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Author Topic: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration  (Read 15704 times)

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Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #50 on: September 16, 2013, 12:06:05 PM »
 Polished up the side covers, tappet covers, etc., and touched up the flaking paint with some VHT silver and a foam brush.




 Before:


 After:
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Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #51 on: September 16, 2013, 12:09:37 PM »
 Took her outside today for some fresh pics. I still have to touch up the forks in the same manner.
 I checked the timing and synched the carbs and took her for a spin, too! Runs GREAT!







 A quick video:

1976 CB550F Survivor

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'71 CB500 K0
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Offline Greggo

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #52 on: September 16, 2013, 12:11:22 PM »
Looks great, Scott!  You scored with this one.
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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #53 on: September 16, 2013, 01:54:01 PM »
Quote from: Scott S on September 16, 2013, 12:09:37 PM
1976 CB550F Survivor

Great looking bike, and nice panning shots in the video!
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Offline pamcopete

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #54 on: September 16, 2013, 02:39:17 PM »
Scott,

Awesome bike. Great find.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #55 on: September 16, 2013, 04:16:45 PM »
Were the other grips longer? Looks like nearly a 1/2" gap between the grip and control. 
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #56 on: September 16, 2013, 05:04:12 PM »
Quote from: Stev-o on September 16, 2013, 04:16:45 PM
Were the other grips longer? Looks like nearly a 1/2" gap between the grip and control. 

 Fixed that....
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Offline KennyRedman

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #57 on: September 16, 2013, 05:32:47 PM »
Sounds great, man.
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #58 on: September 17, 2013, 02:29:01 AM »
The bike sounds sweet, you must be over the moon.  Officially jealous here.   ;)
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Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #59 on: September 20, 2013, 01:02:36 PM »
 GRRR!!...
 The bike runs great, but I'm having an issue with fuel coming from one of the overflows when the petcock is on and bike isn't running. There's also a slight hanging idle issue.

 Usually, that indicates a lean condition, but everything seems OK. I'm wondering if I have the float heights off and it's actually fuel overflowing into the carbs, making the idle rise and fall?

 I've done the full 3K mile tune up and the carbs were cleaned and new O-rings installed on the main jets. I installed new needle/seat valves (or fuel valves, as some people call them).
 My local carb guy is going to take a look at it for me this weekend. He prefers the original fuel valves, and these are very low mileage, so maybe I'll install new O-rings on them and re-set the float height.

 So very close..... >:(
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #60 on: September 20, 2013, 03:12:21 PM »
Quote from: Scott S on September 20, 2013, 01:02:36 PM
GRRR!!...
 The bike runs great, but I'm having an issue with fuel coming from one of the overflows when the petcock is on and bike isn't running.

I've had that issue with my 550 - simple fix, keep the petcock off when motor is off. 
It doesn't always do it but I now just automatically turn the gas off after switching key off. 
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #61 on: September 20, 2013, 03:23:57 PM »
 I usually turn it off a mile or s from home and run the bowls dry. I'm more concerned with the idle fluctuating.
 Carbs are off and I'm checking out everything again.

 I'll take another look at the advancer, too. Everything is like new on this bike, but maybe I'll lube up the posts on the advancer and make sure nothing under there is sticking, too.
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'71 CB500 K0
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Offline Greggo

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #62 on: September 20, 2013, 03:46:31 PM »
Quote from: Scott S on September 20, 2013, 03:23:57 PM
I usually turn it off a mile or s from home and run the bowls dry. I'm more concerned with the idle fluctuating.
 Carbs are off and I'm checking out everything again.

 I'll take another look at the advancer, too. Everything is like new on this bike, but maybe I'll lube up the posts on the advancer and make sure nothing under there is sticking, too.

