Topic: 1975 CB550 - What have I got myself into?

[aliphian]

Hello everybody. I have been searching for a couple of years for a CB550. Problem was, I am cheap, and I didn't want to spend very much. This brought my options to ZERO. I toyed with the idea of getting a 350 for a while and I had a couple of them pop up on Craigslist only to be gone within minutes. So last week I was talking to my cousin about this and he said "I think I have one of those in my backyard." So I went over to his place and I found a CB550 that had been sitting next to his garage for the past 6 years. I had to reclaim it from the Earth. This thing is covered in vines and spiders.

The good part is that I got it for FREE and he claims it was running when it was parked there (by another cousin).

My plan is to make it streetable. I don't want to start off overly ambitious and never finish it.

I am going to need a LOT of help and direction from this community. I have basically no experience with anything like this. I have ridden before, I've owned a 1989 FZR600 and a 2003 R6 but I have never done much work on bikes.

Okay, picture time. I have noticed there are a lot of great photographers on this site, I'm not one of them.

You may notice on the mirror there are vines wrapped completely around it!

[dhall57]

welcome from North Carolina. 550's are very nice bikes, I had a 76 CB550 back 35 years ago. It was a good running bike. Wish I had held on to it You can't beat the price (FREE) but if it's been sitting out side for 6 years ( was it covered or uncovered) it could be junk (hope not). Saying in was running when it was parked doesn't mean anything now after all this time. Post some pics when you can.

[aliphian]

I would guess that it has been uncovered. Of course, I am in sunny California so the elements are not what you may be used to. We don't really have weather here, just hot and less hot. I refuse to believe this bike is junk! It may well be but it will give me a chance to learn a few things and bust a few knuckles.

[db22]

Hoo boy, sounds like you got a lot of work ahead.  When I got my CB550K, it had been garaged in non-running condition for eight years. Had to title it and find a tank (it didn't have a proper one), and then I discovered that it had apparently been assembled by some PO from odds and ends -- '77 carbs on a '75 engine, etc.

Is your bike currently assembled, or in pieces?  If it's in pieces, now would be a good time to replace old bearings, and strip and refinish the frame.  Steel will rust, even in California.  Are you in a big city?  From what I have seen, California has the strongest custom-bike scene in the country.  Once you get it running and on the street, I bet you'll see some custom bike that will get you thinking.  Spend some time on this forum (I would never have made onto the road without the help I received here), use the search, and look at the galleries.  Think of the bike as a blank canvas.  Post some pictures as you go along.  Good luck!

[aliphian]

The bike is currently complete (minus a side cover). I am also without keys. I am waiting to hear back from the PO to see if he still has the keys. Without the keys it should be a real problem trying to take this thing apart. From what I can tell, to start the disassembly I need to remove the seat. To remove the seat, I need keys. Hmm...

[rb550four]

Almost any 550 find is a good find. There is no such thing as junk ,by the way, a lesser condition only means more time and $. Sounds like someone doesn't have a shop manual. Although keys would make life easier, Zere ah  uzzer vays. Start removing the things that you can remove without keys, But , first you should know if it turns over. Take the plugs out so there is no compression ( there has been plugs in it during storage right? If not go directly to teardown) push on the kick start lever slowly, if it gets hung up ( like on a froze valve ) dismantle . If if spins smoothly which it probably won't, give it a compression test. If the compression is strong in a few and weak in another, It could easily have some sticky valves in it that won't allow a proper seal,. in this case dismantle. If it doesn't spin at all ,dismantle. No matter what, remove the carbs, they'll need cleaning. Remove the exhaust, cause you'll be removing the engine. Pull the pins on the seat ,cock it sideways,remove the tank. spin the seat on the seat lock to get at what you need to do next...you'll figure out how to open or remove the lock soon. Good luck,  have fun , and get a manual. Remember, everyone's watching you  here, and we all want you to succeed, and questions seem easier to answer if there are lots of pictures.

[wedoo2]

Welcome.  If the PO does not have a key, there is a number on the key switch that will identify the key for a good locksmith.  I had to do this too.  $15.00 as I remember for a couple of them.  They also work on the seat and gas cap.  The year is on the neck of the frame up front.  You can use the kick starter to see if the motor is free.  Gives you a better place to start.  Manuals are all here.

 I picked up a POS 74 550 last fall and now it looks great.  Can be done.  Thing is, mine is just too small for me to ride.  Gonna sell it soon and get something else to work on.  Ask what you don't know.  Ask about the parts you need here first.

[db22]

Try www.hondakeys.com.  That guy had factory keys for my CB550, as well as my '68 CT-90. He'll need that number on the lock.  You might be able to open the seat with a screwdriver -- I've heard that the latch isn't really a lock, just a latch that will open with any key-like tool.

[aliphian]

I love this forum already! So much useful information! I am almost home from work so I can post some pictures soon.

[aliphian]

Okay, I updated the first post with photos. So, I was going to remove the plugs and push on the kickstarter when I realized there were quite a few spider webs hanging around. So i grabbed a can of bug spray and I sprayed the area near the plugs, just in case. That is when armies of the little bastards started crawling out of every nook and cranny. It was full on arachnophobia. There was at least fifty or more. So I used the rest of the can and everything else can wait until tomorrow. I am not a big fan of spiders since being bitten on two separate occasions.

I can't believe I was sitting on that bike last night making vroom vroom noises while an army of the damned was waiting beneath me. They could have at least helped me load the damn thing onto the trailer.

