she fired right up when I put it back together. 1976 CB550 four.
Very clear and concise video. Just picked up a 550F that needs a carb clean and sync. Just what the doctor ordered. Thank you. UPDATE: Followed this video, step by step with carbs from a 1975 CB550K. Put them on the bike today, June 14th 2021. Bike started first push of the button. Runs great just a little rich. Easy fix. Thanks a million, Taylor.
Fantastic video. As someone who is confident in carb rebuilds (but not these ones yet), this video covered and noted all those little things that don't often get touched on. Orientation of parts, sequence of assembly, etc. Thank you so much for the video. Please keep making this amazing content!
The most fantastic, amazing strip down and assembly. Worth its weight in gold for the great explanations of the carb's every nook and cranny, that are often skipped over and would otherwise leave the inexperienced high and dry mid-project. Thanks to you Taylor I decided to do it. Mid-project I find I'm not as organised as you, but the complete tear down and clean up is now complete. The "easy" bit. Now for reassembly. Yeah, bound to be a doddle. Thanks again T.
Thanks for this video Taylor, it gave me the confidence to rebuild the carbs on my lockdown project : Scruffy Racer. Scruffy was a derelict bike with a siezed motor, burned out electrics and corroded out carbs, after a few months tlc he was running well again. Then for Lockdown 3 here in the UK i did a top end rebuild with 61.5mm pistons, for about 600cc. Today i reistalled the carbs and the bike fired right up! Thanks again for all your videos, you have been an inspiration ! Steve
Dude you are a freaking life saver! When I had to get that timing chain on I was stumped and you showed me the trick to that and I absolutely appreciate you 100% your videos are a bit 101 but that’s how they should be.
Just received my carbs back from Taylor after having them rebuilt and vapor blasted. They look great, can’t believe the difference compared to what I sent him! In the middle of restoring my CB550. Hope to be completed by late winter and ready for spring.
Great tutorial video man. Watched the whole thing. Just bought a CB500F and I'm about to start the rebuild. This video will be my step by step for sure. Thanks for the attention to detail.
How did it go? I just ordered new jets for mine and I watched this video 3x now. I'm gonna go pull it off and start some cleaning so when the jets come in, I can get right to it.
If folk cant rebuild their carbs off this videos you need to charge them first born or arm n a leg. You slow walk the entire process!! I got my 76 carbs off and ready to be reassembled, rebuild kit came in today. Im running steel dragon intake, I hope that slow 40 and 110 main work!! Thanks bro!
Hi Taylor, brilliant video, thanks. I have a 500/4 that has stood in my garage since my son was born, he’s just turned 35!! I’ve been putting off the evil day for sorting the carbs out. I would love to send them to you but I’m in Nottingham UK! Watched the video all the way through today and hoping to give it a go. Thanks again.
This video continues to be my go to video when I'm messing with my carbs. From the video's base suggestions, I went with a 105 main, 98 secondary and 2nd place down on my needle for 4400ft of average elevation. Bike runs awesome, before had been afraid I wouldn't be able to tune for pods and exhaust.
Just rebuilt mine at home You are amazing for this was able to follow step by step. I was working on a 72' cb750 and was still able to follow along even though some of the steps didn't apply Thank you so much.
You Just Gained a subscriber, Insane video, and commentary just what I needed to help me gain confidence stipping my carbs on my 1977 400 four. just awesome work, thank you very much from an old geezer in the UK.
Best go to video for a rebuild carb adventure. Thanks a real help. My dad had a 78 550 Honda. Owned it for 5 years. Just a tune up and battery all that time and miles. Loved his 550. It was stock. Except for a fairing and saddle seat and some other upgrades threw time. Grips, crash bars Sissy bar. 36k and still ran and started like new. Thanks 👍 again
Love your channel man! Really appreciate how calmly you explain everything. I have a 78' CB 550 with 9,ooo original miles on it. You've helped me a TON working on it! Keep em going, thx again!
Thank you for creating this detailed instruction tutorial. Honda needs to pay you for your labor by giving you an antique CB550 in mint condition with the Classic Octane logo laser etched to the side of the fuel tank!
bloody brilliant mate. thankyou. you took me through rebuilding my 400/4 carbys smoothly and faultlessly. ......oh apart from i was fittinh my floats up side down lol. ....the trick with the 1/8th drill . is perfect . and the 21mm float setting . great job mate . best wishes from Essex UK
So glad i found your channel my son and i are in the process of trying to restore a 74 550 four so we jave learfned so much while waiting on parts order. Subscribed so we dont miss anything. Thanks for doing such detailed videos
This is an outstanding video! Thank you for posting. It was absolutely essential in rebuilding the carbs on my 76 550. I followed your video step by step and was absolutely amazed at how easy they were to rebuild. The bike ran ok before, but now it absolutely purrs! Thanks for your channel, the old Honda CBs are what I remember as a kid.
