Author Topic: 1977 CB550F IDK (first build) (Read 177582 times)

minimo · « **Reply #700 on:** March 15, 2016, 07:40:51 AM »

Before and after.
A light diet plan and she now runs in full beast mode

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #701 on:** March 15, 2016, 09:38:53 AM »

I have some custom ear plugs that I had made at IMS (where they squirt the material into your ear and let it harden). I sometimes wear earbuds, too.

I am interested in the new SENA helmet (estimated to be released this year) which has noise-cancellation technology (like Bose headphones) and Bluetooth -- all installed in the helmet. Hopefully the fit and quality will be decent, the windnoise will not be high (like my Bell) and it will not be ungodly expensive.

minimo · « **Reply #702 on:** March 20, 2016, 06:17:48 PM »

Ouch. What a thing to see/read before a ride out on a Sunday. Thanks for looking out, calj. I will keep it in gear, which I have been since your last warning. I realize I need to condition my grip a bit. Something like this might work:

CB750, I like the idea of custom ear plugs. I will look into an audiologist and see what it takes/costs to get a mold of my ear holes and imbed some earbuds (to listen to navigation directions). Keep us posted on the Sena helmet :-)

I need a cool motorcycle jacket. I want a Schott and waiting on some sweet deals...

minimo · « **Reply #703 on:** March 20, 2016, 07:47:23 PM »

This jacket is pretty sweet lookin':

Icon 1000 Retrograde Jacket
via bikeexif

Quote

By now, every major gear manufacturer has at least a few retro items in their range. But Icon 1000 does it a little differently.

The $650 Retrograde jacket is a prime example. It has enough throwback styling to keep it relevant, with all the burliness we’ve come to expect from the Portlandian brand. The 1.1-1.3mm leather chassis features what Icon call an “attack fit”—so it’s articulated for comfort when riding. Perforated sections are a clear indication that spring’s in the air, but there’s a removable thermal vest too.

Neat little touches abound—like YKK zips, alloy shoulder sliders and accordion panels in all the right places. It ships with a full complement of D30 armour, and it’s available in brown and black (our pick). Buy

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #704 on:** March 20, 2016, 08:57:05 PM »

I own a couple of RSD, Vanson, Schott and Icon jackets. My go-to jacket of late has been my RSD Ronin with armor.

The nice thing about the ICON and ICON 1000 gear is that most if not all of it has built in armor. The downside is that most if it is very modern looking.

minimo · « **Reply #705 on:** March 21, 2016, 08:28:39 AM »

Form follows function. Copy that.

It could also be that the clothes I've been wearing add to the noise factor. Loud flapping and pull-strings tapping the sides can all be heard from under my helmet. Maybe a better jacket will aid in lowering the noise. A better helmet will be nice too, for sure.

Thank you guys for your great input!

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #706 on:** March 21, 2016, 08:34:28 AM »

It's probably a combination of both. A good fitting jacket will not have much extra fabric/leather to flap around. The fit should be close but should not limit movement.

Some helmets just fit better than others, and some helmets are inherently noisy. That said, it's not a bad idea to ride with some ear protection. You can try using some cheap $0.10 ear plugs that you can buy at Home Depot. They will take the edge off of the wind noise but not block out important sounds like your motor and emergency sirens, etc.

If you are still a novice or just riding in traffic, it would be good to skip any music until you have some seat time under your belt.

minimo · « **Reply #707 on:** March 22, 2016, 08:57:08 PM »

Saying goodbye to this empty bin that was once overflowing with parts.

Btw, nothing stands between me and my playlists

minimo · « **Reply #708 on:** March 30, 2016, 12:03:55 PM »

Was at Fry's Electronics and couldn't find a connector to mate with my Emgo ignition switch. It doesn't match up to my OEM Honda connector so was thinking about finding a good male/female connector combo.

I suppose I can connect the wires via spades/bullets but thought that was kinda cheeseball. Any recommends?

minimo · « **Reply #709 on:** March 30, 2016, 12:10:45 PM »

Thanks, calj! That's a record time fast response!

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #710 on:** March 30, 2016, 10:32:14 PM »

Cal is the electrical Answer Man!

minimo · « **Reply #711 on:** April 09, 2016, 09:28:39 PM »

Is this smoke indicative of leaky valve(s)?

