Topic: 1977 CB550F IDK (first build)

[minimo]

View from the back of the bus

[minimo]

A partial mock-up of the drag bars. Stock MC with Slingshot Cycles SS braided steel front brake hoses (with even a Speed Bleeder to boot, in the caliper that is).

Fingers are crossed that the battery mount is going to work. So far so good (gulp)

I think we're finally getting somewhere. Check out the 16" Harley rear. The guys at Johnson & Wood (NoHo) told me that was a common mod back in the day to save gas. I wasn't sure I'd like the look when first heard that but now I'm kinda liking it


I ordered a pair of Biltwell Thruster grips (and I don't know why). I like the look/feel of the original grips so I may keep them on. I'm also going to swap out the clutch cables for a set of Motion Pros. The current stock setup is sticky; there might be a fray in the line, I bet.
What a night. Probably the most productive I've been in a single day amid the three years it's taken me to get to this stage. I feel like I've come far but there's still so much more to do and get into.
Next up is to get the chain on, maybe finish up the rear brake assembly if possible. It's almost 4am. What am I doing with my life?
This weekend is the long-awaited motorcycle training course. I'll be sure to rest up well to try to soak in every bit of info provided.

[calj737]

Glad you're making great progress! If I could make a suggestion:
Before you fill with oil. And while you have some open access, get your clutch cable installed, routed, and adjusted. It's much easier to do now in case you need to remove the cover to sort out any hiccups from the reassembly. Alignment of the actuator and pull arm is critical. Trust me, it can be Black Magic the first 30 times you do it. Gets much easier after though... 

[minimo]

Copy that, calj737. Thanks for the tips.
Good call. Like I said, I'll be swapping out the cables for some Motion Pros. I hope that the cable change will make for some fluid movement

[minimo]

The e-clip comes in a close second in terms of pain-in-the-assness to the darn valve keepers.
Be sure to have some deflectors around while you're putting the e-clip back on the underside of the kill switch knob or else pew-pew-ricochet off your forehead and rolls onto the drain.

[minimo]

Having a real oh hell moment right now.
Was the rear brake pivot shaft supposed to fit on BEFORE the swing arm installation on the '77 CB550F? Nowhere in my manuals does it state that (and some rear brake pivot shafts look different across some CB550 rebuilds I'm following, particularly SohRon's). Is it possible I can leave my swing arm on and just remove the wheel to lift up the swing arm to max clearance? Help!

Getting ready for my first day at motorcycle training class. I feel the same nervous excitement I felt as a child on my first day of school.

[minimo]

There's a tiny dot on the end of the pivot shaft and supposedly, according to SohRon (and nowhere in my manuals, might I add) it's to point up in the 12:00 position. The only feasible way I can fit the L of the pivot and to  position it easily is by removing the swing arm. Please tell me there's an alternative - I don't wanna risk marring my swing arm bushings

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Have fun with the class and acquire some good habits.

[minimo]

Thanks, CB750! Class is good so far. It was full. People of all ages, race, gender, and size. Tomorrow, we hit the school yard for riding. Woo hoo! An early start though so no more tooling around tonight.

Still scratching my head about the pivot shaft - I plan on removing the swing arm when I get a chance (maybe Sunday). I'm not crazy about this process but it must be done (unless there's some crazy way I have to configure the pivot shaft from the center stand area under the swing arm to make it fit and point the way it should).

[seanbarney41]

pretty sure your swing arm has to come off...not that bad, takes 15 minutes.

[minimo]

Thanks for chiming in, seanbarney41. So, no harm done to the swing arm pivot caps (not sure what they're called but the caps that cover the opening ends of the swing arm - the bushings). I guess I gotta be careful. Oh man, the thing is so filled with grease, and the good stuff too, Honda Moly 60. Oh well. Thanks!

[calj737]

You either have to remove the swing arm pivot bolt and rotate the pivot rod up and away, OR, pull the axle, unbolt the shocks and rotate the arm down and away. Which do you prefer?

You should not end up damaging anything by pulling the rod from the pivot tube. Maybe a bit messy on the far side is all. Just wipe the frame on the inside back down, and keep any dirt from collecting on the pivot bolt while its outside the tube.

A second set of hands is helpful and you can quickly pop in the brake arm.

[minimo]

Cool, calj737. Maybe I'll pull the axle, unbolt the shocks (already off), and rotate the arm down as you suggest. Thanks for the fast replies, guys. I hope to get to this today. Had a very early start today with my 2nd day of motorcycle class and I need a little nap. Oh, and not only do I now know how to turn on a motorcycle and shift and find the "friction zone", I also passed the classroom written test. Woo hoo! Motorcycle riding is so much fun too. I had no idea. Gives me a nice push to get this project finished sooner so I can ride!

[minimo]

What would I do without y'all??

I'm also proud to report that I think I'm getting good at this 'cos the swing arm went back on with a single blow, baby. Oh, what a feeling.