55:25 (someone may have beat me to it, I haven't read all 177 comments, lol) but a screw is typically tapered, and it mates into a threaded cylinder or creates its threads as it is mounted. Whereas a bolt use a washer and nut, and typically would be non-tapered. Great rebuild. Wish I had it about 4 years ago when I did my first 550 carb. Issue I ran into was syncing after because the rotation on the slide valve arm needed adjusting. Took me a while to realize the issue. This video would have helped! Keep sharing!
Great instructional video. And the difference between a screw and a bolt is a screw is usually tapered with exception of machine screw. A bolt has a nut to retain it.
I really enjoyed this video. It’s been many years since I worked on my ‘73 cb500, many years. I did a complete carb rebuild back then. Your video blew the dust off very old memories. I’m now tackling those carbs again after several decades in hibernation. I’m very grateful for your detailed instructional. I’ll subscribe and see what other helpful videos you’ve done.
Thank you Taylor! It took me the better part of a day but your guide was clear as water! It’s too late to test them on the bike but I have all the confidence this will solve my carb problems. You are the best!
Im working on my 1975 CB750K. Mine did not have any tubes connected to the nipples on the bottom either. I was told those were "breather tubes". My knowledge is incredibly lacking. To keep it short, im going to tackle the same project. This video was very helpful
Amazing video ... just bought a 550F2 here in France to put back in order to run properly. Your video will help me a lot , France is kind of far from Texas :-D but if i was in the US, i would love to give my carb' to a full restauration in your hands ... Good ... really good job you did on these in this video . congrat's !!
Amazing resource, thank you. Please don’t take this down in the next couple of months because I’m halfway through!! Can you give some needle height advice for running with standard air box and 4 into 1 exhaust please. Thanks again for an incredible video.
77-78 are the PD44B carbs. The fuel bowl looks quite a bit different, there isn't a jet spring, the idle control screw is between 3 and 4, and the floats are very different
This helped tremendously with my rebuild. Hopefully thats whats wrong with the bike and i can test ride it in the next couple of weeks. Very informative!
I recently got lucky and got my hands on a CB750F SS. This video is going to help a ton. I have NO experience with accelerator pumps though so that's going to be a lot less fun. Hopefully there's parts and forum support out there.
excellent way of showing and presenting a how to video man, thank you. As someone new to bikes I hope to find someone that takes the same level of detail and care when dealing with a job. if you have a cafe racer that you built, let me know. Hopefully you are not too far from Texas.
Excellent video even though I have rebuilt several different types of carbs myself. I do not do this for a living but watched because I have a CB550 and a GS1000 both waiting for the processes you ran through. My main point for writing a note is that you cannot teach anyone with a 2-3 min video how to do this and go through superfast speeds with the camera. Those videos are a waste of time. Great job. My mechanic in Nashville wants $1000 to do this job on my two 4-carb bikes...I can't afford it even though I appreciate that the professional has to make a living. Economics force a lot of us to learn how to do this. A friend offered to do the Suzuki for me but insisted on OEM kits....my Suzuki dealers can't get OEM kits. Do you have any comments on kits. I noticed you used K and M kits in the video.
Hey, hopefully you still get this notification. Any nuances doing this on a 350F? I just picked up a non-runner in NJ and getting ready to go down this path
@@mzurlaIt's been a while since doing them, but I don't remember anything on the 350 being wildly different than the 550 in the video. It's tedious, make sure to keep track of stackups as you take them apart so they go back the same way, take pictures before disassembly, have a large clean work area. Mine had some corrosion issues, a nice long session in some carb-dip and an ultrasonic cleaner was a necessity to clear out all the small passages. If you gotta get replacement jets or needles, definitely get real keihin stuff. Double check that you get the right bowl gaskets, I initially went with the cheapest crap I could find on ebay and they didn't fit quite right. I borrowed a motion pro liquid balancer and it was 1000% worth it. Also definitely get your valve lash set first and then do a comp and leakdown test too. I was chasing a running issue that I thought was the carbs and it ended up being some valves not sealing.
This video was amazing!! Perfect step by step for a newbie like me thats willing to try and learn. Best of all, I know I can send it to you if I mess it up.
Thank you so much for your content! I may have been the one bugging you about this video on your dream video. I recently bought a cb550 and have been intimidated by the carb process and this has saved my life. THANK YOU and I look forward to seeing more in the future!! An edit to my earlier comment: I love the way you showed each step twice rather than once. While it may have made the video longer (which definitely isn't a concern to me, but for some it may be I guess), it helped to have a second view of things and the way they are assembled/disassembled. That is something that really sets you apart from other creators so thank you!
Also if you could give a link to the replacement allen bolts you use, or if you know the stock screw measurements for the various screws you would replace if it was your build, I would greatly appreciate it!
I did actually tackle my carbs not long after watching this.. I didnt fully break down the rack or the entire carbs hut i did clean them. Replaced the main jets a few gaskets. Figuref out my cold start issue (choke mechanism was frozen and the choke cable was broken) my carbs were a bit different (79 cb650) so i didnt want to fully dissasemble... Yet.
