Topic: can someone tell me if these are CB550 wheels?

[jason41987]

ive decided to go back to spoke wheels on my bike... and im not sure if these spoke wheels are original to the CB550 or not... i was wondering if anyone can tell be looking at them if these are CB550 wheels/rims or not?

the first one isnt completely clear in the photo.. but it is the front wheel that came on the bike (keep in mind, i know the alloy is from a CB650, and im looking to revert back to spokes

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8139366630_9474e36d1a_h.jpg

the rest are extras that came with this bike... tell me if they look like they belong with the bike, and whether or not they look rebuildable

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8139338383_c68ebabe22_h.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8139372518_061555fd14_h.jpg

my third spoked wheel is behind the one in the second photo, but i dont have a clear photo of it

[dave500]

the spoked wheels are correct,the early 550 had the same rear hub as 500,the ribs on them are the same size,the later 550 hub has one odd smaller rib and the brake plates have a different profile with ribs not smooth and dont interchange,the shoes are the same,either wheel will fit each bike with the correct spacers,the fronts are the same on both bikes,,that rear you show has a 37 tooth sprocket,the 34 is the same size as the dust cover,heres a later 550 set up.


and heres the 500 set up.

[jason41987]

so the 37-tooth is the normal wheel for that bike?.. youre speaking of the one with the dirt tires on it, right?... does that also look like it would be the most salvagable and rebuildable from those photos?

if so ill probably just slice that rear tire off with a box cutter (its too dried out to be worth my time to try to sell it).. and then get a new set of spokes and wheel bearings and rebuild it, and use that rear wheel instead

[dave500]

yeah that dirt tire one looks good,,i just clicked the enlarged photo and it might even be bigger than a 37?the one with no tire looks to be 37?stock 550 is 17x37,stock 500 is 17x34(they have a different internal primary reduction),the rims look solid,do a deal and take both wheels man!try and get the axles and spacers and stuff aswell for the price,you cant have too much of this old #$%*!

[bryanj]

Check the brake drums on the rears as the 500/550 have a nasty habbit of cracking away from the alloy hub

[dave500]

yep!what bryanj said,just get them both for the right price,,wont be long all this stuff is fifty years old!ive never seen one crack though,,but i bet they have done.

[jason41987]

oh, those are already my wheels, when i bought the bike for $300, those extra wheels and an extra engine came with it... title too

what do you mean by 37 though?.. tooth count, diameter?.... what measurements should i look at to be sure its what should be on this bike?...

also, if anyone could recommend a source for spokes for the front and rear wheels, as well as wheel bearings, and brake components ill need to rebuild both the front and rear ends, thatlll be great... also looking for some good all weather tires to put on it

because im taking the rear end off including the swingarm, the front ends coming off with the forks and handlebars that way i can rebuild each end as a group to keep the rebuild process of this bike pretty organized

[dave500]

37 is the tooth count.

[jason41987]

well, I could use the sprocket from another wheel, use the rim and hub from that one

[bryanj]

Spoke kits from dave silver