Topic: is this CB550 super sport worth $300?

[jason41987]

i found someone selling a CB550 locally... engine attempts to start with the kickstarter, but wont start, seat and tank are missing as the lights appear to be missing as well, besides that it seems like everything else is there, the engine, tranny, carbs, forks, handlebars, fenders, wheels, etc... so is it worth $300 for a project thatll require me to find a new tank, seat, lighting, and completely rebuild the engine, carbs, and probably build a new wiring harness from scratch?

[skamagedon]

Seems like the question is is it worth the work to you

[Tews19]

I picked up a bike for that price recently. I posted it yesterday

[jason41987]

i dont mind the work, i was looking for a winter project of something to rebuild.. but is the 550F a valuable enough bike to focus this kind of work on, or would i be better off looking for something more complete, or something more valuable?

[Teatimetim]

$300 is ok, if its got a title.  That would be a project bike for sure. but you will still spend $1500 fixing it up, maybe you will be able to sell it at close to what you put into, but I doubt your going to be making money on most barn finds.

[LesterPiglet]

I don't think you ever get back what you put into it if you sell. It's a labour of love.

[jason41987]

i priced carb rebuild kits, engine rebuild kits, new battery, could probably rebuild the starter motor... any project bike is going to require new foam and fabric anyway, so im really just out of a seat pan there...

besides the various rebuild kits, new tired, and various rewiring.. all id really need to find is a seat, tank, and lights neither of which are very expensive to find off of a parts bike someones parting out...

its mostly going to be labor, and in the end i should have a bike thatll last me a good 20-30 years

[steam-powered man]

i picked up a cb550 project some time ago, that also "needed a starter".  got the bike, yanked the starter and bench-tested it, was fine.  tried another, good starter with same result.  sort of a "whirring" sound.  turns out the starter clutches needed repair, to do that you gotta split the cases.   

caveat emptor

with that in mind, a fair price for a project.  if you're handy w/wrenches you'll probably dump $1200 into it, and it'll be worth your investment. 

[jason41987]

you had to take the engine apart to fix the starter clutches? are those a part you have to replace or refabricate?.. i was planning to disassemble the engine to install new rings and gaskets, maybe even pistons if i felt it needed it

i heard the SOHC/4 engines had issues with uneven wear in the cylinders.. i was going to rebuild the engine with new rings and gaskets now, later on if i decide to keep the bike much longer, have it bored and sleeves for longevity, so that in the future i can eliminate all wear by re-sleeving the engine

[jason41987]

quick question.. are the CB550K and CB550F seats interchangable, or did the 550F have more of an upswept seat?

[TwoTired]

quick question.. are the CB550K and CB550F seats interchangable, or did the 550F have more of an upswept seat?

Sorta.  Depends on the tank you use, and the grab bar.  And the year of the Cb550K, 77-78 are different.  Actually frame mountings are the same for all, but there are different lengths for the tanks, therefore the seat position changes, and grab bars are shaped to fit the specific seat.

The F model seat is in my avatar, at present. 

[jason41987]

so then with a 76 CB550F, any seat should fit so long as i have a matching tank?

[jason41987]

i told the guy id take it... so i guess sometime next week ill be the owner of a CB550F in need of a lot of work so ill be the owner of an SOHC/4 in a few days.. and plan to be a regular member here as i work my way through the process of rebuilding this bike.. and this could quite possibly turn into a cafe racer build once i work up the guts to put knee dents in a tank

one thing that particularly interested me was that there are a couple spare wheels with it, and the rear wheel currently on the bike is a solid forged or machined wheel, the front has spokes.. so i can go either way with the wheels, either rebuild a spoked rear wheel, or get an alloy front wheel

[Stev-o]

so then with a 76 CB550F, any seat should fit so long as i have a matching tank?

Yes, either seat will work bur have to have matching tank (K seat & tank or F seat and tank).  Of course, we are talking stock here. 

I believe the K seat is a little shorter and will leave a gap if used with an F tank. 

[jason41987]

im undecided if ill remain stock or go cafe.. but ill probably go with the K tank then (seem to be easier to find), and fabricate my own cafe seat for it to match... but, first things first, getting that engine to actually run, so ill probably pull the carburators off once i get it, bring them indoors and give them a complete cleaning and a rebuild and hope i can get it to fire up with the kicker

[skamagedon]

I don't think you ever get back what you put into it if you sell. It's a labour of love.

[TwoTired]

so then with a 76 CB550F, any seat should fit so long as i have a matching tank?

The F tank is longer than the pre 77 K tank.
An F seat with early K tank leaves a gap between them.
A K seat with an F tank is interference fit.

[ekpent]

If you ever tear into the engine you would probably be better off going with a slight overbore on your stock old 'heat treated' sleeves than replacing them with new that have not been subjected to that process.

[danmpls]

You can easily trim down a K seat pan to fit an F tank.

[jason41987]

which tank would be better for knee dents?... ill just fabricate a cafe seat myself

[jason41987]

well, i got my bike today.. in all, the parts are in good condition, frame is straight, solid, relatively rust free, engine isnt seized, kickstarter works, however it doesnt start up for obvious reason... umm its missing a lot of the electrical system including the ignition system... it does have headlight, tail light, and turn signals, may need to rebuild the starter and alternator... most these parts are original, and therefor very old... no seat or fuel tank either as mentioned

first things first... i need to get this engine started... since the ignition system isnt there.. what ignition parts will i need to get it running temporarily to verify the engine runs properly.. so ill be comfortable enough to invest further work into this to strip it down and have the frame and possibly the alloy wheels powder coated?

[Rgconner]

Well, which parts are actually missing?

You have the 2 coils, 2 wires are attached to each, then wiring down to the 2 sets of points, with condensers of course. Keyswitch and red ignition switch on the handlebars too, of course. Are those missing?

That is pretty much it, unless the whole points plate and mechanical advance is gone.

If so, you might want to consider an electronic conversion, as some require replacing that plate with theirs anyway. I will let others comment on that, I have only used the HondaMan.

Oh, and a new wire harness might be a good idea, if you can hunt one down for that year, what year was it?

[jason41987]

im going to start a series of topics more on topic with the advice im going to be needing for this, to better help others help me with something im certain ill need the high levels of expertise here to help me with

[Rgconner]

Good idea.

Even if there are major engine issues... well, we don't ride these because they are cheap! =)

Puts a hell of smile on your face tho, they sound so good and ride so well. I could buy any motorcycle I want I suppose, but this one does me just fine. =)

[Tews19]

Pics?