Topic: Newbie Project '76 CB550

[yeyoPR]

Hi all.  This is my first project!
Bought this bike with 8,900 miles and last ridden in 1999.  Im still not sure if Im going for stock or for cafe/brat.
I would really like to go the stock way, but the problem is I would have to replace all the chrome parts, or rechrome.  Making it a brat wouldnt be too hard.
Heres what Im dealing with:

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yeyo,

Don't worry so much about the design right now.  Concentrate your efforts on getting the bike running reliably and safely.  Give it a thorough tune up, replacing engine oil, fork oil, brake fluid, replacing worn brake lines, fork seals, rebuilding the brake master cylinder, checking your brake pads.  Clean the gas tank and fuel lines first (before attempting to fire the bike), clean and synch the carbs.  Check the wear on your tires -- replace cracked tires and inner tubes if they are leaking.  After getting it running, check the charging system for any shorts.

Use Coke and aluminum foil to remove rust off your chrome pieces, spray with WD40 after.

Get used to your bike before asking what you want it to become.  If you enjoy it stock, keep riding it and restore it as you ride. If you want to cafe or brat it, modify it as you ride it.

[yeyoPR]

Hi...thanks for the reply!

I like your last advice about restoring/modifying as I ride, but I'm afraid its too late for that!  The bike is already stripped to the frame and engine!
I'm now concentrating on getting everything that's not related to design.  Already cleaned and rebuilt the carbs, I'm getting brakes lines/pads, fork seals and oil, master cylinder is done, fuel lines, etc.  Both tires need to be replaced, and also I'm gonna need a rear wheel.
I tried the coke/aluminum thing on some chrome parts but it seems they are way too damaged.  Whats a good source for oem parts?   Check out this rear wheel and spokes!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Hi...thanks for the reply!

I like your last advice about restoring/modifying as I ride, but I'm afraid its too late for that!  The bike is already stripped to the frame and engine!
I'm now concentrating on getting everything that's not related to design.  Already cleaned and rebuilt the carbs, I'm getting brakes lines/pads, fork seals and oil, master cylinder is done, fuel lines, etc.  Both tires need to be replaced, and also I'm gonna need a rear wheel.
I tried the coke/aluminum thing on some chrome parts but it seems they are way too damaged.  Whats a good source for oem parts?   Check out this rear wheel and spokes!

That rear wheel is toast.  Unless you are undertaking a strick restoration, I would suggest buying aluminum rims (Buchanans) to replace your rusty OEM D.I.D. steel rims.  The aluminum ones are much lighter.  You can get spokes there, too. 

Parts:  OEM (West Hills Honda, Western Honda, David Silver Spares, CMSNL); Performance (Dynoman, Cycle Exchange, APE); Aftermarket (Cycle Exchange, Dime City Cycles, 4into1, Cognitomoto); GSXR front end conversion (Cognitomoto, All Balls)

[calj737]

If your budget allows, many turn to Buchanan's for spokes and their Sun alloy rims when replacing the wheels. The hubs will clean up fine, either polish (lots of work) or powdercoat.

A member here, Shaun, has www.slingshotcycles.com and makes SS braided brake lines and hard lines to bolt right in as a nice upgrade to your stock brakes. Use the discount code SOHC4 for a 15% discount.

Member, Godferrey, sells phenolic pistons and offers drilling/thinning of your rotor for improved braking as well.

Here's a complete online parts fiche for your model/year http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k2-four-1976-usa_model464/partslist/

And lastly, member Devin, has www.cognitomoto.com for assorted goodies for your project to take it many directions.

Good luck-

[yeyoPR]

Thanks guys!  Those contacts really help the research.

[Tews19]

Try using steel wool 000 for the rust. I tried the coke and tin foil trick. Didn't work as well as steel wool.

[yeyoPR]

Thanks, Tews. I'll give it a try.
Just spent 1hr+ on your build thread, awesome job!

[goldarrow]

with that much of rust, i wouldn't waste time cleaning the chrome.  i would either send them off to rechrome or source the parts. 

[calj737]

Steel wool and Petro Jelly is a nice formula for rust removal. Doesn't work well enough if there's significant pitting though.

[yeyoPR]

Thanks for the ideas!
My first option is to restore to stock but I don't wanna spend a fortune re-chroming or buying new original chrome parts.  I have a LOT of rust.  So I'm gonna try and save to as much chrome as possible and then do the math on the parts I couldn't save.
If its too much I'll go with the cafe/brat.
I haven't checked prices, but I understand re-chroming is about the same price as powder coating?...and buying new can be cheaper than re-chroming?

