Author Topic: 1976 CB550F - making it good, one step at a time (Read 119686 times)

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #200 on:** May 18, 2015, 08:32:30 AM »

An AGM or gel battery, or a Lithium-Ion battery should be readily available in Europe. You might hear the AGM battery called a maintenance free battery, since you do not have to add water.

flatlander · « **Reply #201 on:** May 18, 2015, 11:09:36 PM »

last time i looked i had trouble finding it but you're right, seems odd that they wouldn't have it. need to search some more...

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #202 on:** May 18, 2015, 11:21:41 PM »

Maintenance free batteries are used on all modern bikes. Since there are hundreds of thousands of them all over Europe, I am sure they are available. Have you tried looking at a motorcycle supply store for modern bikes?

flatlander · « **Reply #203 on:** May 19, 2015, 01:20:09 AM »

i was at a shop just this morning, seeing some batteries. what i did before was an online search for the batteries that had been mentioned on here: scorpion, ballistic etc. but they might run under different brand names here. i'm sure i can find something.

flatlander · « **Reply #204 on:** May 19, 2015, 02:27:11 AM »

hooked up the ignition. i just strapped the transistor box to the battery. this seems to be the simplest solution and leaves options open for the future, for when i might get a battery of smaller dimensions.
wrapped the box in rubber for added protection and to make sure it stays in place. the battery strap, like all rubber parts on the bike, is new and has good tension but better safe than sorry.

then i made up some wire extensions to connect the box to the the coils etc. i also changed the connections on the wires coming from the box, to the oldskool japanese bullet connectors. they might be out of date but this way at least it's the same type of connectors all over the bike.
then i bundled the 4 wires going upfront to the coils and other connections into a little loom that i attach to the main harness.

so - looks much tidier already.

done, ignition is fully hooked up. or wait - one last thing: that cool sticker needs to go on one of the coils

flatlander · « **Reply #205 on:** May 24, 2015, 12:16:31 PM »

the envolpe with the cam instructions still hasn't arrived... while waiting i have a good look at the head and rocker cover together, and decide to buff and polish some parts of the head.

it's mainly the top of the top find, edges of the fins and a bit along the edge of the top gasket surface. the rest is untreated, like it came from blasting. the idea is to create a transition from the matt cylinder to the polished cover. the effect is relatively subtle but catches the light nicely.

cal, you recognise this? yes that's the formerly rusty engine hanger! can't say i'm not listening

calj737 · « **Reply #206 on:** May 24, 2015, 02:33:06 PM »

Allah be praised! (since it's nearly Ramadan) looks smashing now, Flats

flatlander · « **Reply #207 on:** May 25, 2015, 02:15:33 AM »

thought that would make you happy. praise the rattlecan!

flatlander · « **Reply #208 on:** May 25, 2015, 11:56:54 PM »

i got these airbox rubbers off david silver spares. usually, i try to get oem stuff as long as it's not a conscious upgrade but these don't seem to be available any more from honda. so i got the repros and i must say, they make a very good impression.

top row - original old ones, bottom - new

didn't know what to expect and was mentally prepared having to remove molding marks but they're perfectly smooth inside. the rubber also seems good quality, and the ones for 1 and 4 even have that little knob for aligning them.

streak09 · « **Reply #209 on:** May 26, 2015, 09:52:55 AM »

Quote from: flatlander on May 25, 2015, 11:56:54 PM

i got these airbox rubbers off david silver spares. usually, i try to get oem stuff as long as it's not a conscious upgrade but these don't seem to be available any more from honda. so i got the repros and i must say, they make a very good impression.

I bought a set from DSS a while ago as well. Very nice quality, I couldn't tell the difference. You are moving right along!

flatlander · « **Reply #210 on:** May 26, 2015, 01:08:40 PM »

thanks man! how long ago did you get the rubbers? would be good to know how they age.
nice s90 in your profile pic

streak09 · « **Reply #211 on:** May 26, 2015, 02:33:12 PM »

It's been probably 1 1/2 - 2 years since purchased. Have not installed them on the bike yet

, but they have held up well in the garage! Haha. Slowly working on it though...