Excellent video! My only piece of critique is the exclusion of information for the allen head bolts upgrades, and hosing you used. Other than than, 10/10!
Excellent instructional video ! I don't actually have an old Honda but I still enjoyed watching the whole 95min of this as it is very interesting to see whats involved. I feel like I could do it now that I have watched this vid...good job making this. rsm8
Love your videos, keep up the good work. One thing to bear in mind, the brass that comes with these rebuild kits is often not the best in terms of exact duplication of the original parts. IMO, it’s better to reuse as much of the original brass as possible as they are unattainable. No need to destroy all that wonderful factory brass by hasty disassembly. Float needles, emulsion tubes, and slide needles are quite often wrong in these aftermarket kits. I’d pay good money for all that old brass😊.
Agreed! Though over time, fluid friction can wear them down, so adjustments could be needed (jet sizes may not be exactly factory. though the jet to needle wear should be comparable).
Wow definitely one of the most comprehensive rebuilds on the web, one question though, U used a 1/8 inch bit to" benchsync" the carbs, I use the metric system is a 4 mm bit gonna cut it?
You are lucky it didn't have the stock airbox. I have a 78 550k, I got mine not running, pulled the carbs apart with a reckless abandon, what nightmare getting it back together, trial and error, been running good for 12 years, wish we had youtube videos like this back then.
I'm trying to find the spot where you reinstall the mixture screw....best done before rejoining the carbs I would think, I'll keep looking.....Ah, 1:16:40, later in the reassemble......carry on
Maintenance should be done once or twice every year, right? And how frequent should your carbs be rebuilt? This is a great informative video that I plan to refer back to when I do some maintenance work on my 76 Honda CB550F this month. All the shops around me are booked up for up to a year so I cant even get anyone to fix my bike up since its been sitting out for the past several months… But if I can learn how to do it then I don’t need nobody to do it for me!
Hi there,thank you so much for this Excellent strip down of your carburators ,ive never done a full strip down,ive never completely separated my carburators from the rack ,i think it will be another year before I have the confidence to service my carburators ,to this top Standards, thank you for all your kind efforts in making this Excellent tutorial ,thanks again & happy riding friend 😎🤟
Excellent video. I’m working on a CB550 that’s been sitting for 40 years. Do you recommend pulling the plugs and dropping some mystery oil in to lube the pistons?
I am rebuilding the carbs on my 350 four and found the video to be most helpful. There were some minor deviations from your model carbs but I was able to sort things out. There is a piece of rubber hanging from each piece of linkage. Do you know it’s purpose? Thanks for your great video.
Wow. If you guess wrong on the needle clip position, it has to all come back apart to change it. I'm glad I have diaphragm type carbs on my 1981 kz1000j. Much easier to service the carb jets and slide.
Thanks for the refresher! I used to do these in my sleep but it's been 10+ years. I just picked up a 1976 CB550K that the PO started with a cafe build. He put a 4 into 1 header, not sure of the mfgr. And of course there are pods on it and the OEM intake housing is long gone. I used to only use the original because it's just easier to tune. That being said I am going with your advice on the bigger jet sizes. But what about the needle clip position?My thinking is that the CB550F, a 4 into 1 set up had a different needle position, I believe 2 from the top, putting the needle farther down into the main jet, therefore running a touch leaner in the mid power band (CB550K is in the middle position, making for a richer mix). I am thinking of doing this now that the carbs are off the bike and being taken apart once I get the carb kits in. Any thoughts? Have you ever done a plug chop with your 4 into 1 conversions with bigger jets? Thanks for any advice!
I'm setting float height on some 1975 CB750 carbs and I've having a tough time getting both floats to be the exact same height. I guess I'll keep trying to tweak them so they're 100% even. It's not easy to get them perfect. Cody over at MotorcycleMD seems to like the float to depress just a tiny bit when he runs the gauge over it while checking the height, which would set it just a smidge lower than spec. (Or higher depending on which way you're looking at it. I don't know the proper terminology.) If spec is 26mm having the gauge press down the float a little would make it closer to 27mm...so he's setting it to let a little less gas in the bowl for some reason. Or maybe I misunderstood what he was doing. Seems to me if you're within a MM of spec it shouldn't matter much, the bike is tilting from side to side, accelerating and slowing down...what's one millimeter between friends? I could be wrong. : )
If you removed the bowls from the carb, carbs on the bike, gravity pulling, go by the spec (22mm for a CB550). That's assuming you are using a proper float gauge or are skilled enough to use a quality pair of Vernier calipers using the depth gauge. Bending those brass tangs and trying to get get four to match up is not for the faint of heart! Doing this with the carbs off the bike (and with a pair of magnifying specs!) seems to be better in the quality control dept. IMO.
