Finally getting around to the 550/699 project....

[boris.h]

Yeah! Could you tell us again plz your carbs settings, for the first start?

 

[tkent02]

OK, I'm a firm believer in riding it hard for breaking in rings, wanted to get the mixture close enough for the first start so I can open it up without hurting anything. Since the 650 airbox won't fit in the 550 frame I'm using K&N pods, so I ordered a DymoJet kit for a 650G. Should save a whole bunch of tuning. I'll still have to tweak it for my elevation but it ought to be fairly close for the first run.

 

[tkent02]

Tying up all the loose ends, too many little details. Can't remember stuff from when it all came apart, it's been too long. The spring for the oil filter is missing, have to pull one off another engine or something. New studs for the cover which is freshly powdercoated black. Just noticed I took the ignition plate off when I was doing the cam timing. Looking at three ignition plates, now which one was it? Got the locating roll pin for the clutch cover from Steele's and it is on, looking shiny black and holding oil, kickstarter is in place, shiny and black as well. You can actually see the oil in the new sight glass. Sprocket cover and shifter ready to go on when I get the counter shaft nut on. The lock washer for the countershaft sprocket nut must have hit the ground rolling, it is long gone. Off to Steele's again if I can't find it. Good news, jet kit got here today, the K&Ns get here Monday, hopefully I'll have it ready to go out and open the throttle Monday or Tuesday. Throttle cable, looks like the old VM cable will work, kind of at a funky angle so the correct cable will be ordered but it will work for now.
Woo Hooo!! Can't wait!

 

[boris.h]

Can't wait too.. . I believe I will be able to start mine before end of April, but the last details are the longest things to do..waiting for small parts, bought separately and shipped from far places... good luck for your waiting time. You can spend it checking all the small details again, it won't be wasted time...

 

[Chuck78]

Looking great Tom. I got some issues fixed on the wife's GS550B (ignition switch, coil relay mod, faulty double bullet connector factory crimp connection powering tge orange 12v+ coil wires) that saved me from having to build "just" a 673cc gs550 kicker, so once I scrape together cash, I'll be ready for that Wiseco K740 gs650 piston kit!

Keep us updated on progress, carb jetting & needle positioning, etc

 

[tkent02]

Everything is done except the carburetors. Chain and sprockets installed, clutch cable's hooked up, stator wired in, starter cable, put the old points ignition back in, replaced the rear caliper bolts that I stole for the 1000E, header bolts are tight, every wire on the bike is connected, oil filter cover is there, oil is in the engine, air is in the tires. Even took the bike down off the table. Getting close.....

 

[boris.h]

yeah, we are following you every hour!

 

[Nessism]

Do you have the carbs you need Tom?

 

[tkent02]

Yes, missing a few little pieces yet. I think I can get er done today.

 

[boris.h]

arf, ok!
Waiting for U.

 

[tkent02]

She runs! And sounds a lot more snappier than before too. Out for a ride.....

 

[loud et]

Excellent.

 

[tkent02]

Pain it the butt to get the K&N air filters on, the frame is just too small and close to the carbs. Had to remove the clamps to make the filters more flexible, slide them in place using screwdrivers to fold the rubber part over and then thread the clamps in afterwards. The left side is worse, the clutch cable is in the way. Then the gas tank wouldn't fit, the petcock hits the top of the carburetor. I can use a different petcock with the fuel hose clocked differently, but for now a block of wood to hold the tank up a little higher.

OK, short ride. Apparently when I took the valve cover off to time the cams, I neglected to torque the bolts. Or even tighten them. Oil all over everything before I slowed down enough to see the smoke. My new boots are waterproofed, at least the front of them. Powdercoat seems to withstand hot oil just fine.

Second thing, it's rich as can be. Blubbering the whole way, I actually was slowing down to turn around and go home when I saw the smoke.... DynoJet and me are not on the same page about this high elevation thing. I used a lower needle position and smaller main jet than they suggested, it's not even close.

Third thing, one carb is having float issues, leaks if you set it on the side stand. Have to get back in there...

Fourth thing, Holy **** Does This Thing Move!! A ton more power down low, maybe three times the torque it had at low very RPM? More torque at three or four thousand than it had at seven thousand before. Easier to get going from a stop than the 750, seems quicker off the line, more effortless. Front comes up a bit just whacking the throttle, it never did that before without using the clutch.

Don't know about the top end kick the 550s always had, that should be gone with the 650 cams, should just be stronger everywhere.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I had the same frustration with Dynojet, now I'm ready to go back to the stock jets and needles for my 7/11 project.
The 48HP, plus the 90 mile range of the 3 gal tank on my 550T was what disappointed me. If it had the power you're talking about, I would have kept it.

 

[roeme]

Congratulations on the sucessfull conversion! This thread convinced me to start collecting parts for this conversion as well.

While the power curve of my 550 suited me very, very well, being a beginner (just recently got 7k kms under my belt), I begin to wish for just a tad little more sometimes.

Easier to get going from a stop than the 750, seems quicker off the line, more effortless...

Is the 750 that much heavier? (i.e. power-to-weight that much worse?)

 

[tkent02]

The 750s are great bikes, but this one is probably as powerful or will be once it's carbureted correctly, has also higher gear ratios in first, (lower speed, higher acceleration) and it is somewhat lighter. Not sure how much but you do notice it pushing them both around.

 

[tkent02]

DJ gave me 160s and 155s, said to use the 160, I used the 155 and it's way too rich. I have three DJ 142s and a Mikuni 140, I'll try those next. Need to make a tool to remove the float bowls in situ, pulling the carburetors out of this thing is way too hard. Maybe a cut off allen wrench stuck in a tiny socket or something. It's a lot tighter than the big engines.

 

[loud et]

One of these guys would be helpful.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Right-Angle-D...-duty-Adapter-ADA1PC-/371010758624?nav=SEARCH

 

[loud et]

Or a 1/4 drive twist handle ratchet. They are pricey tho.

 

[Chuck78]

... it's way too rich. I have three DJ 142s and a Mikuni 140, I'll try those next.

Don't forget, Dynojet sizes are not on the same sizing scale/units as Mikuni. One is flow rated, the other is rated based on physical size increments