Question My husband just talked me into a 1978 Honda 550. The bike looks good and supposly ran last year. It kicks over but it does not stay running. My husband assures me that it is just because it has been sitting. He says tommorow he will get new plugs and that should do it. He says Bikes are not like cars.
The bike as I mentioned does start, but it does not stay running.
My question is, are Bikes much different than cars? Is it likely it will run. My husband is very good with working on things, I just want it to run.
AnswerHi R.
The CB550 is an excellent machine. It was my first decent bike 20 years ago. Fact is, thatbike engines are not very different from automobiles. There are differences, but in small detail only. All internal combustion engines are basically the same and the things that really seperate them are the details and their applications. I have seen bikes with chevy car engines as well as knowing a friend who has a '63 VW bus engine in his '61 BMW bike. What that bike needs is a proper restoration.
Before you start any of this, get the repair manual. Clymer's manuals are very good, but the factory manual, if you can find one, is best. That will have all of the specs and test proceedures that you need to get it running and keep it running right.
1) Pull, clean and reseal the tank.
2) Pull and do a proper cleaning of the carbs.
3) Bench-test the ignition coils as well as checking for wiring shorts and all connections for good contact.
4) Replace the oil with fresh new oil.
5) If there was fuel in the bike when you got it, get rid of it. You need fresh fuel.
6) Ignore this one as you are already changing the plugs.
Follow that and, barring any unusual problems, the bike should be running strong in no time.
Let me know how it goes.
Good luck.
FALCON
