Topic: The Slowest 1974 CB550 Build Thread Ever

[KrautKoffin]

Called Mark De Groff's Cylinder Head a bit north of me and it'll be $250ish to bore the cylinders out the 3mm for the new pistons. Pistons arrive December 5!

$189 for APE to do it. http://www.aperaceparts.com/machining.html

Well that solves that.. Any recommendations where I should get the head done Don?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Called Mark De Groff's Cylinder Head a bit north of me and it'll be $250ish to bore the cylinders out the 3mm for the new pistons. Pistons arrive December 5!

$189 for APE to do it. http://www.aperaceparts.com/machining.html

Well that solves that.. Any recommendations where I should get the head done Don?

Mike Rieck is THE Head Man. Cycle X and APE can also do it. For a local source, you might call Jay LaRossa at Lossa Engineering.

[KrautKoffin]

Called Mark De Groff's Cylinder Head a bit north of me and it'll be $250ish to bore the cylinders out the 3mm for the new pistons. Pistons arrive December 5!

$189 for APE to do it. http://www.aperaceparts.com/machining.html

Well that solves that.. Any recommendations where I should get the head done Don?

Mike Rieck is THE Head Man. Cycle X and APE can also do it. For a local source, you might call Jay LaRossa at Lossa Engineering.

I shot him a PM yesterday but haven't heard back. I'll call ape and see if I can get a package deal from them

[Stev-o]

APE is pretty close to you, I think a field trip is in order....

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

APE is pretty close to you, I think a field trip is in order....

APE is about 2 hours away from Kraut with no traffic. Add LA traffic and it can be a crawl. LA traffic truly blows, too. But yes, Steve-o, MUCH closer than the others I recommended.

[KrautKoffin]

Yea Stevo, ape is 2 solid hours with no traffic north of me in the worst kind of way. The road out there sucks, there's nothing to see, and I always have to make that drive at night because traffic is so bad I'm forced to leave at 10 on usually. I'll pick a place to get the work done once I get back from Costa Rica on the 30th, and once I find a head that's complete. It's a bitxh hunting down parts that aren't complete!

[Stev-o]

Yea Stevo, ape is 2 solid hours with no traffic north of me in the worst kind of way. The road out there sucks, there's nothing to see, and I always have to make that drive at night because traffic is so bad I'm forced to leave at 10 on usually. I'll pick a place to get the work done once I get back from Costa Rica on the 30th, and once I find a head that's complete. It's a bitxh hunting down parts that aren't complete!

That far, eh? oh well.   

Where you going in CR?  Been there twice, loved it. Highly recommend going to Arenal....saw a small eruption when we were there.

[KrautKoffin]

Yea Stevo, ape is 2 solid hours with no traffic north of me in the worst kind of way. The road out there sucks, there's nothing to see, and I always have to make that drive at night because traffic is so bad I'm forced to leave at 10 on usually. I'll pick a place to get the work done once I get back from Costa Rica on the 30th, and once I find a head that's complete. It's a bitxh hunting down parts that aren't complete!

That far, eh? oh well.   

Where you going in CR?  Been there twice, loved it. Highly recommend going to Arenal....saw a small eruption when we were there.

Stevo, we start in San Jose, then to Jaco, then to somewhere on the Caribbean side for a few days.

To contribute to this slow build: I've been amassing parts. Still need spokes ( any condition) for the wheels and a front brake assembly. I'm just trying to get this thing into a roller so I can have the space in my garage for now while I build the motor. Crank and cylinders will be going to APE, the head to Bob Smalls who is $400 cheaper than everywhere else. Hopefully all of the parts will be here by the time I get back from Costa Rica! See you guys on the 1st!

- Jordan

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jordan,
Give me the low down on Bob Small's in San Clemente. What type of head work at what prices?

[KrautKoffin]

Jordan,
Give me the low down on Bob Small's in San Clemente. What type of head work at what prices?

