Author Topic: The Slowest 1974 CB550 Build Thread Ever (Read 21673 times)

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #100 on:** January 06, 2014, 02:47:17 PM »

Quote from: KrautKoffin on January 06, 2014, 12:24:49 PM

I warned you all it would be slow..

Emailed APE last week and they are running a little behind, they quoted me a month and it's been 6 weeks (I'm not stressing), dropped 2 heads off south of me at a machine shop to get inspected and the nicer head is getting oversized valves. Picked up a Gl1000 front end, in the process of refreshing the seals and fluid. Also trying to hunt down some carb dip to clean my 022a's!

All of this while trying to plan a wedding and getting 750 running!

Does the Cycle X (Kibblewhite) oversized valve kit require oversized valve guides or can you use the stock sized guides?

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #101 on:** January 06, 2014, 04:52:46 PM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on January 06, 2014, 02:47:17 PM

Quote from: KrautKoffin on January 06, 2014, 12:24:49 PM
I warned you all it would be slow..

Emailed APE last week and they are running a little behind, they quoted me a month and it's been 6 weeks (I'm not stressing), dropped 2 heads off south of me at a machine shop to get inspected and the nicer head is getting oversized valves. Picked up a Gl1000 front end, in the process of refreshing the seals and fluid. Also trying to hunt down some carb dip to clean my 022a's!

All of this while trying to plan a wedding and getting 750 running!

Does the Cycle X (Kibblewhite) oversized valve kit require oversized valve guides or can you use the stock sized guides?

Stock as far as I know!

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #102 on:** January 08, 2014, 08:21:14 PM »

Got around to working on the front end while the engine is off at APE/ Bob Smalls.. Fun times. Not only am I missing the hardware to mount the brakes to the forks, one of the fork caps is stripped beyond recognition. I'll end up JB Welding an Allan key in it and getting it off that way since they are recessed in the fork tube. Since I couldn't get the cap off I had to rebuild the fork backwards, replaced the seals and filled the fork with oil from the bottom with a funnel. Like I said, fun times!

Built this work bench on Sunday. It will outlast my house.

Ass backwards fork rebuild:

Dirty hands deserve a tasty dessert:

One thing I hadn't realized was I didn't send APE the crank out of the case I have, and will likely need to get corresponding bearings. Would this be something I should go to Honda to buy or should I have a shop sort that one out for me?

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #103 on:** January 09, 2014, 07:27:41 AM »

Jordan,
Sorry to hear about the seized cap. I bought that set as a spare and/or for my new build but ended up going with a modern USD for the new project - so I never looked under the plastic caps and just stuck them in storage.

I would echo the advice below. Maybe spray first with some penetrating oil, wipe off excess and apply heat. An easy out should get it out if necessary.

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #104 on:** January 10, 2014, 10:35:37 AM »

Thanks guys, I've got a few ideas to get it out.

Mail man dropped this off today, wonder what it is..

The seller was kind enough to throw in a free dyna S ignition as a wedding gift

Now I'm just waiting to get the head back to put in the 650 cam.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #105 on:** January 10, 2014, 02:43:02 PM »

Nice. Those seem to be increasingly harder to come by.

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #106 on:** January 10, 2014, 03:05:59 PM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on January 10, 2014, 02:43:02 PM

Nice. Those seem to be increasingly harder to come by.

Paid $100 shipped and he threw in a dyna s ignition for free

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #107 on:** January 10, 2014, 05:41:43 PM »

Smokin' deal, Jordan.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #108 on:** February 07, 2014, 08:43:37 AM »

Hey Jordan,

Any updates on the engine rebuild?

Don

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #109 on:** February 08, 2014, 09:25:03 AM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on February 07, 2014, 08:43:37 AM

Hey Jordan,

Any updates on the engine rebuild?

Don

Actually yes! I finally got my crank and cylinders back from APE, after a lengthy misquoted wait. Nothing pisses me off more than being in the dark about my products, especially after waiting an EXTRA MONTH AND A HALF! I know smaller companies get backed up, but just convey that to the customer!

The valve stem guides I ordered for the head were the wrong ID for the kibblewhite valves so I had a weeks downtime with that, but the new manifolds are ported as well.

Ill get pics up this week.. I've got a wedding and my brother leaves for Australia tomorrow..

Oh, my wheels also came in! 18" front and 16"x4.5" rear.

goldarrow · « **Reply #110 on:** February 09, 2014, 06:29:59 AM »

Quote from: KrautKoffin on January 10, 2014, 03:05:59 PM

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on January 10, 2014, 02:43:02 PM
Nice. Those seem to be increasingly harder to come by.

Paid $100 shipped and he threw in a dyna s ignition for free

I would test that dyna ignition on a good known running bike, you never know, it may be one of those famously failed units. If installed on your project bike, you may be chasing your tail with no end. Just a thought.

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #111 on:** February 15, 2014, 11:28:38 AM »

Goldie, I will! Thanks for the heads up

Update: got the head back, looks awesome. Bob Smalls Auto Machining did the work and it came out fantastic. He took a lot out and pricing was fair. He ported the manifolds for me and also did the stock manifold just in case I switch back to stock carbs!

Head just needs to be clearanced for the 650 cam
cam chain tensioner is on it's way from DSS ( boy did I get raped on that one)
Cylinders are done
I need to split the cases and install the knife edged crank with bearings. Are my only options using new bearings from a honda dealership?

