Topic: Trad's 74 CB550 K0

[GV1390]

I came in here looking for a dented fuel tank.... jk. Looks amazing as usual.

Any particular reason you went with the regular Woodcraft clip-ons? I'm using temporary clip-ons with what appears to be 1' risers and was curious to what I'd like better on my bike. My old CB550 had standard Woodcrafts with no risers.

Also, tell me about this third CB550 you have.... lol.

[Trad]

I came in here looking for a dented fuel tank.... jk. Looks amazing as usual.

Any particular reason you went with the regular Woodcraft clip-ons? I'm using temporary clip-ons with what appears to be 1' risers and was curious to what I'd like better on my bike. My old CB550 had standard Woodcrafts with no risers.

Also, tell me about this third CB550 you have.... lol.

Gennaro! It was the blue tank that got a dent, not this one thank god. Haha.

I went with the Woodcraft clip-on’s solely because they can be removed without pulling off the triple clamp. I’m sure the ones with the build in rises are the same way no?

I wanted the bars to be seated below the triple clamp as well, another reason why I didn’t opt for the risers.

The third cb550 is a basket case that was seized stuck when I got it and the entire thing was rattle canned black, like I mean everything besides the tank, grips and all. I got the piston freed and top end pulled. It’s just been sitting like that for about a year. That project is for another time and place. Haha. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You got a nasty habit there!

[Trad]

You got a nasty habit there!

The buying and hoarding of expensive custom and vintage motorcycle parts? I'm afraid you have it just as bad if not worse Don. hahaha 

Edit: Or is it the unnecessary thread title changing? LOL

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You got a nasty habit there!

The buying and hoarding of expensive custom and vintage motorcycle parts? I'm afraid you have it just as bad if not worse Don. hahaha 

Edit: Or is it the unnecessary thread title changing? LOL

Takes one to know one!!

[Tews19]

I'm curious how the 110s will be on the engine. I have 110s in my engine and it seemed to run rich. I could be wrong however. Hopefully by Thursday I should have my bike done so I will give you some input if you want.

BTW great pics on flickr.

[Trad]

I forgot to post these photos. I got the intake manifolds on with new Honda clamps. Since the photo I broke one of the obsolete metal tangs on the slide adjuster screws. It happened while I was bench syncing the carbs.  That part is not available on it's own so Harisuluv is being a good guy and sending me one FOC. Still need to finish the bench sync ones that gets here.

74 Carbs 2 by tradart101, on Flickr

74 Carbs 1 by tradart101, on Flickr

I'm curious how the 110s will be on the engine. I have 110s in my engine and it seemed to run rich. I could be wrong however. Hopefully by Thursday I should have my bike done so I will give you some input if you want.

BTW great pics on flickr.

Thanks a bunch, I followed you on there. With the bigger bore, port work and higher lift cam, I guessing it should be pretty close to bang on. Or I'm hoping so anyway. haha. I moved the needle clip one position leaner. Before the tear down I was running 105's with the needle clip one notch richer. I was getting some popping at wot so the 110's should help that. Once it's running only a plug chop will tell. I have a friend running an open 4-1 with velocity stacks and a similar engine setup with 120 mains. Even then it's not horribly rich.

On the video you posted riding your bike, what jetting were you running? It sounded like it was running well.

[P.abrera]

Man, Those carbs look goood

[Trad]

Tews, I'd bet 105s on your bike with stock airbox would be very close. Maybe bump the needle a clip in either direction to tweak it. No telling on Trad's bike. The induction changes will certainly alter his AF requirements.

And, I'd suspect he will spend more time at WOT than you since he's a WildChild sort! 

"WildChild" that's what my Grandmother used to call me. haha.

But Cal is totally right, I'm playing a guessing game with my carb setup at this point. There are too many unknown in how the engine will respond with all the top end mods.

Nick, I just noticed you had the stock air box with the 4-1. I would think 105's with the needle in the 4th position would be a great starting point.

Man, Those carbs look goood

Yo, thanks P. It's getting there, that's for sure.

[Tews19]

Not trying to hi jack Trad but I pulled my plugs tonight and from where i am looking they look really nice. This is with the 110s

[Trad]

Not trying to hi jack Trad but I pulled my plugs tonight and from where i am looking they look really nice. This is with the 110s

Those look great Nick! I am currently battling a dry fouling issue on my 78  . Seeing these makes me jealous. haha

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jonesin' for an update.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jared must be out training or competing -- X Games season is upon us. 

[RobbyD]

Been a while since I've been on here, had to check in on your build trad.
 bikes looking great man.  I'm itching to do another 550 soon

[Trad]

Jared must be out training or competing -- X Games season is upon us. 

Haha, I don't train. I broke two ribs and dislocated something in my sternum so I've been in recovery mode 

Dropped all my old sponsors and I'm now working with We The People bikes out of Germany and OGCBMX here in Canada. Big life change.

I'm currently filming a "welcome to the team" video part for these brands and that's how I took it hard on a down rail. Pissed I ate it so hard, wasn't expecting it at all.

