Author Topic: CB550F Caferacer  (Read 6218 times)

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Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #25 on: March 02, 2015, 01:29:48 AM »
The light is indeed very small, it got E4 approved (needed to use it in Europe) so all good.

It's really bright. Pics to follow!

No powdercoater in the area ... will check for baking it though!

As good as the seat gets:




Currently reworking all my electrics under the seat.

Brgds,
Elias

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #26 on: March 03, 2015, 05:16:37 AM »
Anyone got an idea where I can get my hands on 4 x K&N filters, at the best price?

Want them to be cones.

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #27 on: March 05, 2015, 02:49:03 AM »
Re-doing the wiring, and engine is back in. Oil filter bolt was really tight & didn't came off.

Grinded the mf... Ordered a new one and gettnig this next week. Hopefully it runs again!

Cleaning carbs first





Offline koendd

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #28 on: March 05, 2015, 08:31:35 AM »
I've got a bolt for you if you want ;)
I'm home tomorrow if you can't wait...

(if it's the same as a 750 anyway...)
1972 cb750K2 brat
1976 cb360
1984 GPZ900R

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #29 on: March 06, 2015, 01:35:45 AM »
I've got a bolt for you if you want ;)
I'm home tomorrow if you can't wait...

(if it's the same as a 750 anyway...)

Crap... If i'd only know earlier ... already ordered at the local Honda shop :).

Thx anyway Koen.

This afternoon I'll lengthen some wires & install new battery + rear light

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #30 on: March 06, 2015, 10:30:17 AM »
First, a stuck oil filter nut is a right of passage for just about every SOHC4 (and twin for that matter) owner, so welcome to the family. When you put the new one in remember it really only needs to be just past finger tight. No need to crank on it.

When you get the replacement check the head size. The original is a 12MM if I remember right, but you can find replacements with larger heads (14MM or 16MM, I forget which) readily on eBay. The larger size is a stronger nut and worth the upgrade.

I like what you are doing, but I also worry about that ignition switch position. Personally my legs are too long to have a switch there.
"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #31 on: March 10, 2015, 01:45:11 AM »
First, a stuck oil filter nut is a right of passage for just about every SOHC4 (and twin for that matter) owner, so welcome to the family. When you put the new one in remember it really only needs to be just past finger tight. No need to crank on it.

When you get the replacement check the head size. The original is a 12MM if I remember right, but you can find replacements with larger heads (14MM or 16MM, I forget which) readily on eBay. The larger size is a stronger nut and worth the upgrade.

I like what you are doing, but I also worry about that ignition switch position. Personally my legs are too long to have a switch there.

Seems like it is a right of passage indeed!

I'll cut off the key of the switch and make it really small. it's no issue when I sit on the bike.

___


Engine is back in, carbs have been cleaned & back in

made a drawing on the seat how I want to to be (more or less, needs to become more awesome ofcourse)

Next up is oil filter/ wrapping exhaust / ...


Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #32 on: March 12, 2015, 07:00:57 AM »
Retapped the wire for 4 exhaust studs. Got new ones in & smacked the exhaust on.

Next up is wrapping the exhaust with some heatwrap.

Started the bike again after 3 months. The right carb was already leaking so I cleaned the whole thing but it is still leaking...

As soon as I turn the gas on, it just poors out, out of the rubber tube below & out of the hole where you mount the air filter over .. Guess I need to adjust my floater

Let me know your thoughts about the bike / fuel leak issue!



Elias

Offline koendd

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #33 on: March 12, 2015, 02:24:35 PM »
you should get the floats to standard height (don't know what these are for the 550) and you should be good to go,
had the same issue on my 750 F2 when I first started it.

get the carbs off, hold them upside down (not complety but till the float just touches the valve) and measure/adjust ;)
1972 cb750K2 brat
1976 cb360
1984 GPZ900R

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #34 on: March 13, 2015, 03:56:16 AM »
Hi Koen,

It's only the right one that leaks , other 3 are fine.

So hold the carbs upside down, until the float hits the needle you mean?