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #112 on:** February 23, 2014, 05:49:10 PM »

Jordan,

I rode my 550K1 for the first time this weekend. It's SO much lighter than my 750 (by nearly 100 lbs!). I'm leaving that one stockish, but I can see the draw to have one with a hopped up motor! Let me know when I can pick up that spare head from you!

Don

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #113 on:** February 23, 2014, 06:54:38 PM »

HEY! this thing done yet?

MJL · « **Reply #114 on:** February 24, 2014, 01:21:54 PM »

Quote from: Bankerdanny on November 18, 2013, 02:20:01 PM

Kraut, I doubt this build even makes it into the top 10 for slowest build threads. LOL

+1 I've got two bike build threads on here that are nowhere near finished.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #115 on:** February 24, 2014, 01:40:31 PM »

Quote from: FrankenFrankenstuff on February 23, 2014, 06:54:38 PM

HEY! this thing done yet?

What he said. Yeah, right. I'm one to talk, considering how long it took to get my 750K7 up and running. I've decided to build a 550F2 basket case (wanted to keep my 550K1 stock-ish) at an even slower pace than yours! I was too impressed with how light these 550s are compared to my 750. I'll beg for scrap parts from you to build mine!

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #116 on:** February 24, 2014, 05:00:32 PM »

My frankenbike last ran in 2005....and still not done. I take years off at a time. Lawn trophy.

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #117 on:** March 15, 2014, 10:43:19 AM »

haha hey guys! the bike isn't done, Im bagging an e30 at the moment and will pick back up on this!

got my crank and cylinders back from APE
head back from Bob Smalls auto machining
mikuni vm26's getting cleaned

bought a cam tensioner from david silver spares.. NEVER AGAIN! I got raped on the cost, and then DSS sends me a bill for customs through ups for an extra $10 after I spent upwards of $200 on a part they threw in an envelope. #$%* that.

I'll be getting back onto this project in the next few weeks as the e30 gets done. Also, my 750 is no more, traded it to a friend for a stroker kit and 5 speed swap on the e30.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #118 on:** March 15, 2014, 11:54:33 AM »

The 750 is no more? Bummer. OK. We want to see some magic with the 550!!

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #119 on:** March 15, 2014, 02:10:20 PM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on March 15, 2014, 11:54:33 AM

The 750 is no more? Bummer. OK. We want to see some magic with the 550!!

Keep that 550 you got stock, I'm going to come borrow it for rides to the beach on occasion so I can keep my riding skills up and have motivation to build this 550! That's what killed me with the 750, I should have ridden it more before tearing into it! This 550 is a slow build, once the 750 leaves my garage I'll have room to build the 550.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #120 on:** March 15, 2014, 02:49:29 PM »

Quote from: KrautKoffin on March 15, 2014, 02:10:20 PM

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on March 15, 2014, 11:54:33 AM
The 750 is no more? Bummer. OK. We want to see some magic with the 550!!

Keep that 550 you got stock, I'm going to come borrow it for rides to the beach on occasion so I can keep my riding skills up and have motivation to build this 550! That's what killed me with the 750, I should have ridden it more before tearing into it! This 550 is a slow build, once the 750 leaves my garage I'll have room to build the 550.

My stockish 550 is pretty much sorted. I'm just having "Bondo" repair the dimple in the tank, repaint the tank and paint some FrankenFrankestuff sidecovers. I might also install a baffle into the 4-1 so the exhaust is more civilized. I'm keeping the seat as is so the better half can go on 2-up rides. I bought another cheap 550 (but it is a runner) to tear apart and graft a GSXR front end onto. That one will have a stronger engine.

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #121 on:** March 31, 2014, 08:48:19 PM »

Update: getting my motor together and can't find specs on head bolts for the APE head studs. Anyone got info?

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #122 on:** March 31, 2014, 09:01:49 PM »

Quote from: KrautKoffin on March 31, 2014, 08:48:19 PM

Update: getting my motor together and can't find specs on head bolts for the APE head studs. Anyone got info?

When all else fails, you can call APE. Does that mean you have the bottom end together?

KrautKoffin · « **Reply #123 on:** April 01, 2014, 09:05:10 AM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on March 31, 2014, 09:01:49 PM

Quote from: KrautKoffin on March 31, 2014, 08:48:19 PM
Update: getting my motor together and can't find specs on head bolts for the APE head studs. Anyone got info?

When all else fails, you can call APE. Does that mean you have the bottom end together?

Hahah the bottom end is still untouched. I'll be taking that to a shop (once I find one) to look at the trans and put in the new crank. Know/trust anyone local?

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #124 on:** April 01, 2014, 09:19:34 AM »

Jordan,

I think you could trust Jay to assemble your motor; I know you had some issues with him returning your calls, but his work seems pretty solid. He sorted through and fixed all the screwball things wrong in my 750 motor.

There are loads of shops that work on modern bikes, but they don't seem to know the quirks of what to look for on these older relics nor the patience to source vintage parts.

There are other guys -- like Shannon (SS Classics) in Venice -- that know their way around stock CBs very well but are not so focused on building performance motors/suspension.

News:

Author Topic: The Slowest 1974 CB550 Build Thread Ever (Read 21673 times)