Author Topic: 1974 cb550; Fixin' this baby up! (Read 29436 times)

Jimsun · « **Reply #100 on:** September 04, 2014, 07:28:51 PM »

Those doesnt look like stock sissy bars or are they?

dmonday · « **Reply #101 on:** September 10, 2014, 01:27:39 PM »

Quote from: Bootsey on September 02, 2014, 11:01:40 PM

Hey, great build, looks fantastic.
Quick question about setting up the TrailTech gauge. Much to sort out with it? What ignition system are you running? Any other mods that had to be done to accommodate it?

TrailTech gauge was simple to install, very, very easy. Stock ignition still. I'll be going to electronic conversion probably over the winter though.

dmonday · « **Reply #102 on:** September 10, 2014, 01:29:11 PM »

Quote from: Jimsun on September 04, 2014, 07:28:51 PM

Those doesnt look like stock sissy bars or are they?

If you're referring to the bar that the tail light is mounted to you are correct. It's off of a cb350f.

Bootsey · « **Reply #103 on:** September 10, 2014, 04:41:05 PM »

Quote from: dmonday on September 10, 2014, 01:27:39 PM

Quote from: Bootsey on September 02, 2014, 11:01:40 PM
Hey, great build, looks fantastic.
Quick question about setting up the TrailTech gauge. Much to sort out with it? What ignition system are you running? Any other mods that had to be done to accommodate it?

TrailTech gauge was simple to install, very, very easy. Stock ignition still. I'll be going to electronic conversion probably over the winter though.

Awesome, cheers for the info. You wouldn't happen to recall which model number of the TrailTech you used? Just that the guys at TrailTech gave me a specific gauge model, and actually said that the tach won't work with points ignition at all....

calj737 · « **Reply #104 on:** September 10, 2014, 06:10:26 PM »

Don't most electronic tachs feed from the coils, and not the points?

Bootsey · « **Reply #105 on:** September 10, 2014, 06:43:33 PM »

Yes, from the few that I've seen, usually there is a wire that either wraps around the plug lead, or attaches to the plug itself.

I wrote to the Tech Support at TrailTech, and he suggested that a points system will not allow the tach to function correctly. My only thoughts were it might be due to the quality or type of electrical signal picked up by the tach lead, that might differ from points to electronic ignition, but I lack the experience here to really know.

calj737 · « **Reply #106 on:** September 10, 2014, 06:54:38 PM »

Mine taps into the blue wire from #1 coil. While I do use a Dyna S, I know for fact that the same gauge is being used by a friend who runs stock points and stock coils.

I wouldn't use the plug lead, but I would tap the ignition lead at the coil...

dmonday · « **Reply #107 on:** September 11, 2014, 07:34:43 AM »

Mine is wrapped around one of the spark plug wires, but I would not say it's accurate. I'll try the blue wire too when I get the chance. I'll have to see if I can get you the model number. I really hate that it doesn't have a trip odometer. $:-\$

calj737 · « **Reply #108 on:** September 11, 2014, 07:37:14 AM »

You might also check out Speehut.com. Lots of options for multi-function gauges. Or MotoGadget if you're feeling luxurious

Bootsey · « **Reply #109 on:** September 11, 2014, 03:29:46 PM »

Quote from: dmonday on September 11, 2014, 07:34:43 AM

Mine is wrapped around one of the spark plug wires, but I would not say it's accurate. I'll try the blue wire too when I get the chance. I'll have to see if I can get you the model number. I really hate that it doesn't have a trip odometer. $:-\$

Thanks for the info, appreciate it. Don't stress too much about the model number, I think they are all the same apart from the mounting adaptations.
Is the tach slow to respond, or just not particularly accurate?
Is the DIST mode not a trip odometer?

dmonday · « **Reply #110 on:** September 18, 2014, 07:25:03 AM »

Quote from: Bootsey on September 11, 2014, 03:29:46 PM

Quote from: dmonday on September 11, 2014, 07:34:43 AM
Mine is wrapped around one of the spark plug wires, but I would not say it's accurate. I'll try the blue wire too when I get the chance. I'll have to see if I can get you the model number. I really hate that it doesn't have a trip odometer. $:-\$

Thanks for the info, appreciate it. Don't stress too much about the model number, I think they are all the same apart from the mounting adaptations.
Is the tach slow to respond, or just not particularly accurate?
Is the DIST mode not a trip odometer?