[calj737]

The biggest challenge to chroming is finding a place that does it. It's pretty well banned in many states in the US. There are some places that still do perform it, but with re-chroming, it also depends upon whether the pitting is so deep that the underlying metal is eroded and won't look good chromed. Those parts would need to be replaced.

Certain parts can be powder coated in lieu of chrome and still have a pretty "stock" bike. My opinion is that stock is more a style than a full-on restoration. Lots of top notch examples of both build styles on this forum (Tweakin's Golden Turd is a beautiful example of stockish, Cb750Cafe has another, then full-on, over the top restoration SohRon's 550 build). Your choice to use as inspiration.

[Mcwilliams570]

That rim looks pretty bad I think new ones would be the easy way to go. Nice project.

Matt

[Stev-o]

with that much of rust, i wouldn't waste time cleaning the chrome. 

+1.  Not sure what your budget is, unless it is the sky, consider good used parts from this forum or ebay.   

[yeyoPR]

......... then full-on, over the top restoration SohRon's 550 build). Your choice to use as inspiration.

Took me a while to find SohRon build thread, I'm on page 5 now and all I can say is WOW!!!....what a great source with narrative and pics.  Definitely an inspiration!  Thanks for pointing that out, and thanks to SohRon!

[2strokeTrush]

Looking good man, Wish I had those pipes!

[calj737]

Took me a while to find SohRon build thread, I'm on page 5 now and all I can say is WOW!!!....what a great source with narrative and pics.  Definitely an inspiration!  Thanks for pointing that out, and thanks to SohRon!

I use it constantly as a better version of the manual. If only I had a way to filter out the gushing praise, it would make searching it far faster! But it truly has helped me (even though my #$%* is cafe and naked style customs) to identify and understand many components so I don't go whacking and hacking myself into a corner. I'd bookmark that build and keep it along with TwoTired's electrical diagnosis threads. Between those boys, "thems some awfully smart fellas".

[yeyoPR]

Hey all!   Just thought I give an update....here's were I'm at so far.  Little by little, a couple of hours every weekend.

I'm mocking up the parts Im getting just to see what else I will need.
Next thing to buy is the exhaust.  From my research I would like MotoGP werks 4into1, but I cant find them anywhere.  I think Im gona go with the Carpy's.  Any suggestion?

[calj737]

Motogpwerks.com. Chris makes a few sets every couple of months and they sell out pretty quickly. You can also check out his facebook page under the same name.

Another option if MGP set is not available is the Lossa unit (Lossa Engineering). The Carpy's are fine, but they have been used by many and some have mentioned fitment issues while wrestling them on.

Good luck-

[GV1390]

I ran Carpy's exhaust on my last CB550 and I wouldn't go back to him for various reasons, primarily because the customer service plain out sucks. I talked to Chris from MotoGPWerks last week. He only makes X sets a year and only has one extra one which has my name on it....Lossa would be a good option, but I've never done business with them so I couldn't say completely.

[yeyoPR]

I checked on the Lossa, and what turns me down is that they will not work with the center stand and cant remove the oil filter with them on.  I can deal with the oil filter thing, but I love the center stand!  Theres that, and also the Lossa is like $120 more with the options I want (black ceramic, baffle, etc).
Another thing I have to consider is the shipping, my options are more limited because I'm not in the USA and not everybody ships here.
Anyway, I have time to think about it and do more research.  But for now Carpy's are winning.

[GV1390]

I can't speak about the center stand as I never ran one, but I do know you have to remove the entire exhaust to access the oil filter with Carpy's unit.

[calj737]

The center stand gets removed with every 4:1 from these vendors. Not withstanding shipping costs, ceramic coating these pipes is about a $200 fee (inside and out) at most coaters here in the States. MotoGP sells their system for $550, with a baffle, but offers no coating. Its stainless only, and its a beautiful system. Each vendor is essentially replicating an old Yoshi exhaust.

The 550 4:1s also need to dropped for oil filter service. The MotoGP allows quick disconnect via spring hooks from header to exhaust flange.

Good luck-

[yeyoPR]

Thanks for the replies!
Is the center stand on a 500 different from a 550?  Because theres some pics on Carpy's site of a 500 with the center stand on.  Maybe that's were I'm mistaken.
http://www.cb750cafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Kevs-500-carpy-shot.jpg

I've seen the only 4into1 with access to the oil filter are the Mac's, but I haven't read great reviews about those.
I don't mind removing the exhaust for tune ups, doesn't take that long.

[GV1390]

I'll make it easier for you....

Ditch the center stand, mirrors, gauges, blinkers, side-covers and anything else I forgot. Don't be a wuss.