Topic: 1977 CB550F Restoration

[maduncle]

Ha!

I'm thinking more 'meet me in San Fran, help me buy a bike and then ride back to your place with me (the long way)'.

Epic coast to coast USA/Aus buddy road trip movie in the making.

[dagersh]

I think Beata would kill me....  I still owe her a Honeymoon.....


I know what you are thinking, and she's having none of it....

[dagersh]

The Cases are joined!  And my cylinder is out for honing, should be ready later on today.

Funny story...  and an example of why you need to completely document your teardown.

So, I was ready to join the cases, had my Yamabond (I know, I am a traitor,,,) applied to the upper case.  I made sure that the gears were in neutral and lined up the shift forks on the top case. 

I could not get the cases to line up, no matter how I wiggled and finessed.  I was close to tearing my hair out.

I pulled the upper case back off to try again.  As I was looking at my shift forks I realized I was missing the Transmission Locating pins (#16 in the diagram)





I started tearing through my bagged parts, including the empty glad bags where I had stored the Transmission assemblies.  No joy.  Now I was really pulling my hair out.  How could I lose these?  I was so careful about not letting anything get lost.

I went to my computer thinking that I would have to order them, which meant cleaning the upper case of the rapidly drying Yamabond and waiting another week for delivery - assuming these little guys are even available.  Man, I was steamed!

Then I realized,wait a minute....  when I was powder coating the cases, I had noticed some metal cylindrical pieces at the bottom of the oven....  I thought they were some seird part of the oven, like temp sensors or something, could it be possible?





YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

Ahhh - crisis averted!

I insterted them in the right place, refreshed the Yamabond and weirdly, everything literally dropped into place with no effort.  Weird, but welcome.

I inserted and tightened up the 6 uppercase bolts and then flipped the engine over to torque the 10 8mm bolts that hold the crank into the case, following the proper sequence.

I torqued them to 17.5 FTLB as the manual gave me range.

I then inserted and tightened the remaining 6mm bolts around the outside of the case.

All said and done, there is a nice, thin and even bead of Yamabond around the case.  I think she's ready to hold oil.

Ready for the top end!

Gratuitous pics:











Gersh

[Stev-o]

Looks great!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nicely done. Glad you found the pins. Much better than ordering new ones and finding the pins AFTER!

[dagersh]

Thanks Guys!

Gersh

[dagersh]

Hi Guys,

Well, I did it again, left a project for months on end...

Unfortunately, my Mom is very ill and I have been the point man on her care, and it has been taking up all my time and energy. Its incredibly frustrating, as its a stage 4 Glioblastoma,  There is only one outcome, which wil be an end to her life and more importantly at this point, her suffering.

To retain/regain my sanity I have been back at the project as I received word that my long awaited chrome will be ready soon. I have disassembled the wheels and plan on PC'ing and relaing them this weekend.  Also, I will be polishing the piston tops and reassembling the top end of the engine and the Carbs,

Pics to follow soon.

Gersh

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My heart goes out to you, Gersh. I'm lucky that my mom has come thru swimmingly some recent surgery of her own, but it sure gave me kick in the gut when the news came.

Can't cheat fate, but I sure don't have to go without a fight-

Sending some good thoughts her way!

And to yours, Cal, too!

[maduncle]

Man that's not good at all. I hope that through it all there is some comfort for your mum, and you and your family.

There is always a cold beer and a windy road waiting for you at my house my friend.

[dagersh]

Thanks Guys.

Its a real tragedy what's going on as she is 100% aware of what's happening but is paralyzed, aphasic and bedridden.

Madman - I still owe Beata and I that Honeymoon.....

Gersh

[P.abrera]

Good vibes comin your way from my side of the world


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dagersh]

Thanks Man.

[dagersh]

So, finally some forward progress.

Last weekend I was able to get into the shop and get some powder coating done.
I made sure to strip off the factory clear coat from the wheel  hubs and the rear brake panel.  I then gave them a further cleaning with some soda blast for a little “tooth”.
After that was done, I baked the parts for about 30 minutes at 450 deg.  To outgas anything that might come out during the curing process for the powder.

Once everything was cooled, I masked using tinfoil and heat proof masking tape.  I used the same color as the engine cases, “Silver Speed Metallic” from powderbythepound.com.  I am very happy with its match to the raw aluminum from the factory.

The Rear Wheel



I used the Final Drive flange, covered in tin foil to mask off the outward side to keep powder from getting in to the Drum Brake Lining.  On the other side, I trimmed tinfoil to cover the brake side opening, after I lined the Friction Surface with both foil and heat proof masking tape (sorry, no pics…)  All of this prep also protected the bearing surfaces.

Worked a charm!













The Front Wheel

Again, a mix of foil and tape to protect the bearing surfaces  and some silicone plugs to keep powder out of the Brake Caliper Mounting bolt holes.