20 Years ago this video would have made my life so much easier. Cheers!
How many of those losers, that downvoted this video, have spent the time and effort to create a video like this that is SO helpful. Thank you and I just subscribed. I have 13 bikes at the moment : ). One of them is a '77 CB550 SuperSport that my son and I drove 800 miles in one day up to Wyoming to purchase for 500.00. It's in very solid shape but I'm going to put "carb intimidation" aside and attempt to perform a rebuild based on this video. Thank you so much.
As a hobbyist restoration person, $425 for piece of mind done correctly tested literally new carbs back is priceless. It takes a lot of time to do it right. This video will help so many as well and the video is free. Thank you and I love your work.
carbs arent synced. the price is too high for the service you are getting. they still need to be setup on the actual engine, not a facsimile there of.
@@DieselRamcharger I agree. Carb sync needs to be done on the engine. I need mine done. Probably will cave in and buy the carb sync gauges
@@evdawg7757 you can make carb sticks yourself. its just a manometer. i use fish tank tubing. that clear vinyl stuff. grab a ruler. run yourself a length of hose along the ruler. fill with water. use the ruler as the scale to refference vacuum. make one hose for each cylinder. the water just has to be even in each tube when you start. the actual reading doesnt matter. just equal between all cylinders.
@@DieselRamcharger rebuilding them is so much fun, at least for me so I would do it myself,love projects like this,patience an direction following is Paramount for a job well done.
My local shop charged $450 but that was 12 years ago. If you don't know what you're doing that's not a bad price especially if he cleans them up the way he did in the vid, using a media blaster and sonic tank. My local shop, it was just a part replacement an simple adjust of the carbs, that was about it.
My son just bought me a CB550 K1 assembled in Japan November 1974 from a used bike shop in Brighton, West Sussex, England. They imported it from others via No Bull Salvage of Marion NY who seems to have got it from a guy in La Grange, Chicago, IL.
Now it's in my shed in Crawley, West Sussex, England. My No.4 carb is full of stuff and so this video plus all the others you have done are Brilliant you are deffo one of the best on UA-cam. I am subscribed and a big thanks to you. Saw my first CB when a young school kid in 1975 and just WOW. THERE'S LIFE IN US OLD ONES YET, just reliving my youth. Rock on Elvis is still the king.
I used this video as an instructional manual and rebuilt some really messed up carbs. Went with a 110 main and a 40 slow as suggested and followed the instructions to a T. Our 44,000 mile 1975 cb550 started right up and runs so much better. Thank you Taylor and good job.
I have the same bike. Do you have pods or airbox on your carbs? Also, are you running factory exhaust or anything aftermarket? I want to know if I should do the same jet sizes. Thanks!
Add another thanks from me. I have owned a 74 CB550 for many years that I have restored from my friends dad that owned it for 25 years. 14K original miles and this rebuild was just what I needed after 3 of 4 floats weren't working correctly. Runs better than ever. Keep the great content coming for these old bikes so we keep them on the road.
Hi Taylor, thanks for the step by step carb rebuild video. I'm a retired hot rod builder in The Woodlands Tx. Getting ready to build my first 1975 CB 550 Cafe Racer. I'm not a motor head, so that video will help me out a lot. Thanks for a great video.
Probably one one the best if not the best tutorials I've seen online, and I do a lot of car and MC repairs. Outstanding work on all aspects - knowledge, camera work, lighting, just everything. I am subscribed. Thanks for doing this. You need a TV show!
Thanks Greg!
We all appreciate you providing your knowledge on this specific subject to all of us here! Thank you for paying it forward to us!
Just finished rebuilding the carbs on my 73 CB 500 Four using your video. Outstanding video! Best DIY that I have seen. Thanks so much for removing some of the mystery you get from the "book".
Carbs are rebuilt. Bench syncing them tomorrow. Will update for anyone who cares when I get it running. This video has been a tremendous help!
Absolutely the best video on rebuilding vintage Mikuni round slide carbs. This is the perfect example of why I’m a subscriber and a big fan. Thank you Taylor.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've done a bunch of carbs. bikes, trucks, vintage everything, etc.
I have 20 on my schedule at the moment.
As far as bikes go, this is the best vid on this subject i have found.
Attention to detail is really the key, and it is well presented here.
No frills and BS either, right to the point and all details discussed.
How refreshing!
Very well done and a great primer for DIY guys. Excellent across the board.
-Jim, Metric Motorcycles.
Taylor thanks for making this comprehensive video. Who's the one guy that disliked it cos it was over his 10 minute concentration span ;)
Thanks dude my cross country trip on my 73 cb500f wouldn't be possible without your videos, and extensive knowledge you offer for free.
Hi Taylor, my name is Marco and i am from the other side of the atlantic and i am starting to do a restoration on a cb500 that i have inherited from my grandfather and your videos are a live saver. Thank you for your hard work and patience. Never forget your videos are helping many of us (new beginners) to have confidence and start our projects big or small. Keep doing those awesome videos, have a good one.
Great job Taylor. This is the most detailed multi-carb breakdown, stripping, cleaning, and reassembly video that I have seen. If I had a CB-550 I'd be confident to tackle a DIY carb cleaning by following your excellent video.