RPM just jumps all over the place. Pretty much like any digital tach I've ever seen. I take back the comment about the trip odometer. I found out it does have one separate from the odometer that keeps track of overall mileage.

spdygnzlz · « **Reply #111 on:** September 19, 2014, 10:51:57 PM »

I have an Acewell on my bike. The tach sensor cable is connected to one of the coils and is really jumpy as you say. I've read somewhere that adding a resistor or something like that (I don't know my way around electronic parts), should calm it down. It's on my list of things to do for sure...

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #112 on:** September 22, 2014, 11:14:30 AM »

I have an Acewell digital tach on my 750. It's not overly jumpy, but the space increments on the gauge are so small (visually) that I really just go off of sound. The Dyna 2000 is nice in that it does have a rev limited built in to safeguard the engine from over-revving.

dmonday · « **Reply #113 on:** October 10, 2014, 07:28:42 AM »

I bought one of these LED flashers so my flasher's would work correctly and stop the rapid flash thing they did.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004O1YTLW/ref=s9_simh_se_p263_d0_i5?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=search-desktop-advertising-no-results-center-1&pf_rd_r=18X62DF1RAG1652YD8CT&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1912906162&pf_rd_i=522%20LED%20flasher

It works great!

dmonday · « **Reply #114 on:** June 03, 2015, 12:38:04 PM »

Got my tank and side covers repainted the original color. Had the black/gold/white painted on instead of decals.

calj737 · « **Reply #115 on:** June 03, 2015, 12:54:52 PM »

gorgeous looking bike!

joeyvans · « **Reply #116 on:** June 03, 2015, 01:21:34 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on June 03, 2015, 12:54:52 PM

gorgeous looking bike!

Agreed! Great stuff on this thread. Tasteful mods, and I'm considering something similar with my rear fender/tail light area. Maybe purchase one of Ben Oleson's fender eliminators. Back in March when I contacted him, he said he would make more if he was out.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201265211137?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #117 on:** June 03, 2015, 01:55:13 PM »

Quote from: dmonday on June 03, 2015, 12:38:04 PM

Got my tank and side covers repainted the original color. Had the black/gold/white painted on instead of decals.

Very nice! Tasteful, tasteful bike. The paint really brought it up a level.

joeyvans · « **Reply #118 on:** June 03, 2015, 02:54:07 PM »

May I ask.... What length of rear progressives did you go with? Looks like some good height.

calj737 · « **Reply #119 on:** June 03, 2015, 05:36:30 PM »

Your bike has been nominated for Bike of the Month. Please wander over here to accept or decline your nomination: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,148308.0.html

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #120 on:** June 03, 2015, 10:03:15 PM »

Did you end up upgrading from points to electronic ignition this last winter?

dmonday · « **Reply #121 on:** June 04, 2015, 07:28:22 AM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on June 03, 2015, 10:03:15 PM

Did you end up upgrading from points to electronic ignition this last winter?

I did. It's incredible how much it smoothed out the bike. I also put in a new clutch/clutch springs. I was lucky that I bought an extra 550 engine b/c the original clutch basket is apparently the "early" version. The tangs didn't have the cut outs for the last clutch disk. I used some parts from the original basket and some from the extra engine to put together one that would work.

dmonday · « **Reply #122 on:** June 04, 2015, 07:29:09 AM »

Quote from: joeyvans on June 03, 2015, 02:54:07 PM

May I ask.... What length of rear progressives did you go with? Looks like some good height.

I'll have to check. I can't quite remember.

dmonday · « **Reply #123 on:** June 04, 2015, 07:31:21 AM »

The day I bought it compared to current.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #124 on:** June 04, 2015, 07:35:12 AM »

Quote from: dmonday on June 04, 2015, 07:28:22 AM

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on June 03, 2015, 10:03:15 PM
Did you end up upgrading from points to electronic ignition this last winter?

I did. It's incredible how much it smoothed out the bike. I also put in a new clutch/clutch springs. I was lucky that I bought an extra 550 engine b/c the original clutch basket is apparently the "early" version. The tangs didn't have the cut outs for the last clutch disk. I used some parts from the original basket and some from the extra engine to put together one that would work.

I found the same to be true when I swapped out the points and got new coils.

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Author Topic: 1974 cb550; Fixin' this baby up! (Read 29436 times)