Author Topic: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find  (Read 1672 times)

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Offline pwcracer

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New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« on: August 07, 2013, 03:17:42 PM »
I picked this up from CL a couple of weeks ago.  The guy wanted $450 but let me have it for $300..  He didn't know much about bikes, but told me it needed new floaters!  Well, hauled it home and right away took off the fairing and back rest.
Then I focused on the carbs..




Offline jb1974

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2013, 05:52:30 PM »
Nice looking bike.Looks like a good bike to get started on

Offline jb1974

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2013, 05:53:53 PM »
Are you sure its a 75 tank looks different maybe a few yrs newer

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2013, 08:31:26 PM »
That's a 550F, it uses a tank just like the one on the 77-78 K bikes
"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 reddyvv

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2013, 08:50:10 PM »
Nice!! Pics can be deceptive but it doesn't look like it has much rust on it and is original. Did you get the side covers? How does it look up close and how many miles? Does the engine turn over?

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2013, 10:35:02 PM »
It's all there, so it's a great deal.
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 lwahples

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2013, 02:53:09 AM »
Looks like you picked up a nice bike cheap. Bet it looks better clean.

Offline pwcracer

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2013, 09:24:19 AM »
It must have been stored inside most of it's life, as all the chrome is cleaning up nicely, really doesn't have any rust.  I think he mentioned they put a tank on it. 
 
When I pulled the carb bowls off, I noticed a bunch of parts were missing.  The #4 carb looked like they stored acid in it.  I found a frozen set on ebay and bought them. 


I first boiled them, to free them up, then soda blasted them.  Turned out pretty nice.




Offline pwcracer

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2013, 09:30:08 AM »
Nice!! Pics can be deceptive but it doesn't look like it has much rust on it and is original. Did you get the side covers? How does it look up close and how many miles? Does the engine turn over?

Yep the engine turned over when I bought it (Actually got it running few days ago!)  It has the left cover but of course is missing the right :(

The clear is peeling off the tank, but the rest of the bike seems decent. 


Offline goldarrow

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2013, 10:28:43 AM »
  The guy wanted $450 but let me have it for $300..  He didn't know much about bikes, but told me it needed new floaters! 

Looked like he knew what he knew his bikes! Great deal nonetheless.

Post new pics once all cleaned up. 
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 SF

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2013, 10:33:14 AM »
nice ;D
92 wr250 sold
98 zx6r sold
04 zx10r
73 cb350 twin
75 cb550f
75 cb550f
72 r5c
rgid springer bobber project

Offline jude0007

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #11 on: August 08, 2013, 10:55:45 AM »
Where in MN are you located?
76 CB550
79 CB650
75 CB400f
71 CL350 Scrambler
63? CA95

Offline pwcracer

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2013, 11:14:46 AM »
Where in MN are you located?
Hastings, and work in Mpls.  How about you?

Offline toytuff

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2013, 11:23:35 AM »
 ;)

tt

Offline jude0007

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2013, 02:14:12 PM »
Where in MN are you located?
Hastings, and work in Mpls.  How about you?

Too funny! Work in Hastings and live in Minneapolis.  I'm working on a 75 cb400f, 79 cb650 and 71 cl350 scrambler
76 CB550
79 CB650
75 CB400f
71 CL350 Scrambler
63? CA95

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2013, 03:30:52 PM »
That's a 77-78 550K tank, but the exhaust, carbs, seat, and shocks are all F bike.
"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 jb1974

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #16 on: August 08, 2013, 07:06:27 PM »
@jude 71 350 scrambler?I might have a few parts.Have carbs for sure.

Offline jude0007

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #17 on: August 09, 2013, 05:50:46 AM »
@jude 71 350 scrambler?I might have a few parts.Have carbs for sure.

Yes it is.  I haven't done much with it yet.  Would be interested in buying some spare parts.
76 CB550
79 CB650
75 CB400f
71 CL350 Scrambler
63? CA95

Offline pwcracer

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #18 on: August 09, 2013, 07:23:02 AM »
My front caliper was sticking, I took it out and found it to be pitted.  Is there any place to get one locally?  I wanted to work on it this weekend and hopefully take it around the block.


Offline jude0007

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Re: New Project 1975 CB550 Barn find
« Reply #19 on: August 09, 2013, 08:28:25 AM »
My front caliper was sticking, I took it out and found it to be pitted.  Is there any place to get one locally?  I wanted to work on it this weekend and hopefully take it around the block.

Not that I know of.  Have you been out to Sport Wheels in Jordan MN? http://www.sportwheel.com/  I've had good luck out there with parts for the 650.
76 CB550
79 CB650
75 CB400f
71 CL350 Scrambler
63? CA95