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Author Topic: My '77 CB550F Rebuild  (Read 7858 times)

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Offline 2themax

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My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« on: July 03, 2013, 09:05:42 AM »
I found this bike back in November on CL for $550 with a title and the pictures looked like the bike was in decent shape for a nice project. It was missing a few things like rear turn signals and a right side cover.

At first I had every intention on making a cafe racer. I then realized it wasn't that far from being a complete original so why not keep it at that. The pictures were a little deceiving on how clean it looked.



So I had a buddy pick it up for me and eventually I got it in my garage. It didn't run when I got it.


I removed carbs to clean replace all the o-rings. Cleaned the points, change the oil, and a new battery I had it running for a little bit. Thats all I needed to know it was a worth while project.

So I tore it down to bare frame to clean and paint everything.









 
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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2013, 09:23:47 AM »
Thank you Thank you Thank you for not cafeing that bike.
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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2013, 09:30:09 AM »
Now I get to put everything back together!  ;D

I replaced the swingarm bushings with the brass ones, rebuild the forks, Installed a Hondamans ignition, new clutch cable, chain and sprockets, gaskets for points cover, stator, exhaust. new tapered roller bearings for the headset. and a few other things.



The CB took a back seat for a couple months. I sold my supermoto and picked up a complete '88 Honda Hawk GT (NT650) and that also came with a '89 Hawk GT roller in parts. The roller will be my next project! The hawk needed a little more work then expected so I had to deal with those issues so I could have something to ride. The plan was to take the CB on a road trip to Myrtle Beach but that didn't pan out so I took the Hawk instead.

Made it back home without any problems and I had my tank and side covers waiting for me!


I debated on keeping it the candy blue but didn't want to spare the cash to get the exact color. So I went with a metallic gun-metal...or close to it. With the reproduction decals. I'm happy with the way it turned out. I had to see what it looked with the tank and side cover on.


And thats where I'm at. Front end it pretty much buttoned up and I think I have a few things left with wiring. Light come on but they don't blink. The buzzer goes off? I'm also waiting on my chain and sprockets to arrive. I can't wait to get this thing off the stand and take it for a spin!!
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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2013, 09:37:20 AM »
I like the color, but it sure didn't look like that tank needed painting.
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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2013, 09:38:42 AM »
Quote from: Bankerdanny on July 03, 2013, 09:23:47 AM
Thank you Thank you Thank you for not cafeing that bike.

LOL I just couldn't do it!

The chrome is really holding some of the bike back as for cosmetics go. The rear fender looks like the PO took a sanding disc to it. The rims are peeling. and some of the other chrome bits are pitting but not to bad. The muffler would be excellent if it wasn't for the rotted holes around the exit of the muffler.
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Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2013, 09:43:25 AM »
Quote from: Bankerdanny on July 03, 2013, 09:37:20 AM
I like the color, but it sure didn't look like that tank needed painting.

Like I said the pictures were a bit deceiving. Heres some pics of the tank.

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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2013, 09:45:51 AM »
Classic good from far (and the correct viewing angle) but far from good.
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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2013, 10:15:13 AM »
Yes, It had a lot of that going on. I bought it without seeing it. My buddy was closer to the seller so he picked it up and paid the guy for it. Had I gone to look at I'm sure I would have left with it too.
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2013, 09:56:36 PM »
It wasn't too far gone when your got it, but it is looking gorgeous now.
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2013, 07:31:27 AM »
Thank you.

I got it back running last night! That's good news for me because I'm horrible with electronics.

The front signals light up but don't blink. The buzzer goes off when hit the signal switch. I don't have the rear signals hooked up yet so I don't know if that is why.

I'm not sure what I want to do with the rims. The look like dog #$%*! I would LIKE to get a set of Sun or Excel alloys or maybe I'll just paint them color I painted the motor? or black? Its not much original anymore so what would you guys do?
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Offline FlyingTiger

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2013, 08:26:18 AM »
This bike is going to be very nice. It sure is nice to see the bike in it's original form. Good luck with this project. I'll be watching your progress. -- Josh
 
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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #11 on: July 05, 2013, 09:53:40 AM »
Yes, you need both bulbs for the signals to flash. The same is true for your car. If the light on the dash lights but they don't flash probablility is high that a bulb is burnt out.
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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #12 on: July 05, 2013, 09:36:40 PM »
That's what I figured.

I wired up the rear lights and the tail light and brake light are both working. The signals are not. The bike didn't come with rear signals but I was able to pick some up off of fleebay. I'm hoping the bulbs are just blown. One of them was rusted in the socket pretty good.

