Author Topic: Bonneville Turbo CB500/550 (Read 84852 times)

Greggo · « **on:** February 28, 2012, 05:15:25 PM »

Alright Boys, I know some of you have been waiting to see this one, and I finally got my hands on the bike. I bought this bike from Carpy thru ebay for a song. It has hung on the wall in his shop for I don't know how many years. Big Thanks to Terry, who brought the bike to our attention. I think a late Saturday night auction end time helped thin out my competing bidders. The bike was being built for Bonneville, and has zero brakes. Everything moves, the carb slide is free, the motor turns over. It has an ~~oil~~ water/alcohol injection tank installed, and some crazy braided hoses going all over, so I'll have to figure out the oil flow logistics before trying to start it. I haven't gotten into this one yet, because I have to finish my 750 to free up shop space at my dad's. Not sure whether I'll go for a Bonneville run or just make it street legal. The cylinders are marked 498cc, so they're from a 500/4, and I believe that means I can run in the 500cc and under class. We can't seem to figure out what the swingarm is from, it's got all stock mounting pieces, but it's 4-5 inches over stock. It's got a Sun rim in the front, and a DID aluminum rim in back, both 18's.

Well, here's the porn!

Bob3050 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2012, 06:52:13 PM »

Greggo: I'm really looking forward to your build of this bike. That must be a later ATP kit than mine. I've never seen a 500/550 kit with the header that you have. All the ones that I've seen have been like mine with a log type header that gets progressively larger from right to left. What brand of turbo is that? None of the 500/550 kits I've ever seen have had a waste gate like yours. At the time I bought my kit I was told that because of the size of the Rajay turbo that no waste gate was needed. They said that the 500 couldn't produce enough exhaust to cause the turbo to over-boost. Also at the time the Rajay was the smallest unit available, so I'm really interested to see what yours is. Good luck and please keep us posted as to your progress and be sure to take plenty of pictures.
Bob

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2012, 07:10:32 PM »

http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/mattmouth182_rag/mx6/page.html

IHI?

Tews19 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2012, 07:44:43 PM »

Greggo, you should think about moving the tank... Pm me if so please

Stev-o · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2012, 08:43:01 PM »

Yes, we have been waiting...that bike is awesome! Love that header and in excellant cond. What's your plan other than to get it running? I suggest just clean clean clean, no repainting, the patina is beautiful.
Lucky bastard! Happy for you....

Greggo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2012, 11:45:13 PM »

Quote from: Bob3050 on February 28, 2012, 06:52:13 PM

Greggo: I'm really looking forward to your build of this bike. That must be a later ATP kit than mine. I've never seen a 500/550 kit with the header that you have. All the ones that I've seen have been like mine with a log type header that gets progressively larger from right to left. What brand of turbo is that? None of the 500/550 kits I've ever seen have had a waste gate like yours. At the time I bought my kit I was told that because of the size of the Rajay turbo that no waste gate was needed. They said that the 500 couldn't produce enough exhaust to cause the turbo to over-boost. Also at the time the Rajay was the smallest unit available, so I'm really interested to see what yours is. Good luck and please keep us posted as to your progress and be sure to take plenty of pictures.
Bob

Thanks Bob! It is an IHI turbo, which I just realized stands for 'Ishikawajima-Hari Industries' It's very possible the exhaust header is not an ATP part, but I also have never seen this type of setup for the 500/550's. You can be sure I'll be looking to you for turbo advice!

Quote from: Tews19 on February 28, 2012, 07:44:43 PM

Greggo, you should think about moving the tank... Pm me if so please

Hmm, do you mean moving as in selling? I know it would be so profitable to part this bike out, but I can't bring myself to do it! I was told by someone in the know today that the tank is likely worth what I paid for the bike...after shipping! He told me the make...I think it was Gianelli? Or something Italian that started with a G..

Quote from: Stev-o on February 28, 2012, 08:43:01 PM

Yes, we have been waiting...that bike is awesome! Love that header and in excellant cond. What's your plan other than to get it running? I suggest just clean clean clean, no repainting, the patina is beautiful.
Lucky bastard! Happy for you....

Haha! Thanks Stev-o! Not sure what the plan is right now...my dad's shop partner actually goes to Bonneville as a crew man. He says with an authoritative voice 'you know you gotta get that ready by August, right?' I'd have to go over 180mph to break a record for the class, so I don't know if that's in the cards, but it might be fun just to go and have fun, right? And, oh yeah - the patina stays no matter what! Same guy who told me the tank is pricey said if it was his he'd just shoot clear on it the way it is...I heartily agreed

I Zombie · « **Reply #6 on:** February 29, 2012, 07:52:06 AM »

I SO wanna know more about that turbo, keep tossing around the idea for my 750.

liPPy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 29, 2012, 08:47:41 AM »

Quote from: Greggo on February 28, 2012, 11:45:13 PM

And, oh yeah - the patina stays no matter what! Same guy who told me the tank is pricey said if it was his he'd just shoot clear on it the way it is...I heartily agreed

+1 The patina makes the bike!

B.O.X.N.I.F.E. · « **Reply #8 on:** February 29, 2012, 11:24:02 AM »

Tank looks like a Benelli Mojave to me.

Post lots a pics please. And those tanks usually sell for about 300 - 400. If that's what you paid for that bike I'm going to #$%* my pants.

XC204 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 29, 2012, 02:10:26 PM »

That is too cool ! hey was the side cover I sent you ok?

Greggo · « **Reply #10 on:** February 29, 2012, 10:29:34 PM »

Quote from: B.O.X.N.I.F.E. on February 29, 2012, 11:24:02 AM

Tank looks like a Benelli Mojave to me.

Post lots a pics please. And those tanks usually sell for about 300 - 400. If that's what you paid for that bike I'm going to #$%* my pants.

Looks like you may be right! No, the bike wasn't that cheap, but it's no industrial secret how much I paid...it was cheap.

Radam · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2012, 01:58:33 PM »

This project is turbo rad! I'll be keeping an eye on it. I'll also be looking out for something like this in Oz...if I could beat Terry to it if something like this popped up.

Greggo · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2012, 04:03:48 PM »

Quote from: Radam on March 06, 2012, 01:58:33 PM

This project is turbo rad! I'll be keeping an eye on it. I'll also be looking out for something like this in Oz...if I could beat Terry to it if something like this popped up.

Hey, thanks Adam! It's a sweet bike, I just wish I had more time to mess with it right now.

How was the big move to the Down Under?

Radam · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2012, 06:41:30 PM »

It's going pretty good so far. I went to the Harley service center today to see if they did any apprenticeship deals and they told me to bring in my resume. I'll be dropping that by tomorrow. Hopefully the guy wasn't just being nice.

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2012, 05:23:42 AM »

That is awesome how the turbo fits. Is it an ihi rhb5? We need better pics of a whole left side view!

Greggo · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2012, 08:32:33 AM »

Quote from: twistedengineering on March 07, 2012, 05:23:42 AM

That is awesome how the turbo fits. Is it an ihi rhb5? We need better pics of a whole left side view!

It is an RH, not sure about the B5. I also have a separate, complete ATP kit with the original Rajay turbo in case I need it...

Here's a pic of the left side from the original ebay listing. I forgot to take pics of the left side at the shop.

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:21:31 AM »

lol awesome! And it's gp shift? I'm assuming they just reversed the shifter? Tried that once and almost ate #$%* and an engine. This is great! Look at that intake manifold!

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #17 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:23:04 AM »

Now I want to buy another 550 just to toy with a turbo setup!

Greggo · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:33:53 AM »

Quote from: twistedengineering on March 07, 2012, 09:21:31 AM

lol awesome! And it's gp shift? I'm assuming they just reversed the shifter? Tried that once and almost ate #$%* and an engine. This is great! Look at that intake manifold!

Ha, yeah I don't think this bike was ever run...the vague back story I got was that an old guy was trying to build it for Bonneville, and somehow Carpy ended up with it. I've got some Yoshimura rear sets I plan to use.

Stev-o · « **Reply #19 on:** March 08, 2012, 05:47:31 AM »

Ooooh, Yoshi rear sets, nice call.

Greggo · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2012, 10:14:00 PM »

I wanted to dig into this bike a little bit just for the hell of it today. Took two bolts in a PITA location to get the seat off. There's a hex head bolt holding the tank on just forward of the gas cap. The builder drilled and tapped a hole in the frame for that bolt to thread into (you can see it at the top of the first picture here. There's no oil in what I thought was the oil tank.

Found it's got a nice Tarozzi single throttle.

Here's a good shot of where the turbo meets the ?wastegate? and the exhaust manifold.

Is this a rotor for a magneto? This plate pulled right off the engine.

ThomasD883 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2012, 10:23:47 PM »

I'm signing in here I want to watch this come to life. It looks like you.have a rough diamond there, best wishes and smooth sailing

don't forget pics, I'm living my turbo dream vicariously

geminimotors · « **Reply #22 on:** March 12, 2012, 10:27:19 PM »

Where did you pull that plate off the engine? Any 'before' pics for reference?

Greggo · « **Reply #23 on:** March 12, 2012, 10:34:41 PM »

Quote from: geminimotors on March 12, 2012, 10:27:19 PM

Where did you pull that plate off the engine? Any 'before' pics for reference?

Yep, check the first pic in the thread. It's off the ignition side of the bike where the advancer and points plate would go.

Quote from: ThomasD883 on March 12, 2012, 10:23:47 PM

I'm signing in here I want to watch this come to life. It looks like you.have a rough diamond there, best wishes and smooth sailing don't forget pics, I'm living my turbo dream vicariously

Thanks! It is rough, but that's kind of why I like it. Oh, and I'd never forget the pics.

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #24 on:** March 13, 2012, 06:10:09 AM »

Yeah greggo I'd say that thing is setup to use an impact gun as a starter. lol Seriously, it probably was supposed to have a simple ignition enough juice to fire the coils and that's it. That sure looks like a Ford turbo straight off a probe. (They were relatively small and internally gated.) Nice and compact. Easy to get parts or new ones cheap.

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Author Topic: Bonneville Turbo CB500/550 (Read 84852 times)