Topic: 1974 CB550--Project The Screaming Scotsman (Problem)

[Cheffish]

They are cool motors. Is that essentially a cx500 or?

[Mcwilliams570]

They are cool motors. Is that essentially a cx500 or?

I am not a expert on these bikes but think it is very close to cx500. Is one of the few bikes I bought on impulse (wife didnt even yell at me).

Update on the 550 all the wiring is done except for the tail light I need to reasearch that one. The tail light only has 2 wires coming out of it BLK and WHITE so not sure how the hook up goes. Will do some reasearch when I get home today but if anyone has any suggestions would be appreciated.

Matt

[LesterPiglet]

Re the tail light. If it's only 2 wires. 1 wire for the brake light and 1 for the normal light, it must be earthed through the light body itself.

[thrutheframe]

Start by connecting a battery hot to either wire and shorting the body to ground then if it lights up do the same thing with the other wire. If you need a ground to plug into the harness just make one with a ring terminal and the appropriate gender bullet connector.  I bet you can find a screw inside for the ring terminal.

[thrutheframe]

"All of these were anodized a nice, shiny black by Honda, with the control markings apparently molded (stamped? roll-engraved?) into the bodies. These marks were filled in with a flat International Orange paint that was applied by automated silkscreen...  Testors Model Master International Orange is a close match if you're rebuilding."

Excerpt from SohRon's hand control rebuild thread. I was gonna suggest a sharpie paint pen.

+1 on the paint pen.  Art stores sell enamel paint pens in hundreds of colors, or just an auto touch up pen.

[Mcwilliams570]

Start by connecting a battery hot to either wire and shorting the body to ground then if it lights up do the same thing with the other wire. If you need a ground to plug into the harness just make one with a ring terminal and the appropriate gender bullet connector.  I bet you can find a screw inside for the ring terminal.

Re the tail light. If it's only 2 wires. 1 wire for the brake light and 1 for the normal light, it must be earthed through the light body itself.

Thanks guys did what you said and it works now

Air to carb boots came in the other day need to hook them up and the clutch/throttle cables add some oil and the oil filter and try starting this baby up.

Matt

[RAFster122s]

Nice gl500I
The 81-82 interstates were the only ones with dual front discs...also twin piston calipers.
The cx500 forum is an excellent forum and resource on the twisted twin motors and their maintenance and upkeep. Very easy bikes to work on.
I have a 78 cx500.

[Mcwilliams570]

Nice gl500I
The 81-82 interstates were the only ones with dual front discs...also twin piston calipers.
The cx500 forum is an excellent forum and resource on the twisted twin motors and their maintenance and upkeep. Very easy bikes to work on.
I have a 78 cx500.

Thanks RADster finally got the title worked out and was able to take it out for a few rides this weekend. Its not that bad of a bike I am looking forward to working on it this winter..

Matt

[Mcwilliams570]

Fired it up this morning petcock was leaking bad I forgot to tightened it thats fixed. Carb #1 was pissing gas a few persuasive wacks and it work now.

IMG 0754

I put on a old gastank to test it still working on the other one seemed to run alright. It was loud with just the headers I dont see how some guys run them like that guess I am getting old

Things to do

Exhaust should be in this week
Finish fiberglass the seat and tail
Bit left of body work on tank and sidecovers
A whole bunch of little stuff

I have been working on this for almost a year now and damn it feels good to hear it I know I am not done but having heard it gives me a breath of fresh air..

Matt

[Tews19]

Great feeling when she starts up. You and I are in the same boat, the woman is always there to do the recordings! Is your petcock the one that has the two screws? Mine leaked for a few after i fiannly got gas through her. I havent noticed it since....

[Mcwilliams570]

Great feeling when she starts up. You and I are in the same boat, the woman is always there to do the recordings! Is your petcock the one that has the two screws? Mine leaked for a few after i fiannly got gas through her. I havent noticed it since....

Yeah Tews it is the two screw one.

Matt

[Tews19]

I think I read you can take apart, turn the gasket to the unworn side and it will function fine, no leaks

[OneWheelDrive]

Wondering if you ever found a replacement face for your 650 tach.  I've got the same mismatched set on my 550.

