Author Topic: 1974 Honda CB550  (Read 1378 times)

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Offline cnd_guy

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1974 Honda CB550
« on: August 04, 2014, 01:45:34 PM »
Hi everyone,

I have an old 1974 CB550 that i bought in 1999 while living in Ohio.  It was running when i bought it but i let it sit for over 10 years in my parents garage.  Over the past year i have been slowly working on it trying to bring it back to life.  This forum has been a huge help. 

I have a question for ya'll. 

I've had the gas tank cleaned and sealed.  I did my own paint job using rattle can.  I've sprayed it with 2K clear coat but i think i've made a huge mistake.  I taped of the gas cap and the neck to the gas tank while doing all the painting.  I forgot to remove the tape from the gas tank neck so now it's just bare metal.  I'm okay with it but won't it rust?  Is there any tip or insight on how to fix this problem?  I don't care about the look it's more about keeping the paint job i've done from being ruined by some rust or gas dripping.

Here are some pics of what i am talking about.

1974 CB550 Four

Offline calj737

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2014, 01:57:13 PM »
Shoot that portion with clear coat and call it a day.
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'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2014, 04:34:30 PM »
Agreed.  Tape a circular block of the interior of the tank and shoot just the neck of the tank with clear.  Done!
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Offline cnd_guy

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2014, 07:06:17 PM »
Any old clear coat?  Won't the gas just eat away at it?

1974 CB550 Four

Offline calj737

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2014, 09:26:37 PM »
Lave the very lip clean metal as that is where the cap seals. Below the curl, you can paint/clear with confidence. Just do proper prep on the bare metal for adhesion.
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Trad

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2014, 09:43:32 PM »
That was a rattle can job? Nice work.
74 CB550 Build: NOS-GUTTED-OEMplus-HOLDTRUE
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,130575.0.html

Offline TwoTired

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2014, 10:57:15 PM »
Mix up some 2 part 30 minute epoxy and thin it (or not) with a little alcohol.  (You can even tint it black if you wished.)  The using an artists brush, paint a coat of that epoxy onto the bare area.  it would be best to remove any rust spots first.  But, if you tint the epoxy, the specs will be hidden.

You could also use a faster cure time epoxy, if you refrigerate the epoxy first, making it cold.  A cold surface also extends the cure time.  Clean the brush with acetone if you desire to save it.
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