Topic: CB550 K vs F frame help.

[DrTowner]

Hey everybody, I have been looking for a frame and one of the great members here has one for me.

My questions:  I have a 1976 CB550K frame and he has a 1976 CB550F frame.  Is there a difference in the frame?

thanks

[RFogelsong]

To tide you over till others chime in, they're different.  By looking at them you can tell the footpegs are different.  The F I think had a fold up footpeg on one side to clear the kickstart.  The sidecovers and tank are also not interchangeable I believe because of mounting points.  I believe all of the handling geometry is the same between the two and I'm sure the engine mounting is the same.  Beyond that, hopefully someone with a little more knowledge than me can chime in.  This has been asked before, so see what the search function turns up.

[DrTowner]

Thanks for the info.  I dont know whats up but earlier when I tried to search, no matter what i put in the search box, it says no results and now it says server too busy. But anyways....

So the reason I'm swapping frames is I cant get a title for mine.  The plan is to swap the motor, tank, wheels front end and the rear sets im using.  I know there are some F vs K differences, I was wondering if the frame it self was different.  Thanks again

[Mooshie]

My CB550 F had frame damage (didn't know it when I purchased it) but had to obviously get a new frame.  The shop switched the F frame for a K frame.  The motor switch was fine no issue (I am running the F motor).  I think the seat pan was different on the switch (can't substitute a F seat for a K seat) but otherwise no issues.  As RF said above others will chime in who know better.

[DrTowner]

Thanks Mooshie, thats good to know.  The seat wont be an issue, Im using a RocCity seat.

[RFogelsong]

Oh, the sidestand is another thing that's different.  As for the search function, use the "google custom search" at the left of the page under the "show unread posts" and "show new replies" banners.  The other one has been broken for a while now.

[seanbarney41]

....right side footpeg/brake pedal/kickstart don't interchange between frames, so if you have a k frame, you must use the k r. footpeg, brake pedal, and kickstart lever...if you are running rearsets, it doesn't matter.  The seat and tank frame mounts are identical between the f and k, but the f's tank is longer and the seat shorter than the k's, so if you use an f tank, you must use an f seat, if you use a k tank, you must use a k seat.  Also the sidecover tabs on the left side are different, but there are different options you can use.  F frame can use f specific sidecovers or 77-78 k sidecovers but the 74-76 k sidecover will not fit the tabs.  74-76 k frame must use 74-76 k sidecovers...I don't know about 77-78 k frames in regards to using f sidecovers.  F bike also uses a slightly different swingarm...but it swaps into k frames.  Just be sure and keep axel spacers and axel adjusters together with their associated swingarm...also k model 4 into 4 exhaust will not mount to the f passenger footpeg mount, the passenger footpeg mounts are different  and '76 k gauge cluster is different from '76 f and later bikes...here are some comparison pics of the different axel adjusters, wheel spacers, and right side foot controls