Offline koendd

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #35 on: March 13, 2015, 12:11:06 PM »
its not because they don't leak that they are fine, maybe they are set to low, you'll only notice that while you're driving.

here's a manual of 750, shouldn't be that much difference I think

http://www.salocal.com/sohc/tech/carb/asmpg_mgs/flthgt.htm
1972 cb750K2 brat
1976 cb360
1984 GPZ900R

Offline NobleHops

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #36 on: March 13, 2015, 01:15:36 PM »
Hi Koen,

It's only the right one that leaks , other 3 are fine.

So hold the carbs upside down, until the float hits the needle you mean?

In that case, it's quite possible that you have a crack in the overflow standpipe in the float bowl, assuming the float height is not way off. I'm dealing with that very issue right now on my H2. I am in the process of teaching myself how to repair it with either solder or a sleeve, will share what I learn once I have a grip on it.

Hold your finger over the end of the overflow tube and blow compressed air into the drain and see if that's the case. Put your safety glasses on first though :-). In my case the crack was small enough to be hard to see with the naked (53 year old) eye, but the compressed air laid it bare.

You can also test this very simply by simply removing the float bowl and filling it with gas, and see if it leaks holding it in your hand. For some strange reason mine would NOT show a leak when I tested it this way with water, it seems to need gas or similar to flow through that crack, go figure.

Let us know what you find please, there's always something to be learned.

Nils Menten * Tucson, Arizona, USA

I have a motorcycle problem.

My build thread: NobleHops makes a 400F pretty for his wife: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=131210.0

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #37 on: March 16, 2015, 02:25:08 AM »
Pushed the bike outside & fired it up :)

Some issues going on with starter / spark & adjusting carbs.

Koen will help me out later this week, which I thank you for Koen!



Brgds
Wannes

Offline NobleHops

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #38 on: March 16, 2015, 09:50:10 AM »
Pushed the bike outside & fired it up :)

Some issues going on with starter / spark & adjusting carbs.

Koen will help me out later this week, which I thank you for Koen!



Brgds
Wannes

Looks great!

What was the cause and fix for the carb leak Wannes? And what's going on with your starter?

Nils Menten * Tucson, Arizona, USA

I have a motorcycle problem.

My build thread: NobleHops makes a 400F pretty for his wife: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=131210.0

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #39 on: March 19, 2015, 06:06:57 AM »
Hi Noblehops,

Still need to check carburetors / electrics, Koendd will help em out coming week  (thank you Koen!!)

Got some subtle plate lights installed, from eBay.



Doubting about color for seat & tank... Any ideas ? Maybe don't want to do Red. Needs to go with all the black though!

Brgds
Wannes

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #40 on: March 19, 2015, 09:45:52 AM »
Everything goes with black so you're safe there.
I'm a fan of red on Honda's but find it a bit over powering.
If I where to repaint the Interceptor I'd go silver with red panels.
You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office!

CB550 Cafe Interceptor a Gentlemans Roadster
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.0

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #41 on: March 23, 2015, 02:12:00 AM »
Out of its stable :)





Offline flatlander

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #42 on: March 23, 2015, 03:08:51 AM »
how's it running?
seat looks a bit hard or do you have padded pants like those racing cyclists  ;)

Offline koendd

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #43 on: March 25, 2015, 01:29:10 PM »
not good at the moment  ;D

have the 550 in my shop atm to sort out the electrics, and syncronize/rejet the carbs.

what I started with :)









so started with removing all the blue wires and cable lugs and soldered them with kinda color coded wires



looking much better allready!


so all is working now, had to rewire the headlight bucket as well since the tail light switched off when hi beam was lightened... starter button works now (clutch switch wasn't grounded...)

next up is removing carbs and setting the float height.
It does run but shuts off after about 10sec and doesn't run too good yet
1972 cb750K2 brat
1976 cb360
1984 GPZ900R

Offline Canadian

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #44 on: April 14, 2015, 04:47:29 AM »
As good as it gets for now!

Paintjob is for next winter. She runs great thanks to Koen.






Offline Trad

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #45 on: April 14, 2015, 08:42:25 AM »
Looking good man. If it's running well, that's all that really matters.
74 CB550 Build: NOS-GUTTED-OEMplus-HOLDTRUE
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,130575.0.html

Offline Tunker2

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Re: CB550F Caferacer
« Reply #46 on: October 05, 2015, 02:32:12 PM »
Can I ask how difficult it was to add the fork boots? I wanted to add them to my 77 CB550F as well. I assume the stock boots from the 76 CB550 will fit. Thanks!