Thanks for the kind words on the 90. She is my baby. Still working on it here and there when I get the spare cash (which is seldom). It's a blast to ride, but I am antsy to ride something at 60mph that doesn't feel like a bicycle. I take every opportunity to show her off

flatlander · « **Reply #212 on:** May 27, 2015, 11:43:41 AM »

wow the s90 looks awefully clean in that picture. well done!
here's my ss50, pretty much same basic construction:

strynboen · « **Reply #213 on:** May 28, 2015, 09:56:28 AM »

hey small bikes...

here are my cd 50 from 1972

streak09 · « **Reply #214 on:** May 28, 2015, 11:35:45 AM »

Very nice! What year is that SS50? I really like the tank.

flatlander · « **Reply #215 on:** May 29, 2015, 03:42:44 AM »

the full name is ss50 z k3. from 1979. the tank was stock on these later ss'. earlier ones were in the style of yours and strynboen's cd.
these little hondas are fun

strynboen · « **Reply #216 on:** May 31, 2015, 05:58:26 AM »

the tank and fenders..and spedo looks like Yamaha fs1 1978

flatlander · « **Reply #217 on:** May 31, 2015, 01:15:03 PM »

yes right, honda wanted to compete with the fs1. of course, it couldn't really catch the 2-stroke yamaha. anyway, kinda funny that they called it a ss = supersport with 50cc

on the 550 front, i got the cam squared up. what a pain! i've become quite the expert in putting on - pulling off the rocker cover!
still need to check piston-valve clearance but the most fiddly bit of work is done.

strynboen · « **Reply #218 on:** June 02, 2015, 03:41:05 AM »

in the erly 80...i drove Honda cd 50,,and all my frends drove fs1..the yams vas easy to get to run 80..but more vas hard..the reed valve and narrov krank/case..gave a bad flow..so aktuly mine Honda eaten many Yamahas..it run abaut 90 kmt..it vas fien (i drove only 50 cc) had a hot cam and 20 mm kaburator
the problems vas puch and kreidler vith facktory tuning parts..they did go over 100..some 110-120..but at a heigh preise..specily if polisen took the hardvare...

flatlander · « **Reply #219 on:** June 02, 2015, 05:12:21 AM »

my ss has a 16mm carb and hot cam, goes up to 80-90kph no problem. if i have enough road i can outrun most 2 strokes but they do accelerate quicker. i think the ss head has larger valves than the cd?

Stev-o · « **Reply #220 on:** June 02, 2015, 05:35:46 AM »

What happened to the 550F thread?? ha.........

flatlander · « **Reply #221 on:** June 02, 2015, 06:03:58 AM »

the 550 is waiting impatiently to get clearances checked and for that rocker to be replaced that i had to send back. a forced break...
we're during intermission now which is used by the baby bikes to provide some entertainment. feel free to pop out for some popcorn or cold beer. the regular programme will resume soon

flatlander · « **Reply #222 on:** June 02, 2015, 06:08:53 AM »

by the way, if any of the present audience have some further tips for the carb setup, would be great to hear:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,148291.0.html

flatlander · « **Reply #223 on:** June 04, 2015, 04:58:38 AM »

ok there is some news for the 550, after all:

the rocker arm has been sorted and mike is sending it back. should have it next week. i must say, it must not be easy to deal with a customer over such a big distance but he's been super helpful with all this.

i also test assembled the head and camshaft yesterday. the head was not torqued down fully and i also didn't spend the time to adjust the cam super precisely... but there's plenty of clearance between valves and piston, i stopped checking when i knew there were 3mm on TDC and +/- 15 degrees. so i don't need to worry about that.
also against head and rocker cover, there's enough space for this cam.

now i can confidently tie down and seal up the head.

VRodPete · « **Reply #224 on:** June 04, 2015, 11:23:53 AM »

Wow, am I late to this party. Just read all (9!) pages to catch up. I too have a 76 550F in the garage that I'm restoring, in similar shape to flatlanders when you started. Great great information in this post so far, I'm addicted and subscribed!

Are your plastics original, or have you replaced them? Mine were all cracked so I have new ones ready to paint. Before I started to tear mine apart I put a few miles on it, and ended up stranded due to corrosion on the fuse block - which I replaced with the Hondaman block that uses modern clip fuses. Have you checked that piece? - I know you had it off at least once.

Anyway, no hijack intended, now intently following your progress. Great work so far.

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Author Topic: 1976 CB550F - making it good, one step at a time (Read 119686 times)