Back to the 550; I ended up getting a 10X10 heated storage unit that I can work all winter while me and the misses look to get a house with a garage.

I'm ditching the bottom end on this bike as the cases are all dented up on the points side and I took a closer look and it has quite a bit of primary chain damage. I never noticed on first inspection, you need to really get up in there with some dental mirrors.

Currently sourcing a new bottom end and I'll be sending it to Mark for an inspection and to replace the primary and cam chain with NOS beauties I have already.

I ended up mocking everything up last week so I'll post the photos soon. Really excited on how it's looking.

[Trad]

Been a while since I've been on here, had to check in on your build trad.
 bikes looking great man.  I'm itching to do another 550 soon

Cheers Robby, it's going at turtle speed but thanks for checking in.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yeeouch!!! Sounds painful. Hope you heal quickly, Jared.

[Trad]

Yeeouch!!! Sounds painful. Hope you heal quickly, Jared.

Thanks Don. Hockey players play with broken ribs so i'll be back to work soon. haha.

[Trad]

Hockey players play with broken ribs so i'll be back to work soon. haha.

Yeah, but they're tough guys! 

Pictures or it didn't happen!

hahaha, it happened Cal. 16 stair hand rail and my ribs met the kink at the end. Pics don't show anything as my guts are all tattooed. Just looks like my right side is pregnant. That and 12 hrs lost sitting in the ER waiting room. Damn Canadian health care! Yeah it's free but they don't care if you're dying; got to wait your turn while they treat all the hypochondriacs and junkies.

Come to think of it, hockey players probably play through it because if the $50000 they make per game. I'd have a hard time loosing out on that too.

[Trad]

Pulled the bottom end and got the headlight bucked installed with the shortened fork ears from Kott. I decided to run the ears inside out essentially so you can see more of the fork tube. I really like how it sucks the headlight bucket into the triple clamp.

CB550 Kott Headlight Ears by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

CB550 Cockpit by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

[Trad]

Double post..........

[Trad]

Battery is probably okay. A few sparks never hurt anyone... Too tight with the m-unit though, you're right about that. And where are you thinking to mount the reg/rec? How about where the stock went? Or, you could put it under the tray mates from below.

Reg/rec is going to bolt underneath the tray. I think I'm going to make a small platform for the battery under the seat hump. I'll have it so it bolts to my bolt on rear brace that the seat attaches too. I was really hoping both would fit.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jared,

I like how you mounted the headlight bucket - nice nuance.

Be very careful about that Anti-Gravity Battery.  They are not highly tolerant of shorts.  See the attached recent picture from Ryan Da Silva in Vancouver.  After he had a short the battery EXPLODED.  No bueno!!  Anti-Gravity and Ballistic have received some bad reviews about exploding lithium-ion batteries. 

I'm not saying you have to replace it; it might be fine.  If you decide to replace, I recommend swapping brands -- maybe to a Shorai. If cost is a big concern, try Alien Motion.  I would stick with Shorai, myself.

[Trad]

Jared,

I like how you mounted the headlight bucket - nice nuance.

Be very careful about that Anti-Gravity Battery.  They are not highly tolerant of shorts.  See the attached recent picture from Ryan Da Silva in Vancouver.  After he had a short the battery EXPLODED.  No bueno!!  Anti-Gravity and Ballistic have received some bad reviews about exploding lithium-ion batteries. 

I'm not saying you have to replace it; it might be fine.  If you decide to replace, I recommend swapping brands -- maybe to a Shorai. If cost is a big concern, try Alien Motion.  I would stick with Shorai, myself.

Don, thats crazy! I have two shorai's that I can use as a backup. With using all LED lighting I should be able to get away with this one. I like the size. haha. I just tossed the antigravity battery in the charger and it charged back up in a few minutes. Voltage looks fine with the meter too. I''ll monitor it though. Like Cal said, it should be ok. The terminals arched for less than a second.

Thanks for the heads up though, always appreciated.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jared,

I like how you mounted the headlight bucket - nice nuance.

Be very careful about that Anti-Gravity Battery.  They are not highly tolerant of shorts.  See the attached recent picture from Ryan Da Silva in Vancouver.  After he had a short the battery EXPLODED.  No bueno!!  Anti-Gravity and Ballistic have received some bad reviews about exploding lithium-ion batteries. 

I'm not saying you have to replace it; it might be fine.  If you decide to replace, I recommend swapping brands -- maybe to a Shorai. If cost is a big concern, try Alien Motion.  I would stick with Shorai, myself.

Don, thats crazy! I have two shorai's that I can use as a backup. With using all LED lighting I should be able to get away with this one. I like the size. haha. I just tossed the antigravity battery n the charger and it charged back up in a few minutes. Voltage looks fine with the meter too. I''ll monitor it though. Like Cal said, it should be ok. The terminals arched for less than a second.

Thanks for the heads up though, always appreciated.

I'm a fan of lithium-ion batteries in general.  Faster charge time, little to no drain, lighter and smaller that gel batteries.  Frankly, I don't know why anyone buys the water/lead maintenance batteries unless they are going for a die-hard restoration.