Topic: '75 CB550 rear wheel spacing question

[charlie27]

hi,

I have a '75 CB550.  I got it partially dissasembled from the previous owner.  It seems there is an issue with spacing as something is not quite right.  I have viewed fiche on parts and looked and 2 after market shop manuals to no avail.  The axle threads bottom out before full tightened and this requires the swing arm to be compressed to close the gap.  As I say not right. Photos show the gap.  I suspect the chain side spacer is not right.


help and suggestions appreciated

thanks, Charlie

[goldarrow]

Doesn't look like a 550 swingarm to me.  So you might have to make a spacer for it

I like the look and sound of that pipe 

[RAFster122s]

I think you have the wider spacer on the axle that goes on a K bike and are dealing with a F bike swingarm and axle...

[mickwinf]

I agree with Rafster the f type swing arm has closed ends like the pic, the k has open ends with a seperate removable part, also k3/k4 hubs are slightly different to earlier models, so you might have parts mixed up.

[SohRon]

+2 Wrong hub and spacers for the swingarm and, yes, the chain side spacer needs to go.

[charlie27]

thanks for the comments

Looks like I have a K1 frame and rear wheel with an F swing arm.  I did nto get that info fromt he previous owner.
 
I will need to figure out the spacing and proper spacer set up.  since a lot of the parts are not avaialbe I could not check to see if the brake side space is the same between the K and the F and then I just need to make the proper space for the chain side to get things sorted.

[SohRon]

Here's a shot of the CB550 spacers: '74-'76 "K" spacer on left, '75-on "F" spacer on right, with hub in inset ("K" models moved to this setup in '77).

[charlie27]

hmmm, I have the wider spacer of the K model and still have a approx quarter inch gap that looks like it needs to be spaced on the drive side.

[SohRon]

The "F" swingarm is @ 1/2" wider than the "K" model. S/b @ 10" between forks on the "F" arm, IIRC; the difference is made up by the wheel hub, so using the "K" hub and spacers will leave a corresponding gap. Check your measurement between fork ends on your arm. I'm starting to wonder if you might have the swingarm from a different model on the bike ('750?). Or maybe it's been damaged?

[charlie27]

yes, it looks like I have a K frame and K rear wheel with an F swing arm.  Not a 750 swing arm as that has ribbing on it for reinforcement.

not sure how that happened and when I looked at the fiche I thought there might have been a mid-year change.  I am getting spacers to space on both side to center the wheel. 

thanks for the help

[seanbarney41]

Charlie, I have a 76' 550k swingarm leftover from another project...if you would rather go that route, pm me...

[charlie27]

thanks, but the F swing arm is braced, powder coated and needle bearings so I am going to make it work.

[koendd]

So kind of an old topic but have a similar question.

Working on a 550 F but when removing the rear hub for powder found out that the inner metal ring for the brakes has cracked.

went to look at another wheel today but found it to be different on a K bike.

So it's just a question of spacers? no other things involved in this (like chain allignment etc...)

[RAFster122s]

Chain alignment can be partially changed by the spokes on the amount of "dish"/offset when you true it/build it. Are the hubs the same part number? I seem to remember that the later 550 ('77-78) used a different brake hub & backing plate and I think the F and K in '77-78 shared the same rear hub/swingarm/axle setup.



'74 550
Rear hub
  010   HUB, RR. WHEEL  42601-323-030 
Backing Plate   
       019  PANEL, RR. BRAKE  43100-374-000
Collar backing plate side
     008  COLLAR, RR.   42313-323-010


'76 550FBrake Panel
   003   PANEL, RR. BRAKE  43100-374-000
Hub 
    009   HUB, RR. WHEEL   42601-323-030
Backing Plate Collar
    002   COLLAR, RR. (backing plate panel side)  42313-390-000


'78 550K
Collar Brake Backing Panel Side
    001   COLR, RR. PANEL SIDE   42313-404-000
REAR BACKING PLATE    002   PANEL, RR. BRAKE  43100-393-781
    002   PANEL, RR. BRAKE  43100-393-781 (replaces 43100-405-000)   
    002   PANEL, RR. BRAKE  43100-393-781 (replaces 43100-405-010)
Rear hub
   007   HUB, RR. WHEEL   42601-404-000


South Sound Honda provided part numbers. Good place for parts too, often very much cheaper than other places, fwiw.

[jonda500]

I went through this while building my 550F from parts. It is just a question of spacers.

There are two types of swing arm, 'F' & 'K'.

There are two types of brake backing plate, earlier and later(ribbed) types, which are used on both 'F' and 'K' models

Early 'F' models use a 50mm collar on the brake side and a 36mm collar on the sprocket side(under the sprocket cover)

Later 'F' models(ribbed brake backing plate) use a 36mm collar on the brake side and a 36mm collar on the sprocket side

Early 'K' models use a 44mm collar on the brake side and a 31mm collar on the sprocket side

Later 'K' models(ribbed brake backing plate) use a 31mm collar on the brake side and a 31mm collar on the sprocket side

John
ps I rounded down the sizes to the nearest mm

[jonda500]

So kind of an old topic but have a similar question.

Working on a 550 F but when removing the rear hub for powder found out that the inner metal ring for the brakes has cracked.

went to look at another wheel today but found it to be different on a K bike.

So it's just a question of spacers? no other things involved in this (like chain allignment etc...)

With the wheel/brake backing plate you need a '75/'76 wheel if you have a '75 brake backing plate. You can use the later model wheel ('77/'78) with some shims added though.
John