Topic: 1975 cb550 Project SENCHA - bike has found new home

[goldarrow]

swingarm bushings decided to take forever to come in from Germany, but it's ok, it's cheap, so no rush.  moving on to the next part.

Steering Stem - getting All Balls Tapered Bearing part number 22-1011 $29.64 shipped

back 3 months ago, on page 1 post #21 when i took the top and lower triple tree stem and bearing apart

top triple tree was painted last month. lower triple tree stem is now cleaned, primed, and painted.  ready to be put back 


Forks rebuilt -  All Balls fork seals part number 55-108 $12.43 shipped



top portion of forks are rusty and some pitting, these will get cleaned up, primed, and painted


the bike came from NY, last titled in PA, will get titled to CA when the bike is alive


fork oil drained, 37 years old oil? or more? so greyish black and smell like toilet drain


making sure of the markings on the forks and mounting hardware, knowing which way is facing front


everything comes out pretty much straight forward...
-drain the fork oil
-take off bottom fork cap
-unbolt and take off the hex bolt at the bottom
-take off the top cap bolt, be carefuly it may fly because of inside spring tention
-remove the long spring
-remove the fork tube
-remove snap ring, using snap ring pliers or other tools
-pry off old seals using strong flat head screw driver, use towl to cushion the screw driver to minimize scratches or damages to bottom fork.  the seal is tuff to come off, so just pry it!
-remove damper piece, it's all the way at the bottom of the fork
- clean everything



my damper unit doesn't have the long stem piece as pictured in the manual, is this normal? now that i'm really looking at it, i don't have the lock nut part #2 and the long rod (same length as the spring)

[fastbroshi]

I took apart some forks awhile back, I think they're 500 forks as only one of the legs has the boss to mount the caliper arm.  They had exactly the same parts as the diagram.   Maybe you have the later forks.

[dave500]

the picture is 500 forks you have 550 ones.

[goldarrow]

i didn't have a whole lot of time to myself over the weeken, and i was pretty much everywhere about the bike. 

first of all, i can't do photoshop for !@#$! (the life of me).  but here's the photoshop mock up.


steering stem bearings set.  Top bearing set All Balls part numbers 33-1006 and 99-3511.  Bottom bearing set All Balls part numbers 99-3512, 33-1007 and 99-1054 (thin spacer)


here's how the bottom bearing went in to the stem


steering lock position


bottom spacer sit flushed with the bottom neck


everything went in smoother than what i had anticipated
here's mock up with my painted top forks

[Stev-o]

Love your photo chop! Forks look good.

[SohRon]

My Element had a nail in back tire. Got a free flat fix at Costco. On my way there about 5 blocks from my house I caught this in the corner of my eyes at a garage sale



Turned my car around to look and it turned out to be a 1974 CB360. Not the best looking bike but for $350 I had to save it.  I had 10 bucks on me so I gave him a deposit, hoping that when I came back it was still there.    2 hours later, flat fix and rest of money, went back to see the bike, it was still there. Sweet.  I rode, well kind of limped it home. 

God, I hate you!    Why don't I ever come across these deals? At a yard sale?!?!? Can't find anything like that for under $1500 where I'm situated. Dang! I'm going to have to take a serious look at my life to see what I've done that keeps me from deals like this. Musta been something terrible 

Kudos on the find, and your work on the '550. Will be looking forward to the build thread on the '360.

[fastbroshi]

Judging by your pic, you just used the one thicker spacer.  Is this correct?

[onepieceatatime]

Judging by your pic, you just used the one thicker spacer.  Is this correct?

A little farther up in that post, he said the thin spacer.

steering stem bearings set.  Top bearing set All Balls part numbers 33-1006 and 99-3511.  Bottom bearing set All Balls
part numbers 99-3512, 33-1007 and 99-1054 (thin spacer)

[fastbroshi]

Correct, but that's not the thin spacer pictured.  The thick spacer can be identified by the casting mark in the center of its circumference, which is shown in the pic.

[goldarrow]

Fastbroshi, I used the thin spacer

Here's pic of thick spacer in my hand measured, and whats left unused from the package. Almost 5mm thick.

