Topic: Trad's Rust and Bones 550 Brat Build: Input on plug readings needed, last page.

[Trad]

All I can offer is that....yes you are nuts to take it for a ride in January.      It's -18C here right now man!

Haha, but to be fair bwaller, I AM CANADIAN!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

As IS Brent (bwaller), too!!!

[Trad]

Hi Jared,

Nice limited project bike.  The challenge will be to keep it limited.  My K7 "rat bike" ended up pretty nice.  My advice is to limit any mods and work for now to those that keep it a runner -- like the ones you have planned.  When your main project bike is completed and shaken down, then think about any more serious mods.

I know that you have a spare set of clubmans, but if you get tingly wrists from the angle, you may shop for a pair of adjustable clubmans (Tomasellis).

Keep up the great work on your main project and ride this one like you stole it!!   

Thanks for the words as always Don, always appreciated. I know, the mod itch comes and then you're deep into another project without a runner. Its a vicious cycle and I'm prone to it. This bike WILL be nicer than it look here, the pictures truly make it look cleaner than it is.

I've ridden clubmans and clipons with mid controls forever. I know it's not ideal but the body position is more comfortable there than with rear sets. It's a similar position as to how I ride my bmx bike. I have most control like that. Might sound crazy. haha

The main build may slow a bit as I dial this one in for Spring. I have quite a few bmx trips coming up so I won't be at home much.

Jared,

You've had a busy 24 hours.  Great find on the tank and even better work trouble-shooting the oil leak and clutch issues.  Well done!!

If the clubmans work for you, that's all that matters.  I have a lot more years and a finicky back!   

My back is probably equivalent to someone aged 50+ at this point, from all the crashes I've taken in my life on the bmx bike. I think it feels better when I'm crouching. Not good.   

Al right, I had a setback yesterday. I went for another quick ride last night, it was fairly warm and there was a lot of water on the streets. I think I may have got some water into some connection in the electronics pan because the bike lost power; the battery drained almost instantly. I was right near my place so I pushed it back inside. It was late so I haven't had much time to diagnose anything. The nice thing about this bike is that all the connections are stock beside removing the starter solenoid, and having an updated rectifier. Tonight I'm going to charge the battery pull all the connectors apart, dry any moister that had gotten in there, and replace any of the fuses that may have got shot. It should be simple, I hope.

[Trad]

As IS Brent (bwaller), too!!!

I know, I was taking a bit of a shot at him, saying he should be out too. Albeit we are having an unseasonably warm winter by Canadian standards.

[Trad]

Well, it's been another productive evening.

1) I stripped the paint off the triple clamp and tried to leave it as untouched as possible. I like the look of the original casting. Imperfectly perfect. I also got new OEM hardware for the clamp.

2) I took apart the wiring harness and cleaned all the wires and connectors. They were pretty grimy; now I can see what I'm doing. I really like that most of the harness is still factory with OG connectors. NO CUT AND SPLICE GARBAGE.

3) I found a yellow wire on the rectifier that was hanging on by a thread. Could this be the cause of my electrical woe? All fuses were fine. I will solder the connection and hook everything back; hopefully it fires up. If not I will have start from square one.

4) Not pictured was the battery box I bead blasted. I will smooth and paint that this weekend.

Sorry again for the cell phone photos, been doing a lot of work and too lazy to bust out the dslr.

[bwaller]

My back is probably equivalent to someone aged 50+ at this point, from all the crashes I've taken in my life on the bmx bike.

Said the twenty-something... The difference is not how you feel now, Trad, it's how you feel at 50 after having done all that damage to your back in your teens and twenties. You'll understand when you get old like Don 

Very true, once you're Dons age, whew that'll be a whole new series of issues. 

By the way, I dig the new title!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My back is probably equivalent to someone aged 50+ at this point, from all the crashes I've taken in my life on the bmx bike.

Said the twenty-something... The difference is not how you feel now, Trad, it's how you feel at 50 after having done all that damage to your back in your teens and twenties. You'll understand when you get old like Don 

Very true, once you're Dons age, whew that'll be a whole new series of issues. 

By the way, I dig the new title!

Let me get my reading glasses so I can see those last 2 posts!

[Trad]

My back is probably equivalent to someone aged 50+ at this point, from all the crashes I've taken in my life on the bmx bike.

Said the twenty-something... The difference is not how you feel now, Trad, it's how you feel at 50 after having done all that damage to your back in your teens and twenties. You'll understand when you get old like Don 

Cal, For the record, I just tuned 28. That's the scary part, I hope I'm not in a wheelchair buy the ripe age all you guys are at    You guys are still riding, I fear I won't be so lucky.

On a side note, being the electrical guru you are. Do you think that bad connection could have caused the bike to die right quick while on the road or should I still be trouble shooting? I guess I'll know once I hook it all back up. 

[Trad]

My back is probably equivalent to someone aged 50+ at this point, from all the crashes I've taken in my life on the bmx bike.

Said the twenty-something... The difference is not how you feel now, Trad, it's how you feel at 50 after having done all that damage to your back in your teens and twenties. You'll understand when you get old like Don 

Very true, once you're Dons age, whew that'll be a whole new series of issues. 

By the way, I dig the new title!

Haha, thanks bwaller, always appreciate you chiming in .

[bwaller]

Don't write yourself off so quickly, the body is an amazing tool, organ, poor tool! Most of us are testament to that. 

When you approach 60 you'll be out there riding or racing. 

[Maurice]

You race BMX? Up until a couple years ago I was still racing MTB (pro cross country), road and CX (cat 1). MTB was too much on the body so I turned to road/CX but still doing about 10 races per season. I wish I had been able to do BMX there's just no tracks around here...

