Compression testers are like $25, amazon or harbor freight. If they are actually low and not due to valves. Then get rings and a ball hone, roughly $200. If its valves they may be too tight and are not closing (adjust them), or they could be burned (get a head off ebay). Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
-----Original Message----- From: Sean Snell <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:30:13 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] CB550SC... To Rebuild it, Part it out, or Scrap it... Hi guys, This is kind of a long story, spanning roughly a year now. First, I once owned a 1983 CB550SC that I sold to a family friend, who for purposes of the story we'll call "Bob", for $300 since he was retired and wanted a bike to "putt around town on". As I told Bob up front, the bike had (what I thought) were a few issues to be dealt with in order for it to be rideable again: Carbs were gunked up and needed resynced, gas tank was due for a thorough inside cleaning, new motor oil and drive shaft lube, and a new rear tire. I actually screwed up the sync myself when I first got the bike; even though it wouldn't run when I first bought it, I was able to toy around with the adjusters and was finally able to get it to idle, however poor the idle was. I rode it like that for a season, knowing that once the bike warmed up enough, it would stay running, even if it was a bit shaky (and it would idle high). When I sold Bob the bike, I told him specifically that I didn't want him to just go scrap it if it was beyond his finances and to come back and talk to me about it as I'd rather get the rare bike back than have one less CB550SC on the road. Well, Bob just showed up today and told me that the mechanic he had check it out said there were compression issues in 2 of the 4 cylinders. He also said the carbs were completely shot and needed replaced (Why? I think because the tinkerer friend of Bob's, who recommended this mechanic, took them apart and didn't know what he was doing....), even though I could get the bike to run when I had it, however poor the running was. The thing that gets me, is once that thing warmed up, it'd tear up the pavement and go 90+MPH in 3 of it's 6 gears. Does that sound like a bike that had a compression issue before I sold it to him? Personally, I don't think so, but I'll defer to your judgement on that matter. What I'm really asking you guys is this: With the idea that I love this bike in mind but I'm not exactly rich (And thus why I finally sold the bike), should I A) Replace the motor B) Try and fix the issues on my own without the motor swap or C) Part the bike out? I'm mechanically inclined, have the Clymer and Haynes manuals for it, and I'll take the time to get it done. If I replace the motor, what are my source options? (Maybe one of you guys have a spare you'd like to sell?) What are you're thoughts on what I think is a case of the mechanic trying to milk more money out of the project (The compression)? Is there a way I can verify his claims without paying someone with the tools to do it? Sorry if I'm sounding cheap, but I already have 2 other running bikes that have their own mechanical/financial needs but if I could get the 550 running again, I'd ride it and sell one of the others. Thanks for any advice! Peace Sean -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