[goldarrow]

God, I hate you!    Why don't I ever come across these deals? At a yard sale?!?!? Can't find anything like that for under $1500 where I'm situated. Dang! I'm going to have to take a serious look at my life to see what I've done that keeps me from deals like this. Musta been something terrible 

Kudos on the find, and your work on the '550. Will be looking forward to the build thread on the '360.

Well, life sucks. But may be for the better. And you may hate me for this.   Got laid off from work last week. Stressed out. Very stressed. So I decided to take a 7 hours drive road trip with a friend who was delivering smerchandise to client.  23 hours trip total I came home with this



1978 Suzuki GS550 for $300. The bike runs, carb needs to be gone through as it leaks gas when turn on petcock. Front light broke but came with a spare. One rear blinker broke. Original title from owner back in 1979. Tool kit and manual included.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Love the 1978 GS1000, especially with the Wes Cooley Yoshimura look.  The 550 and 750 share the looks but could use the bigger mill.  I came very close to buying a Wes Cooley replica and a stocker.  In the end, I decided to pick up my sitting CB750 project.

[fastbroshi]

Fastbroshi, I used the thin spacer

Here's pic of thick spacer in my hand measured, and whats left unused from the package. Almost 5mm thick.

Well damn they look like the same one.   Thin spacer it is then.

[Stev-o]

Let me get this straight: you got laid off and you bought another bike?!  Sorry to hear.

BTW, nice calipers. I need some.

[PrsCustom22j]

that engine rocks man...nice work.   someday i'll do that to mine.  keep posting those pics   

[goldarrow]

Let me get this straight: you got laid off and you bought another bike?!  Sorry to hear.

BTW, nice calipers. I need some.

Yes  . Another victim of [not so good] educational system. Company has been laying off since January and I'm the last round. Next may be closing. 

Looking for something to do while job hunting, so what might you guess?

On my way to pick up another one. 

[goldarrow]

And here is the one......



.....and is a keeper

Bike came with bill of sale and two up seat

[Stev-o]

And Lesters?

We all hear how expensive bikes are in Cali but you've come across some good deals.

[goldarrow]

And Lesters?

We all hear how expensive bikes are in Cali but you've come across some good deals.

Front wheel is confirmed Lester with marking.  Can't fine the marking on the rear wheel yet.

Bikes are still expensive here I agree, that is if one get stuck working in office. Deals are out there, just have to have time for it.

This orange bike is not as cheap (4x more than the gs550) as the others that I got previously. But all complete and looks like a runner. Some tappets cover were butchered with vise grip. May be why it was parked.

[rb550four]

Will this orange one be for #2 son? Looks promising.

[Stev-o]

The rear Lester wheel will have the name in the drum brake area of the hub.

[goldarrow]

Will this orange one be for #2 son? Looks promising.

Definitely this orange bike is a keeper and for one of 3 sons. I'll let them fight over who wants which bike.

The rear Lester wheel will have the name in the drum brake area of the hub.

Not sure if I'm ready to disassemble the wheel yet but thinking about swapping them on to my project though. The gold wheels have not been cleaned up yet.


Over the past week I have been very busy cleaning up back yard to make some space for bikes and storage, but able to get bits and pieces done on the bike.

So, swingarm bushings came in about 3 weeks ago, and has sat in the freezer ever since.



Took them out today for installation. Small amount of grease lubed the arm holes. Dropped in the bushings and started whacking it with big rubber mallet. Took some whacking force but wasn't too bad. No torch heat needed.

First side went in, no problems


One side went in, lost some paint on the edge


Pivot collar went in


Pivot shaft went in next


All assembled on to the bike. Left side has washer for the nut, but right side is not there..Looks like i lost the nut washer when disassembling.

The zerks were removed, need to go to HF for tap and die tool kit

[Main Street]

Following....

[goldarrow]

Ok so I put in the zerks and greased up. Stupid question for the day. How much grease is too much? I put in until grease started coming out of every where.



The swingarm is parallel to the ground by itself, did I tighten engine hanger bolts too tight?



New to me shocks went in. Progressive shocks I believe they are series 12. Got them from forum member mainerider way while back.

[fastbroshi]

The way I understand it, the arm should swing freely up and down with mimimal slop side to side when tightened.   It shouldn't be holding itself in position.  Maybe something to do with all the extra grease that's in there now?