TO ALL WATCHING THIS AS A NOVICE: The length of the video and the detail in the video may at first seem overwhelming, but like anything in life, take the time to watch, learn, and listen. It's not that hard. The level of detail in the vid makes it so you can (almost) not screw it up. If you're not sure, pause, rewind. I watched it once, then watched it again as I was doing the job. Don't be skerred and be patient.
Watching this again.
I have a 550F and I'm having some issues so I'm thinking I need to go through these carbs. Again. But that's on me because I think I fluffed it the first time putting stock jets on a bike that was modified. That's on me.
I would love to have you do all this for me but I couldn't afford it. Vapor blast looks fantastic BTW.
The local Honda shop charged me nearly 600 to rebuild my carbs without the blasting. I dropped the bike off and they did all of the work. I was leery of doing it myself because it looked too complicated for me. Next time I will send them to you. I watched a few videos on the subject and yours was the most thorough. I could do it myself now if I studied your video long enough but for what you charge I will leave it to a pro.
Man I have to give you props on this video. I have never messed with carburetors before until I watched this video yesterday. I followed you step by step. I have a bit of a fuel leak but I know what the problem is. Other than that she fired right up when I put it back together. 1976 CB550 four.
Very clear and concise video. Just picked up a 550F that needs a carb clean and sync. Just what the doctor ordered. Thank you. UPDATE: Followed this video, step by step with carbs from a 1975 CB550K. Put them on the bike today, June 14th 2021. Bike started first push of the button. Runs great just a little rich. Easy fix. Thanks a million, Taylor.
Fantastic video. As someone who is confident in carb rebuilds (but not these ones yet), this video covered and noted all those little things that don't often get touched on. Orientation of parts, sequence of assembly, etc. Thank you so much for the video. Please keep making this amazing content!
The most fantastic, amazing strip down and assembly. Worth its weight in gold for the great explanations of the carb's every nook and cranny, that are often skipped over and would otherwise leave the inexperienced high and dry mid-project. Thanks to you Taylor I decided to do it. Mid-project I find I'm not as organised as you, but the complete tear down and clean up is now complete. The "easy" bit. Now for reassembly. Yeah, bound to be a doddle.
Thanks again T.
Thanks for this video Taylor, it gave me the confidence to rebuild the carbs on my lockdown project : Scruffy Racer. Scruffy was a derelict bike with a siezed motor, burned out electrics and corroded out carbs, after a few months tlc he was running well again. Then for Lockdown 3 here in the UK i did a top end rebuild with 61.5mm pistons, for about 600cc. Today i reistalled the carbs and the bike fired right up! Thanks again for all your videos, you have been an inspiration ! Steve
Dude you are a freaking life saver! When I had to get that timing chain on I was stumped and you showed me the trick to that and I absolutely appreciate you 100% your videos are a bit 101 but that’s how they should be.
Just received my carbs back from Taylor after having them rebuilt and vapor blasted. They look great, can’t believe the difference compared to what I sent him! In the middle of restoring my CB550. Hope to be completed by late winter and ready for spring.
Great tutorial video man. Watched the whole thing. Just bought a CB500F and I'm about to start the rebuild. This video will be my step by step for sure. Thanks for the attention to detail.
How did it go? I just ordered new jets for mine and I watched this video 3x now. I'm gonna go pull it off and start some cleaning so when the jets come in, I can get right to it.
If folk cant rebuild their carbs off this videos you need to charge them first born or arm n a leg. You slow walk the entire process!! I got my 76 carbs off and ready to be reassembled, rebuild kit came in today. Im running steel dragon intake, I hope that slow 40 and 110 main work!! Thanks bro!
Hi Taylor, brilliant video, thanks. I have a 500/4 that has stood in my garage since my son was born, he’s just turned 35!! I’ve been putting off the evil day for sorting the carbs out. I would love to send them to you but I’m in Nottingham UK! Watched the video all the way through today and hoping to give it a go. Thanks again.
This video continues to be my go to video when I'm messing with my carbs. From the video's base suggestions, I went with a 105 main, 98 secondary and 2nd place down on my needle for 4400ft of average elevation. Bike runs awesome, before had been afraid I wouldn't be able to tune for pods and exhaust.
Just rebuilt mine at home You are amazing for this was able to follow step by step. I was working on a 72' cb750 and was still able to follow along even though some of the steps didn't apply Thank you so much.
What a really good video its decades since I dismantled a carburetor - this gave me the confidence to do my own. Brilliant detailed camera work.
This should be a sticky on every forum. Fantastic and thorough video. Thank you for taking the time to make this!
You Just Gained a subscriber, Insane video, and commentary just what I needed to help me gain confidence stipping my carbs on my 1977 400 four. just awesome work, thank you very much from an old geezer in the UK.
Tedious process but my bike runs great now!! I couldn’t have done it with out you, keep making these awesome videos!!
