Topic: Newb in need of help with 1974 Honda CB550

[rb550four]

Are we all able to make a guess? is there a prize for the winner? I'd like to play, better odds than lotto.
My guess is that the red and yellow wire  to the starter solenoid is disconnected and it happened when you removed the carbs or changed out the rectifier.
Oh oh oh, can we have two guesses?
 my second guess is the red and yellow wire in the bar controls disconnected when you put in the new throttle cable.
  But it's more likely that the wiring to the new rectifier was screwed up. What rectifier did you use? and how did you wire it?

[Stev-o]

Both of my batteries are in working order.

What is the voltage?

[jamesbekman]

...and  make sure every washer, puck, o-ring and torque value are properly installed and set. This alone will make your new bike much happier and roadworthy for years to come.

I'm going to say this every time, nothing we are describing is extreme or difficult. You have most of the tools necessary, with the exception of a torque wrench, an impact driver (those screws on the motor aren't Phillips, they're JIS, and they can be a bother to remove), synch gauges, and a multi-meter. Equipped with that, you can build/rebuild about any metric machine.

Most members replace those JIS screws with Allen heads, stainless steel sets in fact. They resist corrosion much longer. And given your climate, SS will be worth the effort. DCC sells full sets, or here's another place with everything labeled for you: http://alloyboltz.com/catalog/shopping_cart.php?sort=3a&osCsid=gelcmhnk8krcivmiao4ga13os3

Pretty hard to beat the price, and every set comes fully bagged by cover, and labeled. Pretty convenient actually.

Replacing the gaskets is more about technique than torque. They're oddly shaped, and not symmetrical. Lots of folks get it wrong. And there's several small oil "pucks" and o-rings that go on, in odd places. Always important to look at a parts fiche diagram for your engine to insure you have all the pieces in the proper location. Your PO may have not done so, and he wouldn't be the first to overlook some things. Book mark this page too: http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k1-four-1975-usa_model466/partslist/

And none of what's being written about you or he, should be construed as disparaging. Nothing wrong at all with flipping bikes. And nothin unusual at all about buying a bike that needs some TLC. We all do it, thus the existence of this forum.

My latest $200 purchase, in fact:

See, you're much farther along and better off than I. But with a bit of wrenching, lots of WD-40 and some time, it'll look like this:

Dude where is the back half of your frame in your finished bike picture in the parking lot !

[calj737]

It's a custom hoop rebuilt/restructured as a cantilevered support. Rides more like a rigid than a dual shock bike. It's all about the engineering...

[jamesbekman]

Dont mean to hijack the thread but anywayI can see some more pics?

[calj737]

Click on my 550 build thread. First picture of assembly shows the frame pretty well. I may have others.

[anuhn]

Are we all able to make a guess? is there a prize for the winner? I'd like to play, better odds than lotto.
My guess is that the red and yellow wire  to the starter solenoid is disconnected and it happened when you removed the carbs or changed out the rectifier.
Oh oh oh, can we have two guesses?
 my second guess is the red and yellow wire in the bar controls disconnected when you put in the new throttle cable.
  But it's more likely that the wiring to the new rectifier was screwed up. What rectifier did you use? and how did you wire it?

havent had time to actually go about checking the wires, who know, you might be the winner haha.

I have a bunch of stock rectifiers laying around, so they are just basically plug in play situations.

What is the voltage?

one is 12.6 other is 12.8

I mean that the KILL switch is not allowing power to reach the coils. You're not providing great details when you say, "Won't kick, No sound.."  Do you have a meter and have you verified where you do and don't have 12v of power through the ignition circuits?

Yes, I have a meter, will check sometime soon when life isnt getting in the way haha

[anuhn]

I was told the control assembly has a pin that grounds to the handle bars?? Which pin would I be looking at, does anyone have a picture?

edit with image:



Is that the pin that grounds to handlebars??

[anuhn]

Nothing was wrong with any of the wiring, the control assembly needed to be grounded. i wasted 100$ on a new harness that i didnt need haha

[goldarrow]

Nothing was wrong with any of the wiring, the control assembly needed to be grounded. i wasted 100$ on a new harness that i didnt need haha

Save the harness for the next bike

[anuhn]

So it's been the longest update in forever, but here is how the bike is sitting now. I just don't know what to paint it or what else to do with it. Could use some input.

[Stev-o]

Looks like you've already painted everything.

[anuhn]

Looks like you've already painted everything.

The seat is still in primer and the gas tank actually got gas on the tank, paint is lifted/peeling and ruined on the other side. it's still in the previous owners paint job