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Author Topic: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife  (Read 38928 times)

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Offline DMcD

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and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« on: September 12, 2013, 10:13:50 AM »
My previous projects have included a 1955 BSA restoration, so I thought I would have a go at another bike.

I am starting with this CB550K, looks nice doesn't it?



WRONG!   :(



I have decided to alter her appearance, I haven't quite decided how yet, but, with our rich 'real road racing' heritage in Northern Ireland, and I have just returned from the inaugural Isle of Man Classic TT, I supect that it will be a race rep of some type.  Last night she went onto the operating table 8)



This will be a slow one folks, I want to do it properly, ideally I would like to have it ready for the classic Isle of Man TT next August, but we'll see how it goes.
 
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Offline Ewan 500K1

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2013, 10:44:17 AM »
Hi D . you're aware of the UK site at :  http://www.sohc.co.uk/
Smaller yet more cosy !
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Offline Elan

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2013, 10:57:56 AM »
Aside from the exhaust, it looks like its in great shape! I'd hate to see you chop it up.
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Offline DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2013, 11:03:17 AM »
Quote from: Ewan on September 12, 2013, 10:44:17 AM
Hi D . you're aware of the UK site at :  http://www.sohc.co.uk/
Smaller yet more cosy !

No, missed that one thanks!
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Offline DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2013, 11:05:40 AM »
Quote from: Elan on September 12, 2013, 10:57:56 AM
Aside from the exhaust, it looks like its in great shape! I'd hate to see you chop it up.

I know what you mean, but close up, it isn't really as nice as the first picture suggests.
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2013, 06:27:20 PM »
Did you get to see Guy Martin?
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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 DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2013, 11:22:59 PM »
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2013, 01:53:43 PM »
Quote from: DMcD on September 12, 2013, 11:22:59 PM
No, Guy left the Island before anyone saw him!

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news--racing-news/guy-martin-not-allowed-to-race-the-classic-tt/23308.html

Too bad.  I saw a photo of him on the island on a cafe racer at Glemseck and wondered if he had raced the Island Classic.
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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 DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2013, 03:40:03 PM »
I think I am going to go for something like this,

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vSiuajovs6c&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvSiuajovs6c

But in British racing green with black engine and exhausts.

The good news is that I have stripped a lot of stuff off the bike.  The bad news, for the budget, is that I just blew £1k on an ac/dc tig   :o

I want to get the fairing fitted before removing the engine, so I'll have to wait a month or two before I can afford that, and then strip the rest.

The engine has about 20k on it and was running ok.  Should I rebuild it?  Is big bore worth it?
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2013, 04:05:28 PM »
Quote from: DMcD on October 08, 2013, 03:40:03 PM
I think I am going to go for something like this,

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vSiuajovs6c&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvSiuajovs6c

But in British racing green with black engine and exhausts.

The good news is that I have stripped a lot of stuff off the bike.  The bad news, for the budget, is that I just blew £1k on an ac/dc tig   :o

I want to get the fairing fitted before removing the engine, so I'll have to wait a month or two before I can afford that, and then strip the rest.

The engine has about 20k on it and was running ok.  Should I rebuild it?  Is big bore worth it?

DMcD,

I think the answer is: "It depends."  Is the motor leaking, pinging; any cam chain noise?  Do you need performance improved from the stock motor to match the CR style bodywork?  If you have no issues with the motor and you don't need upgraded power/torque, you can forgoe an engine rebuild and big bore kit -- and simply paint it (and call it a day).
Is the bike
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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 DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2014, 11:24:53 AM »
I am finally ready to make some progress, things were delayed by the purchasing of a tig welder, which I wanted to make fairing brackets.  I couldn't make fairing brackets until I had the fairing..... 

Santa was kind, and brought me a cr750 fairing and screen, courtesy of TGA in France.



Tomorrow I'll refit the headers and try to prop the fairing in place to see what gets in the way.
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Offline DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2014, 02:34:39 PM »
I know many of you will have done this step already, but I had a go at the top yoke tonight.







Had a go at it with the tig  :o  I wasn't sure if it needed strengthening, but I fancied a bit of practice at alloy welding.