[Mcwilliams570]

Wondering if you ever found a replacement face for your 650 tach.  I've got the same mismatched set on my 550.

When I was looking around about 6 months ago I thought I found replacement that would work dummy me forgot to save it. I will be ordering the replacements in the next 2 weeks and will let you know what one works..

Matt

[Mcwilliams570]

Small update. Still have some body work to finish up more sanding ..Need to wire up the tail light and blinkers. Got make some type of a mounting bracket for the exhaust YES I cut off the original ones off (I can hear Twotired laughing from here ... A bunch of little stuff still but getting there..

Matt

[goldarrow]

Even with the rope tied up to the exhaust, it's still looking b-u-t-full. 77-78 pipes?

Also ,What I is the measurement of the handlebar?

I'm looking at a handlebar on feebay and wonder if it fits the same as yours

Specifications:
7/8" Outside Diameter
29-1/4" Width
3" Rise
3" Pull Back
4" Center



Thanks.

[Mcwilliams570]

Thanks goldarrow I got the bars from Niche cycle on ebay..

Width 27.5
Rise 0
Pullback 3.5
Center Width 5
Diameter 7/8

Matt

[Mcwilliams570]

Body work is almost done little bit of sanding left. Paint has been ordered. Made some cheap exhaust hangers total cost 4.60$ for the pair

Next up is making the seat pan not sure if I want to go with wood or plastic. I think plastic would be better but not sure if a heat gun is enough to make the plastic soft enough to mold the form I want have to figure that one out still.

A problem I found the other day I need to figure out. Was rolling the bike into the garage and decide to hit the front brake hard just testing it brake works fine but made a clunking noise. Testing it a few more time the steering stem is moving a tiny bit. So I put something together wrong when I replaced the bearings. Thought it was all good but it isnt. Any ideas on what I should check out first when I take it apart ?

Matt

[MoMo]

Matt,  if there is a day when off days align I'll come on over....Larry

[Tews19]

Looks good as is. Ever consider the flat black paint scheme?

[seanbarney41]

...you probably just didn't tighten up the stem nut enough or the new bearings have settled in and loosened

[Mcwilliams570]

Looks good as is. Ever consider the flat black paint scheme?

Thought about it but going to stick with my original color

...you probably just didn't tighten up the stem nut enough or the new bearings have settled in and loosened

Thanks seanbarney will look at that still have a week or two before I figure out the problem tyring to finish up this body work and seat right now..

Matt

[turnerpa]

Hello all got some time today to work on the bike and was wondering if anyone can identify these two parts. Was cleaning my workbench and found them under a rag.. For the life of me I have no idea what the washer or the spring went too. It is possiable that when the wife was working on her 550 she left them there will ask her when she gets home but if anyone knows would appreciate it..

Matt

I think that is a valve spring if you have not found out yet

[Cheffish]

The bike looks great! That exhaust really makes it too. I am kicking myself right now for not using mine!

[Mcwilliams570]

The bike looks great! That exhaust really makes it too. I am kicking myself right now for not using mine!

Thanks Cheffish

Hello all got some time today to work on the bike and was wondering if anyone can identify these two parts. Was cleaning my workbench and found them under a rag.. For the life of me I have no idea what the washer or the spring went too. It is possiable that when the wife was working on her 550 she left them there will ask her when she gets home but if anyone knows would appreciate it..

Matt

I think that is a valve spring if you have not found out yet

Thanks for the reply turnerpa


Just a little update working on finish the seat up.. There was a Joann fabric shop by my house that was closing up bought some upholstery 3 yards of it for 14 bucks pretty good deal  have enough to make 10 seats or so lol...

The spraymax 2k paint came in the other day. Will see how that goes on and looks .I am curious from what other people have said about it. Should get the paint on this weekend..

Having a hell of a time getting my throttle cable and clutch cable set up right. They are stock cables but with dragbars. I read on the forums that stock cables can be done with dragbars but I am not having any luck. I think I am routing them wrong will keep on trying.

Need to figure out a licence plate mount I really didn't want to do it on the side by the tire but it probally wont work up top on the frame under the tail light will add that to the list to get done.

Still need to take the steering stem off and figure out whats wrong with that.

Other than that just a few little things to fix and take it down to the dmv to get inspected.

Matt