Author Topic: CB550 F1 Project South Africa - New to bikes (First Project)  (Read 1215 times)

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Offline TimD550

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CB550 F1 Project South Africa - New to bikes (First Project)
« on: January 17, 2013, 09:45:28 PM »
Hi All,

As you've gathered from the title I am restoring a CB550 F1 and I am new to bikes.

I am from Johannesburg in South Africa and have been looking for a bike for months with no luck! The CB550's are pretty rare down here. Luckily I picked a bike up really cheap which was running just needs some love!

The bike had some really bad sun damage and the tank was rusted to all hell. I've had the tank acid dipped to get rid of all the muck on it and cleaned the carbs out. I've just fitted some clubmans to the bike and I am in the process of sorting the controls out so I don't need to run the cables through the bars. I don't really have much space to work on the bike but I make do with what I have.

The carbs weren't in great shape but I managed to clean them out. I can't really find somewhere to get a carb kit down here but I plan on picking one up for each carb when I'm in Europe next month.

As I am new to bikes I have some questions.

1. The bike came with the original airbox, albeit missing some parts like the rubber bits to connect it to the carb. I found the parts online and will pick them up on my travels. The question I have is how are all the breather tubes etc linked up? The whole set up was off the bike when I bought it.

2. I have seen some bikes with tubes running from the top of the float bowl side of the carbs, so the bottom of the carb when its on the bike, what is the purpose and is it necessary to roll this way?

3. How to all the tubes on the carb link up? I know the left most carb has the fuel line feeding directly into it but the remaining 3 tubes need to go somewhere but I'm not entirely sure where. I know they need to pull fuel through but some guidance on the matter will be appreciated.

I'll be probing the expert knowledge on this forum quite a bit so please swing advise my way!

I have attached a picture of the bike, which I hope works. The picture is of the bike right after I bought it when I took the carb out. I will post updated pictures as I go along.

1977 CB550 F

Offline Viktor.J

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Re: CB550 F1 Project South Africa - New to bikes (First Project)
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2013, 08:17:33 AM »
Hi and welcome to the Forum !

I can't answer your questions, or lets say that I'm not the right one to answer since there are many carb-experts around here !

But besides carbs and obvious tank paint. Whate are you planing to do with the bike ?

// Viktor
Please ! Take a look and give me feedback in my project thread, its much needed :)
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=112745.0

Honda CB750 K2

Offline TimD550

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Re: CB550 F1 Project South Africa - New to bikes (First Project)
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2013, 10:18:16 PM »
I am planning to clean the bike up and get it running properly first and foremost!

I really like the way the bikes look in their original form except for one or two things.

The bars are a little too high for my liking so I plan to install some clubman bars. I have had a look at running the controls through the bars but it looks like more effort than its worth.

The tail light on the bike a massive and I've debated keeping it but decided I'm going to change it for something that is a little more sleek.

I need to get the covers remoulded and the seat recovered.

I have attached a picture of what I have in mind for the finished product. I really like how clean, yet original, this bike looks. This is a 550 Four K so it has the 4 into 4 exhaust whereas I have a 550 F so I have a 4 into 1 exhaust
1977 CB550 F