Clean!







Last but not least, the Rear Brake Panel.  I used the 2 plugs to keep the steel inserts from getting coated.  I will polish them later on.







Hopefully, I will get them all rebuilt this weekend.

Until then!

Gersh

[maduncle]

Well that's a bit of nice work there brother - looking very smart.

[dagersh]

Gratzie!

How are your wheels?

G

[dagersh]

Alright,

Once again I am back.  Too long, as always. Due to my Mom's sickness, eventual passing and all the craziness that went along with it, I had no desire to work on my projects. 

Two weeks ago I got sick of looking at the now dusty tank and frame sitting on my bench, and I gave up on my multiple attempts to get a suitable finish on the PC'd hubs.  I took them along with a couple of other pieces to my place in Poughkeepsie, NY and had them do it.  Of course, I should have done that to begin with, but at least I learned what I can and cannot do with my set up.

They did a great job, and I had a hankering to lace up with the Buchanan's SS spokes and freshly chromed OEM rims from my CB450 build.  Using this post:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,135846.0.html

the fronts literally fell together in 15 minutes.  Seriously, I cannot recommend enough the tips in his post!

I then went on to the rear and hit a snag.  I really had to muscle the inner spokes into the rim.  When I originally ordered the spokes from Buchanan's, they need me to get pictures of the original spokes to them as there are a few different sizes that were used on the 550's (and maybe 500's, I am not sure).  Thinking that I had the wrong size spokes, I called them up to investigate.

They could not have been nicer or more helpful - sorry for the shout out here, but I ordered these spokes a year ago - but we determined that only the rear OUTERS have different specs.  The INNERS are all the same.  He then asked if I PC'd the rims and I said yes.  He suggested the problem is that the coating needs to be cleaned from the spoke holes.  If that does not work, he said to call back an we will figure it out, but he was 95% confident that that was the issue.

So, new question on this extended time build!  If I want to clean out the PC from the spoke holes with a drill bit, what size should I be using to protect from removing any material?

I know I can check against my spokes, but as usual I am in the City and not near the bike and I am obsessing over it....

Alright, I promise pics and description on the next update.

Gersh

[maduncle]

Aw man - so sad to hear about your mum.

But I am very glad to hear you are still with us here on the forum.

Just so you know, we recently finished off our new outdoor BBQ area at home, so I put on the Sinatra and had a beer (or seven) in your honour.

Now then - nice to see the 550 is coming along. You may have noticed I am now buried in a CB750 build (see my thread) so I am sure we will have much to discuss.

Cheers,

Cliff

[dagersh]

If they were not PBR's (Does Australia even allow such dreck to be imported?) I don't want to hear about it!  I thought of you over the summer going through Coxsackie during their garage sale mania!

Thanks man, it was a nightmare year and a half.  I am still dealing with the estate and aftermath, and its never-ending.  However, its good to be coming back out of the funk. 

As for the 550, I have all the paintwork done, and its gorgeous.  I just have to step up and get her back together.  I will share pics this weekend.

I will catch up on your 750 ASAP, and I don't think I know how the 500 came out, so I need to catch up on that as well.

Be well Brother!

G

[dagersh]

Thanks man!  Right back at ya'!

[maduncle]

If they were not PBR's (Does Australia even allow such dreck to be imported?) I don't want to hear about it!  I thought of you over the summer going through Coxsackie during their garage sale mania!

Thanks man, it was a nightmare year and a half.  I am still dealing with the estate and aftermath, and its never-ending.  However, its good to be coming back out of the funk. 

As for the 550, I have all the paintwork done, and its gorgeous.  I just have to step up and get her back together.  I will share pics this weekend.

I will catch up on your 750 ASAP, and I don't think I know how the 500 came out, so I need to catch up on that as well.

Be well Brother!

G

Melbourne is now the global hub for craft beer - so I am attempting to try every IPA produced here - it's tough but someone's gotta do it.

The CB500 came out like this:



Oh, and the CB450 race bike came out like this:



Looking forward to hearing more from you as your 550 project continues.

[dagersh]

Craft IPA's?  I am on the next flight!

Have you sold them, or are they still in the family (I will need something to ride!)

Brilliant work man, BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

I have some new additions...




The CB160 in the back is James'.  $600 thinking we needed to rebuild the top end, it just had the wrong plugs in it.  3 hrs of work and we were ripping it up and down the street!





Lost out on a '75 Commando in black and gold...  BOOOO!

[riverfever]

Good to see you again Dag. Sorry to hear about your mother.

[dagersh]

Thanks Bro.  Much appreciated.

[maduncle]

I hope you are looking after "my" CB750F1 mate - I will be over one day to ride it again.

[dagersh]

It is being loved in a temperature controlled, rust free environment!