This is after about an hour ride. Is this normal? The exhaustion the muffler might also be on the excessive side because after every ride I always come off smelling like I been smoking and sucking on a bunch of exhausts for dessert.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #712 on:** April 10, 2016, 08:01:09 AM »

If the motor had been running for an hour, it should definitely be up to operating temperature. The "smoke" is coming from the breather hose? And not from the exhaust.

strynboen · « **Reply #713 on:** April 10, 2016, 08:11:51 AM »

it can be fuel vaupering from the oil.
.if your karb is leaking a bit..it fills a bit fuel dovn in the oil..and it boils at normal oil temperature.
..mine 400 does the same.

.i have thanged to a better cylender /piston set..but the old one can easy run for years...have faund a mikro small scratch in one sleeve..make the piston rings not komplet seal..

just Mount a cola can,,,and Mount the breater dovn..and put some steelvoll or nylon voll to take the oil damp ..

minimo · « **Reply #714 on:** April 10, 2016, 09:15:05 AM »

That vid was taken after an hour of riding up to 75 mph (on a gentle grade upward) and stop/go city riding - engine didn't cut out once amid this journey. The condensation you speak of, calj should have burned off by then, right? I stuck the old breather hose that's supposed to route to the airbox on there, because without it, it can get quite smokey under my helmet. I'm thinking to lengthen the hose and snake it around toward the rear so the breather smoke exhausts out there and not right under me. Strynboen, I like the cola can idea

I notice there is smoke coming from my carbs (dissipating out of the pod filter), which is indicative of some kind of fuel leak, right? I notice it more in #4 (rider left side) than from the others... I also find it easier to see the smoke at night than during daylight... What could the smokey carb mean?
I also need to tighten up the muffler downsize adapter because I can feel a tiny sputtering coming off where that attaches - could be where some of the exhaust smoke is escaping instead of out the muffler; I do feel exhaust coming out of the muffler too, of course.

minimo · « **Reply #715 on:** April 10, 2016, 12:05:31 PM »

I meant #4. Slap on my wrist.

minimo · « **Reply #716 on:** April 10, 2016, 03:36:45 PM »

I mean #1 = rider's left. Sorry, mentally challenged and slightly dyslexic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #717 on:** April 11, 2016, 03:30:44 PM »

My son and I purchased a 1977 CB550F March 2014, we still have a few mods to make, we currently have a stock exhaust with a severely chopped stock muffler and UNI foam filters attached is a spread sheet of our various carb settings which you may find helpful

minimo · « **Reply #718 on:** April 12, 2016, 12:43:25 AM »

My first flat...

Was out on a celebratory ride to blow off steam after completing my tax filing. Everything was going great until suddenly it felt like I was running out of gas on an uphill (eastbound 134 fwy, after Harvey exit) and the bike started puttering out, so I pulled over safely to check what was going on. Put the petcock on reserve and kicked like mad. Nothing. Fiddled with the petcock some more and nothing was working and I was kicking like crazy and getting a good workout in the dark - cars and semis whizzing by me at high speed. Battery started running low, almost down to 10.9v and I felt helpless, took a deep breath, gathered my wits and started examining deeper. I then noticed that my fuel line to the petcock was bottoming out at the base of the insert - this had been a problem before where I think the inside of the fuel line was cutting off the flow of fuel to the carbs. I pulled the hose back off the nipple slightly to allow some clearance so it wouldn't kink and voila! A couple of kicks and she started right up. Next effort was to ride to the nearest gas station to fill up.
I'm nearing the gas station and that's when my back end starts fishtailing and I immediately feared that my wheel was gonna pop off but I looked down and oh wow, it's a flat! Luckily, I rolled the bike into the gas station and planted her next to the air pump and examined and lo and behold a nail plugged right in the center between some tread on the rear. Ugh. I imagine the puncture happened when I pulled off the fwy shoulder where a lot of debris can be found. I was lucky to make it about two miles to the nearest gas station; on a flat.
The gas station mini-mart had some of that tire foam seal in a can so I gave that a shot but it appeared that my tire tube was far gone and the stuff oozed out between the tire and the rim. Luckily I have AAA motorcycle assistance and had a tow truck come out - not a flat bed, btw. The driver came and looked confused and asked, "You called?" I said, "Yep! And this ain't no Civic." He said that his report said "Honda" and no other distinction so he assumed it was a car and not a motorcycle.
He said he'd try something he'd seen some others do before and lowered the rear tow fork and told me to ride the bike up the narrow bar so that he could strap the front tire into the tow arm cavity... I know he had never done this before but I just wanted to get the hell outta there and back home.
Here's me riding up the rear. He joked that it would be a good photo opportunity so I took him up for it: