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Author Topic: Restoring bike to working order  (Read 1054 times)

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Offline scott-w-jones

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Restoring bike to working order
« on: April 23, 2015, 02:47:27 PM »
hey people,
i have been left a Honda CB550 four y reg, it hasn't move in about 10 years and when it did it was only went from one end of the garden to the other.
i was wondering if anyone could tell me what i would have to do to make sure nothing has seized up. i didn't really want to just start it and hope for the best its a really nice bike and i would it to last for the memory's of my grandfather.
any help would be helpful ????
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s.jones honda cb550 four y reg

Offline mystic_1

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Re: Restoring bike to working order
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2015, 08:20:07 AM »
If you remove the points cover on the lower right side of the motor, you'll find a big nut.  It's connected to the end of the crankshaft.  See if you can turn this with a wrench, turning clockwise.  You may want to remove the spark plugs first, that makes it easier, and go ahead and squirt a bit of oil into the holes so you don't scrap up the dry cylinder walls.

Don't put too much force on this nut, it can be broken and it shouldn't take a ton of force to roll the crank.



mystic_1
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Offline flatlander

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Re: Restoring bike to working order
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2015, 08:56:43 AM »
... then if it turns over freely do a 3000 mile service as described in the manual. if that's sorted i'd run it for a while to see how it's generally doing before deciding on further steps.
you have the honda workshop manual? if not, download it from this site.

but before any of that: show us some pictures of the bike :)
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Offline evanphi

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Re: Restoring bike to working order
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2015, 08:59:54 AM »
+1 on all accounts, especially the pictures!
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--Evan

1975 CB750K "Rhonda"
Delkevic Stainless 4-1 Header, Cone Engineering 18" Quiet Core Reverse Cone, K&N Filter in Drilled Airbox
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She's a mix-matched (former) basket case, but she's mine.

CB750 Shop Manual (all years), searchable text PDF
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Offline calj737

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Re: Restoring bike to working order
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2015, 09:37:31 AM »
Pardon me, Mystic. Best not to use the points bolt, but instead the bolt on the opposite end under the stator cover. The points bolt will shear and despite being a small re bolt, the rotor bolt is of much higher strength.

Can you operate the kick start lever? (Disable the electrics while testing) if the motor cycles, a thorough and full service per the manual is a great way to rejuvenate the bike.
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"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 lrutt

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Re: Restoring bike to working order
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2015, 09:53:25 AM »
why not use the kicker???? If that don't move it then you know you have a problem.
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Offline mystic_1

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Re: Restoring bike to working order
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2015, 09:55:20 AM »
Removing the points cover is pretty trivial, and rotating the engine with this nut is the procedure recommended in the workshop manual.  Indeed, that's the very reason for this "nut" to begin with.

Removing the stator cover involves breaking open a gasketed area so you'd have to replace the gasket, plus in order to rotate the crankshaft with the stator bolt you're turning it in the direction that will loosen it.

It IS possible to damage the points nut if you go all Hulk on it, but I've turned my engine (750) over using the points nut countless times, with zero issue.

Good call on trying the kick starter, though.  That's even easier.  I'd still shoot some oil into the cylinders though.

mystic_1
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"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
- John Augustus Shedd

My build thread:  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=68952.0

Offline calj737

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Re: Restoring bike to working order
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2015, 09:58:31 AM »
Blimey! I didn't realize we were supposed to make it easy on the guy... :o absolutely some oil in the plug holes is a must!
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"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 jamesbekman

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Re: Restoring bike to working order
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2015, 12:53:57 PM »
Ya, use the kicker and squirt some kroil in the spark plug holes....

If thats a no go then let that baby soak for a few days.
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