Anyone have any leads on some nice rear signals for a '77 550F? The ones I have are a little sloppy and dull in color. They came with the rubber and the metal brackets that attach to the grab bar but I can't get them tight enough to take the slop out.
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Offline Tews19

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #13 on: July 05, 2013, 09:54:25 PM »
Nice buy and great work! Where are you located?
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1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
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Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2013, 10:07:22 PM »
Quote from: Tews19 on July 05, 2013, 09:54:25 PM
Nice buy and great work! Where are you located?

Thanks, I sent you another PM.

I'm in NY...Western NY
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Offline KennyRedman

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #15 on: July 06, 2013, 07:17:24 AM »
How did you go about painting the motor? It looks sharp.
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Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #16 on: July 06, 2013, 07:37:17 AM »
More pics!!

Excuse my neat mess. Lol

This is where I'm at as of last night. Just waiting on rear brake pads and chain and sprockets to arrive in the mail. I'm going to go out and round up some light bulbs today. I need to get some new tires for it too.


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Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #17 on: July 06, 2013, 07:57:04 AM »
Quote from: HomebrewTJ on July 06, 2013, 07:17:24 AM
How did you go about painting the motor? It looks sharp.

For the motor I got a lot of ideas from members here on how to go about cleaning and painting.

I cleaned as much of the chain lube and grime off it as much as I could then I sprayed it down with some degreaser.

I plugged all the holes as best as I could. I left the old spark plugs in the holes, I traced and cut out 2 layers of cardboard and put them over the carb manifold then bolted the manifold on. I taped off the exhaust ports then pushed the old cooper exhaust gaskets back in over the tape.

After all that and taping off the parts I didn't want painted I soda blasted the motor.

Then sprayed it with self etching primer and then painted it the high heat paint.
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Offline bambuhiphop

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #18 on: July 06, 2013, 10:03:04 AM »
Looking really good man!
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Offline Tews19

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #19 on: July 06, 2013, 11:13:37 AM »
Im really diggin the paint scheme! Would you mind if I went that route for my build? I could match the gold trim to the forks I have.
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Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #20 on: July 06, 2013, 12:30:22 PM »
Not at all man. We all get a bunch of ideas from each other here.

I based my choice in color off of Eleanor, the Shelby GT 500. I also wanted to keep it relevant to the 70's. My painter striped the emblems so now they are gold. I'm debating on masking the letters and painting the background black like they were or just leaving them gold.

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Offline KennyRedman

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #21 on: July 06, 2013, 03:30:55 PM »
Quote from: 2themax on July 06, 2013, 07:57:04 AM
Quote from: HomebrewTJ on July 06, 2013, 07:17:24 AM
How did you go about painting the motor? It looks sharp.

For the motor I got a lot of ideas from members here on how to go about cleaning and painting.

I cleaned as much of the chain lube and grime off it as much as I could then I sprayed it down with some degreaser.

I plugged all the holes as best as I could. I left the old spark plugs in the holes, I traced and cut out 2 layers of cardboard and put them over the carb manifold then bolted the manifold on. I taped off the exhaust ports then pushed the old cooper exhaust gaskets back in over the tape.

After all that and taping off the parts I didn't want painted I soda blasted the motor.

Then sprayed it with self etching primer and then painted it the high heat paint.

Awesome. What kind of soda blasting setup do you have?
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Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #22 on: July 06, 2013, 03:41:38 PM »
I did all my blasting with a harbor freight blaster. I used abrasive for the frame and other parts then used soda for the motor. I sprayed the frame and other frame componets with aircraft stripper first then blasted them. It took a little time but for $30 bucks it did all I needed.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-abrasive-blaster-kit-37025.html
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #23 on: July 06, 2013, 03:48:34 PM »
Quote from: 2themax on July 05, 2013, 09:36:40 PM
Anyone have any leads on some nice rear signals for a '77 550F? The ones I have are a little sloppy and dull in color. They came with the rubber and the metal brackets that attach to the grab bar but I can't get them tight enough to take the slop out.
David Silver Spares sell original or repro indicators. I got the repros and I'm very happy about the quality/price.
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Offline 2themax

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Re: My '77 CB550F Rebuild
« Reply #24 on: July 08, 2013, 04:10:39 PM »

David Silver Spares sell original or repro indicators. I got the repros and I'm very happy about the quality/price.
[/quote]

Thanks for the heads up but I'd like to get new mounting hardware as well and I'm not so sure its the lights themselves. I'm not getting any power to the signals and no power to the headlight.

I started a thread to see if anyone could help me out. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=123837.0
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