I ended up removing the wheel and the swing arm. That made sense after all. The pivot shaft is on correct now (I think? I hope). Even got the battery tray on there (before the swing arm went on, of course). Gonna clean up and give it a rest - motorcycle class begins early again tomorrow AM.

Thanks again, calj737 and everyone. You're all my saviors.
 

[calj737]

The class your taking now is from Total Control, yeah? Used to be run by Motorcycle Safety Foundation but I understand that California switched providers. My brother who lived in SoCal for the past 5 years was an instructor in both programs just before he moved back East. It was his opinion that TC was a far superior program for teaching riders. Lots more actual riding and lots less "joy sticking" of the students. I'm hopeful that program comes East because I'd like to send my sons and wife back thru to keep refreshing their skills, but since he lives with us, I'm sending them down to the local High School with cones and having him provide the instruction personally.  Got to make him earn his keep somehow.

Glad your swing arm brake pivot worked out without incident!

[minimo]

Makes sense to have your brother be put to work :-) Sounds like a good deal there.

The class I'm taking is via the Academy of Motorcycle Operation and it's simply called, "CHP Motorcyclist Training Course" and the actual riding portion was done at a nearby high school parking lot in Pasadena (John Muir High).

They do offer more advanced training: http://www.amosocal.com/Advanced-Courses.html which is maybe what your brother taught. It seemed that our instructors taught all levels.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Everyone needs an uncle that's into motorcycles!  At least that's what I tell my nephews!

[minimo]

Ha! I'm that uncle!
 

[minimo]

Oh, and btw, I PASSED the class!
I have to wait until the school sends me my certificate (CA DMV Form DL-389, Certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training, which waives the on-motorcycle test at the DMV) until I can go spend some quality time at the local DMV to take my written test. So in the meantime, I'll be studying for the test.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

No study really necessary.

[minimo]

No study really necessary.

That's what I hear. But I didn't know that you're supposed to "park at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees to the curb with the wheel or fender touching the curb" and that in group riding situations, beginning riders like me are to be brought up to the front, "behind the leader so the more experienced riders can watch them." More on group riding, when riding straight, it's in a staggered fashion but on curves, turns, or entering/exiting highway it's a single-file formation."
Much to learn...

[goldarrow]

Congratulations.  You're one step closer to your M1!

[minimo]

Thanks for the push and support, goldarrow!

[rtbmrgl]

Oh, and btw, I PASSED the class!

Good going on the class!!
I rode a two day enduro that I believed left from that high school. 1976-77, It was the Greenhorn Enduro 500mi two day ride. The bikes were suppose to be street legal, took the plate off my '74 CB750, bolted it on my 360 Frontera Bultaco.

[minimo]

Got an early start and accomplished a great deal today. Jeez, where did I leave off? So, yeah... Figured out that the rear brake pivot shaft on the '77 CB550F has two arms (which is different from previous year models, single-armed on 550K models if I'm not mistaken) and the best way to get it into the frame, for those of you who still have a chance to heed this advice, is to get the part in there BEFORE installing the swing arm. I wish I'd known, but it's all good. The rear brake as well as the rear brake light switch are installed and complete, as far as I know.

Here's a list of other things accomplished solely today:

More work on the front end...
- replaced the throttle handle and installed new push/pull cables (all Motion Pro)
- cleaned up right-hand switch START button and internals
- installed new front brake light switch (Slingshot Cycles)
- front brake caliper adjustments and brake bleeding (Speed Bleeder via Slingshot Cycles - what a cool little part)
- replaced clutch cable (Motion Pro) and fished the line and tensioned the nuts
- installed new chain (WPS brand), adjusted the slack to 3/4" and tightened down the rear

- finished installation of rear shocks and torqued them down to spec (approx. 25 ft-lb)
- installed the kickstand, rear brake, and foot rest pedals
- mounted new Dyna Coils (5.0 OHM - using stock mounting brackets. Intend to integrate Dyna Coils with stock points - hope it works)

- installed new Biltwell Thruster grips (a bit gummy but I'll give em a shot)

And that's where I'll stop today. I even had time to scour Pep Boys/O'Reilly's/hardware stores for ZINC ANTI-SEIZE. But no dice. All those places had generic Permatex anti-seize that's mostly aluminum-based and copper (which, according to SohRon's teachings is a big no-no). More on that here. Sucks 'cos I probably only need a spoonful of ZINC ANTI-SEIZE to slather onto all of my stainless steel engine cover bolts. Anyone out there in LA have some of the stuff? I'll buy you a pizza or whatever.

Anyway, I'm pretty stoked because the bike is actually kinda looking more like a bike now. After taking that riding class and getting a nice taste of what it feels like to ride (safely) I'm anxious to get this thing on the road.


Next up on the agenda (while I wait on some source for zinc anti-seize)... Electronicsssssssss