Author Topic: 1977 CB550F IDK (first build) (Read 176659 times)

minimo · « **Reply #800 on:** July 16, 2016, 10:55:19 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions and starting ignition w/out key.

Meanwhile, it's no surprise that I'm having waaay too many battery issues. I'm sorta convinced that this Shorai LiFePo is giving me more grief than it should. I mean, it should be simple plug and ride - which it does for a while but... My bike ran out of juice today while I was running idle in town. I guess my charge was below the nominal 12.3V or whatever it is and it simply crapped out in front of a lineup of #$%* cars - couldn't even kick the bike it over it was dead. So I had to pull over and wait around to get my battery jumped; the experience of stalling is hardly ever any fun.

I'm thinking about getting a regular bike battery now but that would be so uncool especially it's mondo size. As a temp workaround instead I was thinkin to maybe try to run a 3-pole switch that's able to withstand the amps (a kind of kill switch) so that I can kill the headlight/gauge/signals and all other peripherals to get the bike at least kick started - enough to turn the engine over and charge my system. Does this kind of setup sound familiar or doable?

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #801 on:** July 17, 2016, 09:57:12 AM »

Yes, if the Shorai (or any other lithium) discharges to a certain level 3-4 volts, it's NEVER coming back.

minimo · « **Reply #802 on:** August 12, 2016, 10:35:22 PM »

So I've been getting some extra slack in my chain lately and upon investigating found that the drive sprocket is stamped "750". It is a 17T but is this correct/compatible with my 550? With this sprocket attached to the countershaft, i notice there is a little play when I turn it back and forth. Think it might mean replacement? Here's a vid:

Another thing to note since it's been a while here is that I've got a 16" Harley rear on this 550. Stock is 18". I have Dunlop D404, 130/90-16 M/C 67H fitted on.

What could be causing my chain to slacken when I have the adjusters locked and axle but torqued down to spec?

strynboen · « **Reply #803 on:** August 13, 2016, 06:02:46 AM »

the spokes must fit your type thain...nott type of bike bike..there is 2 types vho can be used on 550

minimo · « **Reply #804 on:** August 13, 2016, 07:21:36 AM »

The chain is a 100 Link 530, but I see what you mean about it having to be a good fit on the teeth of the sprockets and not just the bike... Perhaps I have a mismatch of chain & sprocket(s)?

strynboen · « **Reply #805 on:** August 13, 2016, 07:53:21 AM »

try a new front/rear... sprocket..often seen some be aut of center..it give strong forces vho can loosen all up..have you turnet the hveel slovly..and thekket for the chain go Loose /teight at you turn.. it there is..then there is serius problems..the chain must be the same height..teightnes,,, turning the vheel more rotations..and thek many times..

minimo · « **Reply #806 on:** August 13, 2016, 12:01:06 PM »

Thanks, strynboen.
The chain does seem to tighten upon turning slowly. It's only upon riding and when there's a load that it slackens over even a short ride.

minimo · « **Reply #807 on:** August 14, 2016, 11:56:09 AM »

Made it safely on a 20 mile commute... Well, one stall on Harbor 110S from the 5 South interchange; on the uphill. For those who can imagine the bullets I was sweatin...
Anyway, caught a glimpse of the morning glow on my baby...

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #808 on:** August 14, 2016, 09:09:33 PM »

Quote from: minimo on August 14, 2016, 11:56:09 AM

Made it safely on a 20 mile commute... Well, one stall on Harbor 110S from the 5 South interchange; on the uphill. For those who can imagine the bullets I was sweatin...
Anyway, caught a glimpse of the morning glow on my baby...

I once had my electrical take a dump on my on the 405N about 1/2 a mile from Brookhurst at 9:30 pm. Pitch black and had to limp across 6 lanes of cars barrelling at 75 plus. No fun!! I know that sweating feeling. No bueno!!

minimo · « **Reply #809 on:** August 15, 2016, 07:45:12 AM »

Yikes! I think you got me beat, CB750. Mine was just a low gas stall on a narrow two-lane. I had to run it up the hill partially so I could merge over to the sliver of shoulder space to lean the bike and get some more reserve gas to fill up the petcock. I was kicking like mad to start the thing and she finally turned over.
But yeah, not fun stalling on the freeway.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #810 on:** August 15, 2016, 09:46:25 AM »

Yeah, I did not like that one bit. I felt like I was threading a needle looking over my shoulder.

minimo · « **Reply #811 on:** August 15, 2016, 01:02:57 PM »

Btw, I put a shim washer behind the drive chain front sprocket to see if that would tighten the slop a bit and so far, even after now some 50 miles of travel, I've not noticed the chain to slacken. I will continue to check though to make sure.

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minimo · « **Reply #812 on:** September 26, 2016, 12:37:44 AM »

So, this could happen...

Sooner or later, since I've relied mainly on kickstarts for the last several months of semi-consistent yet sweet riding on my 550, something like this was bound to happen. An attempt to kickstart this AM resulted in a "kerplunk-kachink" and all of a sudden there was no resistance on the kick down nor any ratcheting on the recoil. My guess was that the snap ring which had been reused had worked itself off of the groove and all the gears on that assembly came undone, and sure enough that's what it was.

As a desperate measure, yet maybe even a practical and preventative one was to attach a stainless hose clamp on the space of the shaft between the ratchet guide plate like so:

So now, even if that snap ring and washer on the end of the kickstart assembly were to fall off, the ratchet guide should still hold its place and kickstarts should still be possible.

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minimo · « **Reply #813 on:** October 08, 2016, 06:28:51 PM »

No going back. Well, maybe a little bit with some Bondo.