Best go to video for a rebuild carb adventure. Thanks a real help. My dad had a 78 550 Honda. Owned it for 5 years. Just a tune up and battery all that time and miles. Loved his 550. It was stock. Except for a fairing and saddle seat and some other upgrades threw time. Grips, crash bars Sissy bar. 36k and still ran and started like new. Thanks 👍 again
Love your channel man! Really appreciate how calmly you explain everything. I have a 78' CB 550 with 9,ooo original miles on it. You've helped me a TON working on it! Keep em going, thx again!
You got the F or K?
I just started rebuilding my carbs on a 76 CB550F. Thanks for this video. Really going to need it!
How did it go?
Thank you for creating this detailed instruction tutorial. Honda needs to pay you for your labor by giving you an antique CB550 in mint condition with the Classic Octane logo laser etched to the side of the fuel tank!
Wow I bought a cb500 that’s been sitting for years I rebuilt the carbs following this video and bang it fired first kick unreal !!! Thanks
bloody brilliant mate. thankyou. you took me through rebuilding my 400/4 carbys smoothly and faultlessly. ......oh apart from i was fittinh my floats up side down lol. ....the trick with the 1/8th drill . is perfect . and the 21mm float setting . great job mate . best wishes from Essex UK
So glad i found your channel my son and i are in the process of trying to restore a 74 550 four so we jave learfned so much while waiting on parts order. Subscribed so we dont miss anything. Thanks for doing such detailed videos
Incredibly useful video, thank you. Just inherited a 77 CB550F and slowly working through everything and your channel is really helpful.
This is an outstanding video! Thank you for posting. It was absolutely essential in rebuilding the carbs on my 76 550. I followed your video step by step and was absolutely amazed at how easy they were to rebuild. The bike ran ok before, but now it absolutely purrs! Thanks for your channel, the old Honda CBs are what I remember as a kid.
55:25 (someone may have beat me to it, I haven't read all 177 comments, lol) but a screw is typically tapered, and it mates into a threaded cylinder or creates its threads as it is mounted. Whereas a bolt use a washer and nut, and typically would be non-tapered.
Great rebuild. Wish I had it about 4 years ago when I did my first 550 carb. Issue I ran into was syncing after because the rotation on the slide valve arm needed adjusting. Took me a while to realize the issue. This video would have helped! Keep sharing!
Great instructional video. And the difference between a screw and a bolt is a screw is usually tapered with exception of machine screw. A bolt has a nut to retain it.
Not all bolts have nuts to retain them though do they. Most engine bolts go straight into a blind hole and rely on torque.
man. thank you for this! because of your videos I'm able to work on my own bike(s). You have helped me learn so much over the past few years!
Absolutely one of the best and certainly most thorough explanations for this that I have seen! Outstanding!
This is a super comprehensive how-to video. You've done a great job. I'm gonna hold on to the $425 and re-build them myself though lol.
I really enjoyed this video. It’s been many years since I worked on my ‘73 cb500, many years. I did a complete carb rebuild back then. Your video blew the dust off very old memories. I’m now tackling those carbs again after several decades in hibernation. I’m very grateful for your detailed instructional.
I’ll subscribe and see what other helpful videos you’ve done.
Thank you Taylor! It took me the better part of a day but your guide was clear as water! It’s too late to test them on the bike but I have all the confidence this will solve my carb problems. You are the best!
Im working on my 1975 CB750K. Mine did not have any tubes connected to the nipples on the bottom either. I was told those were "breather tubes". My knowledge is incredibly lacking. To keep it short, im going to tackle the same project. This video was very helpful
Amazing video! I am a beginner with classic motorcycle carbs, and this is just a great video that walks me through the rebuild.
Amazing video ... just bought a 550F2 here in France to put back in order to run properly. Your video will help me a lot , France is kind of far from Texas :-D but if i was in the US, i would love to give my carb' to a full restauration in your hands ... Good ... really good job you did on these in this video . congrat's !!
I watched the whole thing and I don't even own a Honda! Good asset.
I watched too and I don't even own a motorcycle...yet!
Amazing resource, thank you.
Please don’t take this down in the next couple of months because I’m halfway through!!
Can you give some needle height advice for running with standard air box and 4 into 1 exhaust please.
Thanks again for an incredible video.
Stellar! Perhaps, you can do the 77-78s next ;), Every bike guy, loves to see how there exact carbs are tore down and put back together! Awesome!
Corey St are these not the same carbs as the 78? New to this so sorry if this is a dumb question.
@@cspark901 The 77-78 ones are slightly different from the 74-76 carbs :)
77-78 are the PD44B carbs. The fuel bowl looks quite a bit different, there isn't a jet spring, the idle control screw is between 3 and 4, and the floats are very different
This helped tremendously with my rebuild. Hopefully thats whats wrong with the bike and i can test ride it in the next couple of weeks. Very informative!
I recently got lucky and got my hands on a CB750F SS. This video is going to help a ton. I have NO experience with accelerator pumps though so that's going to be a lot less fun. Hopefully there's parts and forum support out there.
