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Author Topic: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model  (Read 2219 times)

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Offline CapeCafe

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How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« on: April 18, 2012, 05:10:57 AM »
Hi-  I just picked up a 1976 550-4 and starting to tear her down and get her ready for some riding this summer.  I'm new to the Honda SOHC-4 world and wanted to see if anyone could help me in identifying whether the bike I have is a K or an F model?  Thanks in advance for all your help.  I'm very excited to get her rebuilt and running in time for summer.
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1976 CB550 K
2003 Kawasaki ZX12r
1995 Ducati 916 SPS
1995 Ducati 900 SS/SP
2000 Ducati 900i.e.

Offline CapeCafe

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2012, 05:23:06 AM »
I just realized this site has a model specification link.  It looks like the bike I'm rebuilding is a model K2. 
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1976 CB550 K
2003 Kawasaki ZX12r
1995 Ducati 916 SPS
1995 Ducati 900 SS/SP
2000 Ducati 900i.e.

Offline grcamna2

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2012, 12:30:27 PM »
CapeCafe,
        I used to live in Falmouth..what part of the Cape do you live on ?
« Last Edit: April 19, 2012, 09:35:43 PM by grcamna2 »
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts'
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2012, 08:43:05 PM »
Pics?
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline CapeCafe

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2012, 12:21:05 PM »
I live in Marstons Mills.  Unfortunately I never took a "before" photo and already have the bike stripped down and the frame and swing arm in the shop for sand blasting.  I kinda bought the bike on a whim.  I've been considering a new bike for my wife and found this 76 550-4 sitting in a garage with 13k original miles on it.  Not too rusty and seems to be completely stock.  My wife loves the cafe style bikes and for $500 I figured it was worth the challenge.  Bad part is the bike's not been run since March of 1992.  I have no idea of the integrity of the engine.  Gonna just pull the top end and wade through slowly.  Other than paint and rubber, I'm replacing the rear schocks, replacing springs, oil and seal up front, rebuilding the carbs and new 4-1 exhaust.  Of course it also needs a new chain, battery, headset bearings, wheel bearings, brake pads, etc.. 
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1976 CB550 K
2003 Kawasaki ZX12r
1995 Ducati 916 SPS
1995 Ducati 900 SS/SP
2000 Ducati 900i.e.

Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2012, 12:28:04 PM »
If it was completely standard the K's have 4 into 4 pipes and F's 4 into 1.
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


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Offline Duanob

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2012, 01:41:48 PM »
Oooh, careful turning a completely stock vintage bike into "cafe" bike around here. A lot of us take that with a lump in our throats. You can cafe any old pile of crap bike but these bikes are only original once and they are getting harder to find.
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"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2012, 01:44:21 PM »
We might let you off if all the parts removed are given free to forum members.   :P
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline TwoTired

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2012, 04:34:08 PM »
Quote from: CapeCafe on April 23, 2012, 12:21:05 PM
76 550-4 sitting in a garage with 13k original miles on it. ...
 Gonna just pull the top end and wade through slowly.

Silly to take the engine apart, imo.

But RTFM, or be prepared to replace the head  (or valve guides and bent valves).
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2012, 04:37:56 PM »
Not much point in stripping the engine if you don't know if it turns yet. Why give yourself more work?

Note to self.     Must read all the post in future.
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline Stev-o

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2012, 04:47:10 PM »
Some guys just like to take things apart for no good reason!
  And then half the time, it doesn't get put back together.
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline CapeCafe

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2012, 02:03:10 PM »
The motor turns over fine with the kick start.  Looks pretty grubby when I peer into the exhaust ports.  Stev-o, I definently like to take things apart just to see how they go together.  I'm not smart enough to learn it from a book.  What I can't do is take a box of parts and turn it into a running bike.  I am meticulous when tearing a bike down and have each stock part worth saving bagged and labeled with all mounting hardware including bolts, nuts, washers, etc.  I'll be happy to trade all the stock parts I take off for valuable advice.  I know I'll especially need the advice when I get into the carbs.  I can't imagine they will be working properly.  The head gasket has quite a bit of oil leakage visable on the left side and that alone is not acceptable to me.  A clean leak free engine is a happy engine.  I's rather not pull the barrels if I don't have to, but I'm pretty sure the heads gotta come off.  I've recently done over a 92 Ducati 900SS that required a complete top end and cosmetics.  Before that one I "restored" a 95 Ducati 900SS/SP and it actually ran when I finished!  Not even any extra parts :) I know this little Honds is a bit more complicated, but anything can be accomplished with a bit of patience and good advice.
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1976 CB550 K
2003 Kawasaki ZX12r
1995 Ducati 916 SPS
1995 Ducati 900 SS/SP
2000 Ducati 900i.e.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2012, 04:39:04 PM »
Very hard to pull the head without disturbing the cylinder base gasket.  To replace that, the barrels have to come off.    Risk of ring breakage when reinstalling the barrels.
I'll say again, you put the cylinder cover (cam cover) on wrong and you WILL bend valves, damage guides.

The head gasket isn't leaking, I'd bet.  But the oil passage orings frequently do.  I've had one doing the slow weep for 20 years and no compression loss.

If you ignore the book on this motor, you are going to be spending a lot of money fixing things you broke.

Good luck.
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Duanob

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2012, 05:31:02 PM »
Quote from: Stev-o on April 24, 2012, 04:47:10 PM
Some guys just like to take things apart for no good reason!
  And then half the time, it doesn't get put back together.

We call them: $#*%*$&#($*&! POs!

Listen to TT I had to rebuild the top end with new valves and guides thanks to the PO not knowing how to install the cam cover correctly.
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"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

  __o
_- \_<,
(*) /' (*)

Offline CapeCafe

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Re: How to determine if a 550-4 is a K or F model
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2012, 05:54:44 PM »
Thanks for the advice.  Sounds like I need to make sure to install the cam cover correctly.  BTW, I do have the Honda service manual for the bike and do and will refer to it.  I appreciate the opinions and will make sure to keep quiet until I have an educated question.  That said, if any forum members are interested in some of the stock parts, please drop me a note.  I don't care about selling them, just pay shipping.  I can shoot pics and email them so you can make sure its what you want. I'll make a list of the pieces I'm not planning to use in a couple weeks.
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1976 CB550 K
2003 Kawasaki ZX12r
1995 Ducati 916 SPS
1995 Ducati 900 SS/SP
2000 Ducati 900i.e.
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