Love everything 2 wheels

[Trad]

You race BMX? Up until a couple years ago I was still racing MTB (pro cross country), road and CX (cat 1). MTB was too much on the body so I turned to road/CX but still doing about 10 races per season. I wish I had been able to do BMX there's just no tracks around here...

Love everything 2 wheels

I ride bmx street professionally. Filming for video parts really takes it's toll. That's awesome, I know you feel my pain as well. haha.

[Maurice]

Get one of these.

Just in case.

I have this also in place of the mechanical unit. TT will rip me a new one but I have it on 2 bikes and it works flawlessly.

IMO a catastrophic electrical failure like that is not the yellow wire. You probably lost one phase that means voltage output must have been doing funky waves but should not take the battery. Might be a short in the harness. I would take it apart, inspect (especially neck area) and re-wrap. Chances are you'll find some cracked insulation in there. An on-board voltmeter is good to avoid being stranded. Saved my neck a few times (VFR R/R a couple times, CB550 wiring bonehead move another, XS650 regulator to list a few).

[Restoration Fan]

Get one of these.

Just in case.

I have this also in place of the mechanical unit. TT will rip me a new one but I have it on 2 bikes and it works flawlessly.

IMO a catastrophic electrical failure like that is not the yellow wire. You probably lost one phase that means voltage output must have been doing funky waves but should not take the battery. Might be a short in the harness. I would take it apart, inspect (especially neck area) and re-wrap. Chances are you'll find some cracked insulation in there. An on-board voltmeter is good to avoid being stranded. Saved my neck a few times (VFR R/R a couple times, CB550 wiring bonehead move another, XS650 regulator to list a few).

Maurice, both of your links point to the same place.

I suspect you meant for the first link to point at a voltage indicator.

[Maurice]

Get one of these.

Just in case.

I have this also in place of the mechanical unit. TT will rip me a new one but I have it on 2 bikes and it works flawlessly.

IMO a catastrophic electrical failure like that is not the yellow wire. You probably lost one phase that means voltage output must have been doing funky waves but should not take the battery. Might be a short in the harness. I would take it apart, inspect (especially neck area) and re-wrap. Chances are you'll find some cracked insulation in there. An on-board voltmeter is good to avoid being stranded. Saved my neck a few times (VFR R/R a couple times, CB550 wiring bonehead move another, XS650 regulator to list a few).

Maurice, both of your links point to the same place.

I suspect you meant for the first link to point at a voltage indicator.

Fu... Sh... Damn. Fixed

First link is a rectifier, where Trad's yellow wire popped off from.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Don't write yourself off so quickly, the body is an amazing tool, organ, poor tool! Most of us are testament to that. 

When you approach 60 you'll be out there riding or racing. 

I have two herniated discs in my L4/L5/S1 area of my spine. About 8 years ago, I was in serious pain.  After reducing a significant amount of stress in my life, I'm doing much better.  I can ride a sportbike with clip-ons and rearsets for hours and my back doesn't hurt -- just my wrists!  Take care of your body, Jared, as much as you can in your line of work!

[Trad]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the advice and info. Maurice, I was able to wrap that terminal and solder it up nice. All shrink wrapped and dialled. When I hook the electrical back up and it's still a problem I will look to spend some money. Until then I'm being cheap. haha.

Here is a photo of the rear hoop and integrated taillight/turn signals.

[Ravie]

What is the rise on those renthal bars? Are they lower than stock?   I might have a home for them...on my bike.

[Trad]

What is the rise on those renthal bars? Are they lower than stock?   I might have a home for them...on my bike.

They are lower than stock by quite a bit. I can measure them for you tomorrow. I'd guess 2 or 3" rise.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jared,

I like the new integrated hoop.  Cognitomoto?

[Trad]

Jared,

I like the new integrated hoop.  Cognitomoto?

Don, the hoop was on the bike already. It was all hand made by James, a friend of mine that I bought the bike from.The hoop and the gussets underneath are well done, better than I could have done.

[Ravie]

What is the rise on those renthal bars? Are they lower than stock?   I might have a home for them...on my bike.

They are lower than stock by quite a bit. I can measure them for you tomorrow. I'd guess 2 or 3" rise.

Awesome. I'm definitely interested.

[Trad]

Well, my Sapphire blue Super Sport tank arrived today. I will snap some photos once I get it all cleaned up. Boy that color is NICE! I think it might be my favourite I've seen in person from the SOHC 4's.  It has one small ding right next to/under the Honda badge but I can live with it. It's in damn good shape for being original paint, inside is spotless as well.

It didn't come with a petcock and the PD carbs on the 78's call for a single outlet nipple. I did some digging and you're able to fit 75 cb750 F petcock which has a single nipple and the same 19mm threading as the 75/76 550's. I spent some MORE money and bought a NOS unit. I don't like the idea of capping a fuel outlet or running a T or Y splitter so I'm stoked to have come across this.



Next, I decided to glass bead the Renthal bars on low PSI to give it a nice matte silver finish. I cut them down 1" on each side and I'm 80% sure I'm going to run these over the Lossa bars. I think it'll suite the look of the bike better than the clubmans. Sorry Ravie 

I also pulled out the fabbed up battery box as it was really rough and looked rushed. Ground and smoothed all the welds and I'll prep it for paint this week.

I'll get some updated photos but until then I thought I'd make this update.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I like the idea of the Renthal bars, especially with the bike's brat-style seat.  This is shaping up to be a great looking runner, Jared!

[Ravie]

Next, I decided to glass bead the Renthal bars on low PSI to give it a nice matte silver finish. I cut them down 1" on each side and I'm 80% sure I'm going to run these over the Lossa bars. I think it'll suite the look of the bike better than the clubmans. Sorry Ravie 

It's ok. I'll only cry myself to sleep one night...then I'll get over it. hahaha