A bit of grinding....





I know they can be polished, but I think i'm going to go for gloss black, the same as the frame.

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Offline FunJimmy

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #12 on: January 20, 2014, 09:03:50 PM »
I've always been a CR fan.
Nice choice.
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Offline DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2014, 12:27:43 PM »
As promised, this is moving very slowly, just managed to gather a few new parts.....

Second disc and clip ons off ebay, still need another caliper and the fittings.



One of the exhaust holes needs filled and rebored, just trying to get up the courage to do it myself eith the tig.


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Offline DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2014, 02:20:50 PM »
Are these ok for my double disc conversion?



110mm socket cap with serrated nuts, both in stainless steel, will use thread lock fluid too on final fitting.
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Offline DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #15 on: July 02, 2014, 03:26:36 PM »
Going to have a go at an alloy tank, made the base tonight.





Be interesting to see how far I get before it ends up in the scrap trailer ;-)
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Offline DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #16 on: July 05, 2014, 01:59:51 PM »
Making my own tank is going surprisingly well  :o,

Headstock is the same size as a can of Guinness  ;)





« Last Edit: July 05, 2014, 02:07:15 PM by DMcD »
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Offline DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #17 on: July 05, 2014, 02:33:58 PM »
Sorry, forgot to give credit to the youtube clip that inspired me to have a go at a tank.

Genius, is an overused term, but I think this deserves it.


http://youtu.be/rw5lYMmxSB0

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #18 on: July 05, 2014, 05:43:47 PM »
Well done!  That's effing amazing. The video is cool too.  The guy makes it look easy, but it obviously is NOT.
« Last Edit: July 05, 2014, 06:16:14 PM by CB750 Cafe Racer Fan »
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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 DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #19 on: July 07, 2014, 02:07:41 PM »
Haven't f@¥ked it up yet, got the front shaped a bit tonight.

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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #20 on: July 08, 2014, 03:04:34 PM »
Things to add to personal bucket list (1) buy TIG welder (2) learn to weld worth #$%* (probably should reverse the order of this).
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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 calj737

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #21 on: July 08, 2014, 03:51:24 PM »
Danny - TIG is the most difficult welding technique. Learn first to stick weld, then MIG, then TIG. Proper fundamentals, and loads of practice will help you a great deal. A good mentor doesn't hurt either  :)
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #22 on: July 08, 2014, 04:17:12 PM »
Quote from: calj737 on July 08, 2014, 03:51:24 PM
Danny - TIG is the most difficult welding technique. Learn first to stick weld, then MIG, then TIG. Proper fundamentals, and loads of practice will help you a great deal. A good mentor doesn't hurt either  :)

If I could retire early, I'd love to learn how to do all of this stuff (welding, machining, etc.).
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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 Bankerdanny

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #23 on: July 09, 2014, 09:14:19 AM »
On thicker steel I can lay a pretty good bead with the stick and the MIG. Way back in freshman shop class in 1979 I was even pretty good with oxy-acetelene.

Using my inexpensive Clarke 100EN to weld the replacement sheet metal on my MG is definitely challengine me, and in a week or so I'll be removing the rockers and welding in replacements along with partial rear quarters and some front fender patching. Hopefully by the time I am done with that my skills will be much improved.
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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 DMcD

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Re: and so it begins, cb550k under the knife
« Reply #24 on: July 09, 2014, 09:55:13 AM »
As a hobby welder, I'm going to be a little controversial and say that basic tig welding is fairly easy, it is a bit like oxy acetelene, I hadn't done it until I bought my own tig and "had a go".  What I mean is, the control you have with the pedal is a real luxury.

What is very difficult though, is setting up the tig, matching current, filler, speed and fit of the metal prior to starting.  There are many dials on it that I don't really understand.  Cleanliness is also vital. 

It is also expensive, an ac tig to weld alloy is a bit hard to justify for hobby use, but if I can pull off a tank, fairing brackets and 4 exhausts, plus a few other repairs, I think I'll have covered most of the outlay.

I don't think you can beat a mig for car body repair.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2014, 11:02:37 AM by DMcD »
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