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minimo · « **Reply #814 on:** February 18, 2017, 12:09:41 PM »

So, there's been some slack in my chain (resulting in a weird repetitive crunch sound while riding). Shot bearing, perhaps? I think the sound is coming from my chain.

In any case, anyone else have luck riding around on a 16" rear with stock sprockets? Is there a trick to lining up the rear wheel to mitigate uneven wear on the chain? The tick mark notches on the swing arm don't seem to be too reliable.

Cognito Moto manufactures a set of offset drive and rear wheel sprockets (and spacers) meant for wider rear tires... I'm wondering if anyone else on here uses them? I'm not sure what combination is right for my setup. Help?

Rear offset spacer
https://cognitomoto.com/collections/cognito-moto-originals/products/3-8-9-5mm-rear-offset-sprocket-spacer-for-cb550

Rear offset sprocket and spacer
https://cognitomoto.com/collections/cognito-moto-originals/products/copy-of-3-8-9-5mm-rear-offset-sprocket-spacer-for-cb550

Offset sprocket
https://cognitomoto.com/collections/cognito-moto-originals/products/17-tooth-3-8-9-5mm-offset-sprocket-for-cb750-cb550-cb500t

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minimo · « **Reply #815 on:** February 18, 2017, 03:07:13 PM »

Here's the front sprocket:

The chain is a 100 Link 530.

Can't confirm on the rear wheel sprocket at the moment but here's a shot of it from afar; the best that I can give you for now while I'm out of town:

Thanks, calj!

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minimo · « **Reply #816 on:** February 18, 2017, 03:16:33 PM »

I'm pretty sure the rear wheel was just a donor rim with stock hub... again, will confirm with stamp on rear sprocket when I get the chance. Thanks!

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minimo · « **Reply #817 on:** February 19, 2017, 04:51:58 PM »

Figure I'll work with a clean slate since I was using the donor sprockets anyway. So basically, I will be installing the following:

Black Sunstar Front Sprocket - 17T
Silver Rear Sunstar Sprocket - 37T
Dark Grey D.I.D 530 Standard Chain - 100L

Hoping this will solve the repetitive crunch sound issues and a much smoother ride.

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minimo · « **Reply #818 on:** February 27, 2017, 08:08:18 PM »

So, I installed the following:

Front sprocket: 17T
Rear sprocket: 37T
Chain: DID 50 (530)-100L

Oh, and my rear sprocket was indeed a Sunstar 37 toother that still appears to be in decent condition - flat plateau at the peaks and no big offset nor wear in the valleys nor the sides.

Decided to change it all out and start from scratch anyway. This Harley 16" rear must be slightly wider (w/ 5.5" wide tire) than stock and I try my best at lining up the chain adjusters with the notches to match on both sides of the swingarm. This is the challenging part of it all to adjust the chain evenly but also to keep the sidewall of the tire to hit the brake stay at the same time... I'm very tempted to fabricate a brake stay and put a slight bend at the point which it would make contact with the tire.
Any ideas?

So when I feel like I get it all right, while I've got the rear end up, I'll spin the wheel in the forward direction and upon glancing at the bike from the left side, I notice a slight up and down sort of oscillation going on as the wheel spins. Shouldn't the chain move evenly or is this wavey movement from the 3/4" slack that I leave on the chain (and while the rear is lifted and not on load)? Maybe I could upload a video to better exemplify?

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minimo · « **Reply #819 on:** February 28, 2017, 12:34:27 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on February 28, 2017, 04:26:12 AM

What dimension tire are you running? (Curious) Is the 3/4" slack to be when loaded or unloaded per your manual?

Will confirm on the actual tire size later - they are Dunlop D404.

Per the manual:

"Normal chain slack is 10~20mm (3/8~3/4") with a slight force."
Didn't specify whether with/without load...

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754 · « **Reply #820 on:** February 28, 2017, 04:15:52 PM »

Show the backside of rear sprocket and I can tell if it was running out of line.

minimo · « **Reply #821 on:** February 28, 2017, 06:22:18 PM »

My rear tire on the 16" wheel:

Dunlop D404
130/90-16 M/C 67H

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minimo · « **Reply #822 on:** March 01, 2017, 11:32:53 AM »

Thanks, calj.
I'll work on getting the back view photo for you, 754.

The only issue I see with my chain adjustment, before I go completely nuts thinking it's something else (which it very well could be), is how the side wall of the tire rubs against the brake stay. A quick fix would be to pound out a bit of clearance but I want to make sure it's an issue with the alignment or something else before I would do that.

Here's a picture of how the alignments look from the rear as I have both left/right side notches corresponding on the same tick marks - on the 2nd marks:

LEFT SIDE - note* I had to rescribe this notch because it became faint after a powder coat.

RIGHT SIDE

Shot from the rear with both left/right notches on correponding 2nd tick marks

Here's a shot of the side wall of the tire rubbing against the brake stay in this position

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754 · « **Reply #823 on:** March 01, 2017, 11:56:48 PM »

Take an a angle grinder to edge of tire, or shim brake arm out.

minimo · « **Reply #824 on:** March 02, 2017, 02:23:42 PM »

Quote from: 754 on March 01, 2017, 11:56:48 PM

Take an a angle grinder to edge of tire, or shim brake arm out.

I'm not sure about taking a grinder to my side wall but I do like the shim idea...
I just hope it doesn't come to close to contacting the swing arm.
I'll give it a shot.

Thanks, 754.

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Author Topic: 1977 CB550F IDK (first build) (Read 176659 times)