So a few more details about the bike. When I went to load it, both wheels were locked up. It turns out the brakes were frozen. I worked the lever a bit for the front brake and I ended up spraying wd40 on the disk and the pads to get it moving. For the rear I just loosened the linkage at the drum until it would move. I also broke my phone screen somehow in the process so I guess I can't say that the bike was totally free.

[dhall57]

Thanks for the pics. Looks like a 75 or 76 550 supersport, but I think a PO has put a regular CB550 gas tank on it that's been repainted. Think all of us here have seen bikes in worse shape that members have brought back to life. So it can been done, it's just depends on you and what you want to do and how much time and money you want to dump into it. This one will take some work, but if its what you want go for it Looking forward to your project thread.

Good Luck
dhall

[LesterPiglet]

It's a K frame.
What is the artwork on the mirror? 

Oh, vines...different.

[aliphian]

I picked up a compression tester at harbor freight today, now to see if i can figure out how to use it...
On a side note, I got the seat off and I found a badly corroded set of tools and the registration from 2005. Turns out its a 1975. I'll get more pics up tonight.

[aliphian]

Some photos for your viewing pleasure. Notice the bailing wire. Nice upgrade PO....

[geminimotors]

Looks like you've got you're work cut out for you. Lots of folks have started with much worse. You have a 550k bike with 550F exhaust. I noticed the blue plates- are you in California, or is that where the bike is from?

[IRISHCBRACER]

Welcome to the Cafe scene! Where in N.Cal are you? I am in San Jose.

Cosmetically messed up is the better as doing this kind of project you will go thru everything any way, trust me I realised that real quick. I am having lots of fun building a cafe bike and so can't wait to finish it and ride her down the road in style!

Check out the link on my footer to see my build.

[aliphian]

I am in California. Fresno to be exact. Anyhow, I got the tank off and I'm having a hell of a time getting these sparkplugs out. It seems like my 18mm socket is too fat. Any ideas?

[geminimotors]

Spray some penetrant on the base of the plugs and wait a while. Then use the spark plug tool from the tool kit on the bike. Some sockets have a wall thickness that's too big to fit down there, but the one in the Honda tool kit is designed to fit. Spark plugs are steel, and the cylinder head is aluminum- that's a recipe for corrosion. Let the penetrant soak in overnight if you have the time or patience.

[geminimotors]

Looking at your photos, I didn't see a spark plug socket in the tool kit. It's acceptable to grind down the outside of your 18mm socket, or buy a cheap one with a thinner wall.

[IRISHCBRACER]

+1 Spray loads of liquid wrench on everything that you need to loosen, let it soak for while 

[aliphian]

The first one I tried was the far left cylinder. It came out pretty easy. It's the inside two that are giving me problems. I guess I need to head down to cycle world tomorrow and get a proper spark plug wrench. Side note, with one spark plug out, the motor seems to spin freely when I push the kick start lever down. That's a good thing right?

[geminimotors]

If that cylinder was on the compression stroke.
 Another tip is to hold off on turning the motor over again until you have all the spark plugs out, squirt some oil or penetrant in each spark plug hole, and wait- letting it soak in, remove the alternator cover, and turn the motor over by hand using the stator bolt. Having sat for a long time, all the old oil has drained down into the oil pan, and there is no lubrication at the pistons, cylinders, etc, and there is likely some amount of rust or corrosion in the cylinders.

[aliphian]

Thank you all so much for the help thus far. Keep it coming!

[TwoTired]

I've had (have  ) a lot of these bikes so here is my take on what you've acquired.

I believe your bike began life as a 1975 CB550K model.  Frame, tank, and foot pegs are correct or that model.

The exhaust is from an F model, and I expect you will have problems with the brake arm and kick start lever interference.  I've yet to see any successful graft of the F exhaust system onto a K model.  You have less headaches with that interference and fitment using almost any other muffler system.

Looks like the seat is also from an F model which is why it fits so badly on the bike.

Someone, has tossed the air filter box and put on a K&N single filter in its place.  It needs a cleaning and re-oiling, at least.  But, it gives no protection from rain or road grunge, so best to learn how to clean it as it will need that frequently.

The lack of center stand (it's been removed) means you are going to need a lift of some kind during resurrection.

Since you oiled the front brake pads, you will now have to replace them.  FYI , the next time you encounter a frozen front caliper just loosen the two caliper bolts, and you can probably reuse uncontaminated pads.

Shouldn't take too much to make that bike streetable.  Brake rebuilds, tires battery, fluids, fork seals and cleaning.  Get a K model seat from a 72-73 CB500 or 74-76 Cb550 K.  And get an exhaust for those years, you should be good to go.
Lastly, clean and polish the fuse clips to prevent a fuse box melt down.  And to prevent nagging electrical issues/stoppages, clean all the connectors in the wiring.  Don't ever, I mean ever, connect a battery with reverse polarity.  Smoke flame and damage WILL occur.
Also, don't take off the cam cover without paying special attention to the shop manual, or risk bending valves.
Use 0000 steel wool on the chrome bits.  You'll be surprised how much better it will look.

I caution the use of a straight wall plug socket on the spark plugs, particularly during installation.  The tool kit socket was bell shaped to clear the obstructions in the access tunnel.  A straight wall tends to angle the plug during install, cross threading the spark plugs, and steel is tougher than the aluminum head.

Cheers,

Edit: punctuation and improper pronouns.

[OneWheelDrive]

TwoTired is my hero.