Author Topic: Honda CB550 cafe racer build (barn find conversion) (Read 29590 times)

Sherlock · « **Reply #50 on:** September 04, 2012, 08:05:48 AM »

Quick update

Oil filter off (looks like the first time as well!!) and oil strainer cleaned. Was a right #$%* as the oil filter bolt was solid! Heat, hammer, headache and chisels and finally it came free!

Oil strainer - before...

And after...

Internals look good. Very little if any wear (good 'ol Honda!)

Frame returned back from the blasters

All the rusty bits are being cut off. Haven't decided whether or not to chop off the rear footrest hangers which were going to be used for the rear sets & Exhaust hanger. I think I'll just go with standard pegs and chop them off, one is badly rusted anyway? Rear seat/mudguard mount being chopped off and this will be welded on instead...

Thankfully I have a friend who's a pro welder :-)

Cylinder Head cleaned, soda blasted and painted...

And that's it for now...

Watch this space! :-)

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Sherlock · « **Reply #51 on:** September 06, 2012, 01:21:30 PM »

nearly finished polishing hubs

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Itwillbefun · « **Reply #52 on:** September 07, 2012, 10:02:31 AM »

Looking clean! What did you use to paint the cylinder head?

Sherlock · « **Reply #53 on:** September 07, 2012, 10:55:05 AM »

Quote from: Itwillbefun on September 07, 2012, 10:02:31 AM

Looking clean! What did you use to paint the cylinder head?

Cheers mate. I used...

Let it dry overnight then baked it for 1 hour in my old gas bar b q.

It's come out good.

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Sherlock · « **Reply #54 on:** September 07, 2012, 11:38:07 AM »

Very nervous today. Dropped off the frame / swing arm and rear loop to my mate (professional welder)

Won't be for a couple of weeks before its back.

Made the decision to cut the pillion brackets off to give a more naked look. Rear seat mount and mudguard mount being chopped and "U" piece being welded in its place.
Cutting the extra bits off such as, seat lock, seat hinge, centre stand brackets and some cable tidies.

When it's back it will be sanded etc prior to being Powder Coated. Want to make sure I'm 100% happy with the surface prep first.

I also ordered a new oil filter bolt, oil filter, front rim, front spoke set, front sprocket and some other little bits and bobs from David Silver Spares

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goldarrow · « **Reply #55 on:** September 07, 2012, 03:06:53 PM »

I would remove the swingarm and replace the bushings before getting powder coat. You're pretty much there already so might as well do it

Tews19 · « **Reply #56 on:** September 07, 2012, 06:25:26 PM »

I ut the passenger peg ears off of my cafe 550 build too. Honestly, I regret it.. I wish I had them for an easy rear set mount but since nothing to mount I would either have to mount an expensive way or weld ears back on the frame..... Riding using the front pegs on a cafe does feel kinda funny.

Sherlock · « **Reply #57 on:** September 11, 2012, 05:36:46 AM »

some goodies arrived today

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Sherlock · « **Reply #58 on:** September 11, 2012, 05:37:58 AM »

Quote from: goldarrow on September 07, 2012, 03:06:53 PM

I would remove the swingarm and replace the bushings before getting powder coat. You're pretty much there already so might as well do it

Good idea, will do this before it gets PC'd. They're knackered now anyway as they've been s/blasted.
I'm just not looking forward to getting them out :-0

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Sherlock · « **Reply #59 on:** September 11, 2012, 05:40:04 AM »

Quote from: Tews19 on September 07, 2012, 06:25:26 PM

I ut the passenger peg ears off of my cafe 550 build too. Honestly, I regret it.. I wish I had them for an easy rear set mount but since nothing to mount I would either have to mount an expensive way or weld ears back on the frame..... Riding using the front pegs on a cafe does feel kinda funny.

I've debated about this so much but have gone with cutting them off. If the worst comes to worst, I could always weld a bracket back on or use some of the innovative ideas I've seen on the forums using a mountain bike stem!!?

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Sherlock · « **Reply #60 on:** September 17, 2012, 04:32:51 AM »

frame progress... Nearly done.