Good to lube the advancer anyway.  Are you replacing the wheel bearings? 
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #63 on: September 20, 2013, 03:55:59 PM »
Yeah, I like to run the gas out of the bowls too....
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Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #64 on: September 21, 2013, 04:38:39 AM »
Quote from: Greggo on September 20, 2013, 03:46:31 PM
Quote from: Scott S on September 20, 2013, 03:23:57 PM
I usually turn it off a mile or s from home and run the bowls dry. I'm more concerned with the idle fluctuating.
 Carbs are off and I'm checking out everything again.

 I'll take another look at the advancer, too. Everything is like new on this bike, but maybe I'll lube up the posts on the advancer and make sure nothing under there is sticking, too.

Good to lube the advancer anyway.  Are you replacing the wheel bearings? 


 Depends....I'll have the wheels off soon to mount new tires and I'll inspect everything. If they need it, yes. But, remember...this is a very lo mile bike.
 I'll also take the opportunity to polish up the fork lowers like I did the side covers. Don't want to get all that sanding gunk on the Lester's.
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Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #65 on: September 21, 2013, 04:43:29 AM »
 Turns out that the emulsion tubes weren't seated properly. Especially on #4. Rick at OldSkoolCarbs hooked me up once again.
 He also changed the O-rings on the main jets for some that fit better and let the jets and emulsion tubes seat fully. The aftermarket needle/seat valves are working fine. He checked and they are sealing properly.

 I can't say enough about Rick. Luckily, he's literally within walking distance of my house and he's set me straight many a time. I don't know why I don't just take them straight to him every time. I guess I like to TRY to do it myself.

 Check out his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oldskoolcarbs/485002854895718

 He also sells on eBay from time to time, same username.
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'71 CB500 K0
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'81 Yamaha XS650

Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #66 on: September 21, 2013, 01:48:12 PM »
 Even though the brake hoses had a 1975 date code, the brakes seemed to work pretty well. I was tempted to just run some fresh fluid through them and leave them alone.
 I thought I could feel just a little drag, and I had new braided hoses from Slingshot Cycles and a new Honda caliper seal, so I figured "Why Not?".

 Glad I did.....yuck....




 Cleaned everything, deglazed the rotor, installed the new seal and hoses and put her back together. I'm by myself today, so I bled them best I could but really need another set of hands to crack the bleeder and make 100% sure all the air is out.
 So far, so good.....seems to have made a difference just pushing it around the garage (it's raining, so no test ride). No more drag and the brakes seem firm.
 Gonna let it sit with the handle bars at an angle and see if any more air works its way up top overnight.
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Offline RAFster122s

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #67 on: September 21, 2013, 01:56:49 PM »
When you are rebuilding carbs the float needle seat can be cleaned real well with a long eraser profiled like the tip of the float needle. Chuck it up in a dremel or drill...
Use the erasers that are a couple inches long or designed to be used in eraser pens.
Larry on CX/GL forum shared this tip in his carb rebuild book.

That brake system had gathered a bit of water to form the chocolate milk. A good reason to flush your brake system once a year. I like the Castrol GTLMA fluid bit it is getting harder to find.

You will want to clamp the lever about 1/2 from the grip with a rubber band and wood block for best results overnight. When you release the lever it will pull any bubbles that made their way to the MC into the reserviour.
« Last Edit: September 21, 2013, 02:03:15 PM by RAFster122S »
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Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #68 on: May 25, 2014, 06:33:50 AM »
 Since we just got my GF's '76 400F back from a fresh engine rebuild, we decided to take the pair out for a spin yesterday.





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Offline Tews19

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #69 on: May 25, 2014, 07:26:03 AM »
Looks good Scott. How are you liking the 550?
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Offline Scott S

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #70 on: May 25, 2014, 07:38:35 AM »
 Oh, I love it. I'm a big fan of the 500/550's. I also have a 550K that has some mild engine work done to it and the difference between the two is interesting. The F is so quiet and civilized but just pulls and pulls when you crank her up.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: '76 CB550F Survivor: Preservation vs. Restoration
« Reply #71 on: May 25, 2014, 07:42:53 AM »
Quote from: Tews19 on May 25, 2014, 07:26:03 AM
Looks good Scott.

+1. Those two look great together
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........
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