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Author Topic: Sin City '78 CB550  (Read 4266 times)

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Offline Quietsrfer13

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Sin City '78 CB550
« on: March 04, 2013, 10:00:59 PM »
I picked up a 1978 Honda CB550 over the weekend. Doesn't currently run but I'm confident that it wont take much to get it going down the road. The carbs have already been removed. It looks like somebody had good intentions but quickly realized they were in over their head. Everything seems to function on the bike (except for the turn indicators staying solid instead of flashing). The only thing missing is the air filter and top cover for the air box.

The plan:
A motorcycle that runs very well and is built to be ridden often. Might have some slight touches of a 'café racer' but just want it to be reliable and safe to ride (make of that what you will).

Here are a few pitures
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Offline goldarrow

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2013, 10:13:05 PM »
Welcome to sohc4.  Let's get it running!
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Life Is Full Of Challenges - And My Backyard Is Full Of SOHC4's

CB550 K0
CB750 K0, K2, K23 JDM, K45, K5
And the little ones z50r, xr50r, st90


750k5 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=114817.0

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2013, 04:55:09 AM »
Welcome from Texas.  Have you named it the Canary bike?
(Honda called it Canary Yellow on another model).
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline toytuff

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2013, 05:30:36 AM »
Hello Steve!

You have a project there all right!

Welcome! Lot's of info here.

tt
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Offline laminaytrap

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2013, 07:31:44 AM »
Yay! someone that's going to do something with this one!
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Offline Quietsrfer13

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2013, 01:47:46 PM »
Let the work begin.
Started tearing down the carbs and cleaning them. Also got the tank off and am in the process of cleaning that out. More pictures to come
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Offline toytuff

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2013, 02:18:57 PM »
Quote from: Quietsrfer13 on March 05, 2013, 01:47:46 PM
Let the work begin.
Started tearing down the carbs and cleaning them. Also got the tank off and am in the process of cleaning that out. More pictures to come

Move the wedding date back yet?

 ;D

tt
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Offline Quietsrfer13

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2013, 02:31:08 PM »
Quote from: toytuff on March 05, 2013, 02:18:57 PM
Quote from: Quietsrfer13 on March 05, 2013, 01:47:46 PM
Let the work begin.
Started tearing down the carbs and cleaning them. Also got the tank off and am in the process of cleaning that out. More pictures to come

Move the wedding date back yet?

 ;D

tt

Not a chance of that happening...lol
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Offline toytuff

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2013, 03:04:30 PM »
Yeah, you better use "lack of funding" and see where that goes.

tt
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Offline Quietsrfer13

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #9 on: March 05, 2013, 04:19:41 PM »
Quote from: toytuff on March 05, 2013, 03:04:30 PM
Yeah, you better use "lack of funding" and see where that goes.

tt

That will just get me to the street...without my stuff.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #10 on: March 05, 2013, 05:08:39 PM »
Vegas shotgun wedding?!
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline toytuff

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2013, 08:21:08 PM »
Quote from: Stev-o on March 05, 2013, 05:08:39 PM
Vegas shotgun wedding?!

Steve is engaged.

Better postpone. Bike to build.

tt
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Offline Quietsrfer13

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2013, 09:34:10 PM »
Still rinsing out the gas tank. Lots of crud coming out of there...

While cleaning the carbs I found one pair of choke butterflies to be very stiff during movement. While attempting to lubricate, I found one of the butterflies was actually rubbing the inside of the carb. I loosened the screws that hold the butterfly, aligned the flap, and tightened the screws. All is good with that part.
However, today I also found that the linkage for the choke on the throttles is BROKEN. The tabs that connect the two pairs of butterflies are snapped off. Now to figure out a way to make it work or spend a good chunk of $$$ on replacing/repairing these carbs.
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Offline goldarrow

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2013, 09:43:52 PM »
That may explain why the bike was parked. 
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Life Is Full Of Challenges - And My Backyard Is Full Of SOHC4's

CB550 K0
CB750 K0, K2, K23 JDM, K45, K5
And the little ones z50r, xr50r, st90


750k5 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=114817.0

Offline Quietsrfer13

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2013, 09:49:06 PM »
I'm thinking the bike was parked for several years. Bought and moved and titled. somebody rode for a few hundred miles. Then I'm thinking the gunk from the tank started to clog the carbs and they thought they could fix it. Looks like they did more bad than good...It seems that every screw head has been hit on these carbs. I'm gonna see what I can do to get these in operating order though.
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Offline Quietsrfer13

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #15 on: March 08, 2013, 02:25:42 PM »
Well, I was able to rig up the choke on the carbs. At least enough to get the bike started and running (given that everything else is ok). It's not the prettiest thing ever, but it will work for now.
The gas tank is all cleaned out and running clean fuel through. I'm still going to install a gravity inline fuel filter to try to prevent any fine stuff from getting to the carbs.
Just need a few small items and it should be ready to crank over.
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Offline Quietsrfer13

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #16 on: August 30, 2013, 10:28:09 PM »
I know it's long past due, but I have the bike running and have been riding it around every evening this week. Now, time to get it registered and legal...Then, let the fun mods begin!!!
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Offline RAFster122s

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #17 on: August 30, 2013, 10:54:37 PM »
Harrisluv, think that is his id, may have some carb parts to fix yours, he is in Tucson.

Congrats on having it running.
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David- back in the desert SW!

Offline Quietsrfer13

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Re: Sin City '78 CB550
« Reply #18 on: August 31, 2013, 06:27:11 AM »
Quote from: RAFster122S on August 30, 2013, 10:54:37 PM
Harrisluv, think that is his id, may have some carb parts to fix yours, he is in Tucson.

Congrats on having it running.

I have the carbs taken care of, but thank you for the info.
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