He said it would be $360 to seat new valve guides and port and polish the head. I'm going to bring him a gasket to match as well. I want to go as big as possible with the porting. Anyone know if there are larger valves for the 550 platform?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yes, Kibblewhite makes oversized valves for the 550/4.  (http://www.kpmivalvetrain.com/pdf/KPMI_2013_2014_Catalog.pdf)  Cycle X carries them. (http://www.cyclexchange.net/500-550-Hi-Perf.htm) $274 for a complete set

[KrautKoffin]

Yes, Kibblewhite makes oversized valves for the 550/4.  (http://www.kpmivalvetrain.com/pdf/KPMI_2013_2014_Catalog.pdf)  Cycle X carries them. (http://www.cyclexchange.net/500-550-Hi-Perf.htm) $274 for a complete set

OoOo tempting..  If I do valves do I have to do springs and retainers?

[KrautKoffin]

Been in Costa Rica all week, I come home on the 30th!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yes, Kibblewhite makes oversized valves for the 550/4.  (http://www.kpmivalvetrain.com/pdf/KPMI_2013_2014_Catalog.pdf)  Cycle X carries them. (http://www.cyclexchange.net/500-550-Hi-Perf.htm) $274 for a complete set

OoOo tempting..  If I do valves do I have to do springs and retainers?

If you are going to go through the expense of replacing valves, you should overhaul the valvetrain.  What the heck are you doing checking out the forum?  Shouldn't you be swinging through the jungle canopy with monkeys?

[KrautKoffin]

Yes, Kibblewhite makes oversized valves for the 550/4.  (http://www.kpmivalvetrain.com/pdf/KPMI_2013_2014_Catalog.pdf)  Cycle X carries them. (http://www.cyclexchange.net/500-550-Hi-Perf.htm) $274 for a complete set

OoOo tempting..  If I do valves do I have to do springs and retainers?

If you are going to go through the expense of replacing valves, you should overhaul the valvetrain.  What the heck are you doing checking out the forum?  Shouldn't you be swinging through the jungle canopy with monkeys?

We just got back from the sloth sanctuary and found a cafe with wifi which is super rare.. So I'm never on here! Happy thanksgiving everyone!

[Stev-o]

Those three toed sloths are odd looking animals. 

[KrautKoffin]

Those three toed sloths are odd looking animals.

Here's a quick few photos of our trip, if you want to follow my usual shenanigans or like corgi puppies, good beer, or Volkswagens, follow me on Instagram @krautkoffin:








Here's a few images from out trip and a few of the things I came home to! I figured out that I need to change my profession to an eBay photographer, those guys really know how to polish a turd 

This is the best I can do for updates right now, as I've only been on the ground for a little over 6 hours!

[KrautKoffin]

Threw some parts together that I had laying around to get some of that 'instant gratification'. Felt good to have a partial roller!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

In 'n Out Burger! Just had some today, too!

That head looks pretty good. Let me know things work out with Bob Smalls.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I have absolutely no good reason to feel the way I do, but now I want a CB550 project!  I must have holes in my head!

[KrautKoffin]

I have absolutely no good reason to feel the way I do, but now I want a CB550 project!  I must have holes in my head!

That's how I know we are friends! I'll be driving down to bob smalls this Friday, keep you updated!

[calj737]

Is that a partial roller, or are you building a uni-cycle? Seems to be the only custom modification left in the CB category with all of today's customizers. Well done for breaking ground on a new trend...

Perhaps the heat in CR got to you a bit?

[KrautKoffin]

Is that a partial roller, or are you building a uni-cycle? Seems to be the only custom modification left in the CB category with all of today's customizers. Well done for breaking ground on a new trend...

Perhaps the heat in CR got to you a bit?

Hold on, let me dig up a picture from this trip.



So yes, maybe the heat has got to me. The reason it's a uni is because I don't have enough spokes to lace up the rear wheel! I only have one collar on the front because the PO only included one. I'm hunting down some more parts this week and trying to get my 750 on the road this week (with finals and work).

[KrautKoffin]

Got the crank in the mail today, promptly shipped it with the block to APE. Also got a wiring harness and some side covers in the mail! Thank you all for your donations, if I owe you anything for shipping let me know!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jordan,
Is your frame titled?