I have a 83 Honda Nighthawk CB550SC, until i get enough money to buy all the parts. I will be rebuilding this bikeby using your video. Thanks
Thanks so much for this, I can’t believe how good the carbs look after you blasted them. If $425 is the rate for a rebuild it’s well worth it.
excellent way of showing and presenting a how to video man, thank you. As someone new to bikes I hope to find someone that takes the same level of detail and care when dealing with a job.
if you have a cafe racer that you built, let me know. Hopefully you are not too far from Texas.
What an excellent tutorial - I was filled with fear so far as tacking this was concerned , I’m definitely all the more confident now, Thankyou
Excellent video even though I have rebuilt several different types of carbs myself. I do not do this for a living but watched because I have a CB550 and a GS1000 both waiting for the processes you ran through. My main point for writing a note is that you cannot teach anyone with a 2-3 min video how to do this and go through superfast speeds with the camera. Those videos are a waste of time. Great job. My mechanic in Nashville wants $1000 to do this job on my two 4-carb bikes...I can't afford it even though I appreciate that the professional has to make a living. Economics force a lot of us to learn how to do this. A friend offered to do the Suzuki for me but insisted on OEM kits....my Suzuki dealers can't get OEM kits. Do you have any comments on kits. I noticed you used K and M kits in the video.
Great video. Walks you through all the steps and adds helpful tips and explanations. Thanks Taylor.
Wow, that's more of a complete restoration than a rebuild. Looks like new!
Followed this video for my CB350F carbs. Super helpful, barely even needed to to sync them once they went back on the bike.
Hey, hopefully you still get this notification. Any nuances doing this on a 350F? I just picked up a non-runner in NJ and getting ready to go down this path
@@mzurlaIt's been a while since doing them, but I don't remember anything on the 350 being wildly different than the 550 in the video. It's tedious, make sure to keep track of stackups as you take them apart so they go back the same way, take pictures before disassembly, have a large clean work area. Mine had some corrosion issues, a nice long session in some carb-dip and an ultrasonic cleaner was a necessity to clear out all the small passages. If you gotta get replacement jets or needles, definitely get real keihin stuff. Double check that you get the right bowl gaskets, I initially went with the cheapest crap I could find on ebay and they didn't fit quite right. I borrowed a motion pro liquid balancer and it was 1000% worth it. Also definitely get your valve lash set first and then do a comp and leakdown test too. I was chasing a running issue that I thought was the carbs and it ended up being some valves not sealing.
Thank you. I was able to rebuild my carbs with this video.
Thanks for the great video. While I took photos during the disassembly steps, it was easier to refer to the video as I went along.
This video was amazing!! Perfect step by step for a newbie like me thats willing to try and learn. Best of all, I know I can send it to you if I mess it up.
Thank you so much for your content! I may have been the one bugging you about this video on your dream video. I recently bought a cb550 and have been intimidated by the carb process and this has saved my life. THANK YOU and I look forward to seeing more in the future!!
An edit to my earlier comment:
I love the way you showed each step twice rather than once. While it may have made the video longer (which definitely isn't a concern to me, but for some it may be I guess), it helped to have a second view of things and the way they are assembled/disassembled. That is something that really sets you apart from other creators so thank you!
Also if you could give a link to the replacement allen bolts you use, or if you know the stock screw measurements for the various screws you would replace if it was your build, I would greatly appreciate it!
Great vid. Super helpful in building the confidence in us garage warrirors.
I did actually tackle my carbs not long after watching this.. I didnt fully break down the rack or the entire carbs hut i did clean them. Replaced the main jets a few gaskets. Figuref out my cold start issue (choke mechanism was frozen and the choke cable was broken) my carbs were a bit different (79 cb650) so i didnt want to fully dissasemble... Yet.
Excellent video! My only piece of critique is the exclusion of information for the allen head bolts upgrades, and hosing you used. Other than than, 10/10!
Excellent instructional video ! I don't actually have an old Honda but I still enjoyed watching the whole 95min of this as it is very interesting to see whats involved. I feel like I could do it now that I have watched this vid...good job making this.
rsm8
Excellent video! Well detailed and explained well. Have a '78 750K CB that needs Carb attention, but seems to run ok for now!
Love your videos, keep up the good work. One thing to bear in mind, the brass that comes with these rebuild kits is often not the best in terms of exact duplication of the original parts. IMO, it’s better to reuse as much of the original brass as possible as they are unattainable. No need to destroy all that wonderful factory brass by hasty disassembly. Float needles, emulsion tubes, and slide needles are quite often wrong in these aftermarket kits. I’d pay good money for all that old brass😊.
Agreed! Though over time, fluid friction can wear them down, so adjustments could be needed (jet sizes may not be exactly factory. though the jet to needle wear should be comparable).
I did my 400 four with your video thanks for your help you made it look easy better than a work shop manual
Brilliantly done ✅I did mine but didn’t separate them, now I can.
Great video ! Excellent. I'm doing this for my 72 cb350f right now, with a rejetting kit. Thanks !!!!