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Sherlock · « **Reply #61 on:** October 16, 2012, 12:19:38 AM »

Still here. Everything has been delayed by the powder coaters. They quoted me 1 week initially but we're almost in to week 3. Giving them a call today and if still not done I'll take them somewhere else.

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Old75_ratafe · « **Reply #62 on:** October 19, 2012, 12:42:46 AM »

Project is looking good, you got lucky on the forks and the rust as bad as that one spot was. If no one has mentioned it yet those CV carbs run like piss with out proper velocity stacks. They don't make enough vacuum without them and as a result will be just about impossible to tune. The couple of guys who have gotten them running decent usually had a big dead spot in the power band. I'm not trying to be negative I've just seen it happen with a bunch of guys on here who wanted to run pods with those style carbs. If you look inside your stock air box and pull out the rubber carb boots you will see they are actually velocity stacks inside the box. My suggestion is get a set of real velocity stacks with the domed foam filters on the end, find a set of older carbs or rebuilt a set of CR spec carbs.

stuartni · « **Reply #63 on:** October 19, 2012, 01:01:37 AM »

coming together nicely

Sherlock · « **Reply #64 on:** October 25, 2012, 09:44:53 AM »

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NShahdadi · « **Reply #65 on:** October 25, 2012, 05:32:03 PM »

Looks like it's coming along really well! Your refurbs are super clean. What are you using to get them so clean and shiny?

cinqmars2 · « **Reply #66 on:** October 26, 2012, 03:09:35 AM »

Looks like it's coming along nicely! Where did you get your rims powdered? There's only one place in London that I can find that do small batches, and they refuse to do rims for fear of the warping them in the heat. I'd assume it's more of an issue with bicycle rims than a motorbike's but they still won't do it for me. Did you get the original chrome stripped first or just go at it with an abrasive?

Thanks!

Sherlock · « **Reply #67 on:** October 26, 2012, 12:52:10 PM »

Hi. I had them acid dipped, the company is Paint Finishers in Nuffield, Poole Dorset. Only downside was that it took 3 weeks to get them back as I had to wait until they did a black run. I wasn't 100% happy as they came out slightly off black, but not jet Black as I'd asked. Maybe that's the result of you only pay £60 for both rims!!
I used these for the spokes but they do supply rims, and rebuild them etc etc.
http://www.central-wheel.co.uk

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EDU · « **Reply #68 on:** November 12, 2012, 12:32:04 AM »

Really good work cleaning those parts... impressed!

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #69 on:** November 13, 2012, 01:57:48 AM »

great build man! i really like the fresh painted parts and polished parts.

JKydd · « **Reply #70 on:** December 10, 2012, 11:59:42 AM »

Hey Sherlock,

Any update on this build? Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Cheers
John

Lost and Confused · « **Reply #71 on:** December 16, 2012, 06:24:55 PM »

I've had success with soaking in brake fluid and using a socket that I hammer in and put the caliper in a vice and use a ratchet to go back and forth and work it out. Good luck.

Sherlock · « **Reply #72 on:** June 10, 2013, 09:20:37 AM »

Frame finally powder coated :-))

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RAFster122s · « **Reply #73 on:** June 10, 2013, 09:34:25 AM »

Quote from: Old75_ratafe on October 19, 2012, 12:42:46 AM

Project is looking good, you got lucky on the forks and the rust as bad as that one spot was. If no one has mentioned it yet those CV carbs run like piss with out proper velocity stacks. They don't make enough vacuum without them and as a result will be just about impossible to tune. The couple of guys who have gotten them running decent usually had a big dead spot in the power band. I'm not trying to be negative I've just seen it happen with a bunch of guys on here who wanted to run pods with those style carbs. If you look inside your stock air box and pull out the rubber carb boots you will see they are actually velocity stacks inside the box. My suggestion is get a set of real velocity stacks with the domed foam filters on the end, find a set of older carbs or rebuilt a set of CR spec carbs.

The carbs pictured are not CV carbs. While many argue the stock airbox is better for the stock carbs with mild or stock tuned bike many do go to pods on cafe builds.

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Author Topic: Honda CB550 cafe racer build (barn find conversion) (Read 29590 times)