I cannot thank you enough for this video. It has helped me IMMENSELY!
Wow definitely one of the most comprehensive rebuilds on the web, one question though, U used a 1/8 inch bit to" benchsync" the carbs, I use the metric system is a 4 mm bit gonna cut it?
Would like to know this as well,
2,56/ is more like 3mm
22:00 You'll find it easier to remove 1-2 and 3-4 together from the rail and THEN seperate them.
You are lucky it didn't have the stock airbox. I have a 78 550k, I got mine not running, pulled the carbs apart with a reckless abandon, what nightmare getting it back together, trial and error, been running good for 12 years, wish we had youtube videos like this back then.
I'm trying to find the spot where you reinstall the mixture screw....best done before rejoining the carbs I would think, I'll keep looking.....Ah, 1:16:40, later in the reassemble......carry on
Great informative video, i wish you were in the UK you could have my carbs but I’m afraid shipping costs makes this not an option
Thank you for this amazing video,very calm and clear,a good teacher,im learning some of this,im usually scared to mess with them.😊😊😊😊😊
Thanks again for a very good informative video, I got my brothers cb500 four started after standing for 18 years!
Maintenance should be done once or twice every year, right? And how frequent should your carbs be rebuilt?
This is a great informative video that I plan to refer back to when I do some maintenance work on my 76 Honda CB550F this month. All the shops around me are booked up for up to a year so I cant even get anyone to fix my bike up since its been sitting out for the past several months… But if I can learn how to do it then I don’t need nobody to do it for me!
Hi there,thank you so much for this Excellent strip down of your carburators ,ive never done a full strip down,ive never completely separated my carburators from the rack ,i think it will be another year before I have the confidence to service my carburators ,to this top Standards, thank you for all your kind efforts in making this Excellent tutorial ,thanks again & happy riding friend 😎🤟
Excellent video. I’m working on a CB550 that’s been sitting for 40 years. Do you recommend pulling the plugs and dropping some mystery oil in to lube the pistons?
Man, thank you for making this video!! I just got a 73 cb500. Thank you so much your videos are great.
No problem! Thanks for watching.
This is such a great video. Brilliant. Wish you had same on a 81’ cb650custom
Have you found any good videos for rebuilding that bike? I have the same bike and never done carbs before...
When you pulled the carbs off the mounting rail my anxiety went thru the roof. lol I can't guarantee they would ever go back together for me
Waiting for this for a while!! Awesome! Love it
I am rebuilding the carbs on my 350 four and found the video to be most helpful. There were some minor deviations from your model carbs but I was able to sort things out. There is a piece of rubber hanging from each piece of linkage. Do you know it’s purpose? Thanks for your great video.
Wow. If you guess wrong on the needle clip position, it has to all come back apart to change it. I'm glad I have diaphragm type carbs on my 1981 kz1000j. Much easier to service the carb jets and slide.
Thank you for all the great information! Very well explained some extra details I didn’t know.
Thanks for the refresher! I used to do these in my sleep but it's been 10+ years. I just picked up a 1976 CB550K that the PO started with a cafe build. He put a 4 into 1 header, not sure of the mfgr. And of course there are pods on it and the OEM intake housing is long gone. I used to only use the original because it's just easier to tune. That being said I am going with your advice on the bigger jet sizes. But what about the needle clip position?My thinking is that the CB550F, a 4 into 1 set up had a different needle position, I believe 2 from the top, putting the needle farther down into the main jet, therefore running a touch leaner in the mid power band (CB550K is in the middle position, making for a richer mix). I am thinking of doing this now that the carbs are off the bike and being taken apart once I get the carb kits in. Any thoughts? Have you ever done a plug chop with your 4 into 1 conversions with bigger jets? Thanks for any advice!
Awesome video very informative not too fast , easy to follow along.
I'm setting float height on some 1975 CB750 carbs and I've having a tough time getting both floats to be the exact same height. I guess I'll keep trying to tweak them so they're 100% even. It's not easy to get them perfect. Cody over at MotorcycleMD seems to like the float to depress just a tiny bit when he runs the gauge over it while checking the height, which would set it just a smidge lower than spec. (Or higher depending on which way you're looking at it. I don't know the proper terminology.) If spec is 26mm having the gauge press down the float a little would make it closer to 27mm...so he's setting it to let a little less gas in the bowl for some reason. Or maybe I misunderstood what he was doing. Seems to me if you're within a MM of spec it shouldn't matter much, the bike is tilting from side to side, accelerating and slowing down...what's one millimeter between friends? I could be wrong. : )
If you removed the bowls from the carb, carbs on the bike, gravity pulling, go by the spec (22mm for a CB550). That's assuming you are using a proper float gauge or are skilled enough to use a quality pair of Vernier calipers using the depth gauge. Bending those brass tangs and trying to get get four to match up is not for the faint of heart! Doing this with the carbs off the bike (and with a pair of magnifying specs!) seems to be better in the quality control dept. IMO.