Topic: The Replacement: CB550

[Scott S]

 Yes, I have too many projects going on at once; an XS650 (almost done), the STF2 bike (build thread here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,134103.0.html) , the CL70/117 (which may never get done at this rate), and now this....a 1976 CB550K.

 I got this bike from Brian/Whiteorbs78. You may remember that he was having some issues with it running rich and fouling plugs. It was time for him to move on, we struck a deal, and now I plan on figuring this thing out and making it right.
 It's a very low mileage bike with only 6,555 miles on it. It came with a ton of paperwork from 1976, including the dealer prep sheet, original invoice, owners manual, insurance binder, etc.

 Why is it called "The Replacement"? Well, that goes back to my very first SOHC4; a '71 CB500. You may remember that bike from my other build threads. It was a sweet little ride that went through many phases before I sold it. First with the 500 engine, then with a 550 and 400F bars and foot pegs. Eventually, it ended up semi-cafe'd out with a CB650 engine. Somewhere along the way it lost some....soul....

 My favorite combo was either with the 500 engine (God, what a jewel of an engine) or with the 550 (although it was tired and got crappy mileage. That engine is now getting rebuilt for the STF2 bike). The 400F pegs and bars made it such a fun bike.






 When I swapped in the CB650 engine, it was a BEAST! But the cafe seat really changed the looks and, well....it just wasn't the same any more.
 It's my intention to make THIS bike "The Replacement". The plans are for a near stock body/engine, 400F bars and pegs, and the polished Lester's that I kept when I sold the silver bike.

 Here's what Brian started with:

[Scott S]

 And here's what it looked like when I got it from him.







 I neglected to take a bunch of "before" pictures. I just tore right into it. The first thing I did, other than some scrubbing and buffing and polishing, was to change the oil, adjust the valves, cam chain, and trim back the plug wires to install new caps and plugs.
 Brian went through the carbs a couple of times and said the bike was still loading up, but that the timing was erratic.
 That's not a problem. Pamco to the rescue. So far, it's just installed....still have to wire it up. The advance mechanism is one of the cleanest, strongest, "snappiest" I've ever felt. I just think the points and/or condensers were done for.



 I also swapped out the covers for the ones on the STF2 bike. That bike is mostly satin, matte and semi gloss, so it always bothered me that the engine covers were polished. I ust cleaned/sanded/painted the ones on this bike and they will go on the STF2. The polished covers went on "The Replacement". I'll get to the tappet covers and end covers on the valve cover soon.

[Scott S]

 At first, I was going to leave the carbs alone since Brian had been through them. However, they had inline filters and some funkily routed fuel lines.
 I like my bikes set up the way Honda did it: Clean tank, in tank petcock filter, fresh 5.5mm lines and clean carbs.
 I tried to swap out the lines on the bike and when it became apparent that wasn't gonna happen, I just pulled the carbs. This will give me a chance to touch up the paint on the engine case anyway. I dropped of the carbs with Rick at OldSkool Carbs and he should have them back soon.
 (I'm awful lucky to have a carb guy within walking distance of my house and Pamco Pete just a few miles away).

[Scott S]

 I also noticed that some of the airbox stuff was missing or mis-routed. I dug through my parts stash and cam up with the 90 degree elbow for the breather tube and the nipple for the plenum (the hose is missing, but this is better than an open, unfiltered hole).
 I also installed a UNI filter, some missing hardware, and cut a piece of foam for the filter thing that goes in the bottom of the air box.



 This bike is so original in many ways.....look closely at this pic again. There's a bracket that fits behind the LH foot peg and holds the drain tube for the air box, which is present. (You can just see the bracket on the stud and the end of the drain under the mufflers.



 

[Scott S]

 I've wanted a Jade Green 550 for a long time. However, the color on this one just isn't quiiiiite right (Sorry, Brian). The side covers seem really close, but the tank seems a little too yellow.

 I started searching for pictures and info on the paint and ended up seeing a couple of other cool colors: Planet Blue and Sapphire Blue. Now I'm torn. Unless I can find a VERY close match for the Jade Green in a modern paint, it's going to be STUPID expensive to get it done in candy.
 Plus, I think the blue might go better with the Lesters I have.

[Scott S]

 So...whatta ya think? Jade Green....



 Planet Blue...



 Or Sapphire Blue?

[calj737]

Sapphire Blue Metallic gets my vote.

[Stev-o]

I love blue Hondas but that Sapphire blue above doesn't look quite right.  Dons Planet Blue 550 is awesome but thought you want a Jade Green?   Jade gets my vote. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

All three are great colors.  Candy is tricky.  Too much or too little and the brightness of the color differs from stock.

My Candy Jade Green from VMR came out more intense because the candy is heavier than stock -- but I like it.  That said, I like the Planet Blue Metallic bodywork I swapped in its place. 

[flatlander]

i'd vote for jade green as a first, planet blue as second choice.
i do like the sapphire blue on my own F but it seems a bit too light on the K.

[Scott S]

 Well, dang....that's pretty much one vote for each!
 I LOVE the Jade Green, but I hafta admit, I'm leaning towards a blue at this point. Tomorrow? Who knows?

[flatlander]

Well, dang....that's pretty much one vote for each!

it's a sign... to just go with your own gut feeling

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

If you are keeping the STF2 bike, maybe go with the green to have something different ?

[Tews19]

Why not do a candy red with a gold stripe?  If not I'd go with green.

[Scott S]

 I got the Pamco wired up and a couple more polished covers installed. I also touched up some of the flaking silver paint. Installed a battery tender pigtail.
 In preparation for paint (whatever color that may be...) I drained the tank and gave it The Works, treatment. It wasn't that bad to begin with, but it's sho 'nuf clean now!

Before:



After:



 It's now sealed up with a couple of ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil coating the inside.

[Scott S]

 Clean tank, (soon to be) clean carbs, fresh Honda 5.5mm fuel lines....all that left was the petcock.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nice job on the tank. You may want to consider coating it with Caswell.

[Scott S]

 I never coat them when I can get them that clean. The MMO will keep it in bare metal until I get gas in it. I've done several this way and never had a problem.

[Scott S]

 Pulled the manifolds and got rid of the flat O-rings and sealant.

[Scott S]

 And installed these shocks that I've had in my stash for a while. Stock length. I believe they are Pro-Lift P Series shocks that were once sold by Dennis Kirk. I had the same shocks (although 1/2" longer) on my '78 550K and LOVED the way they handled and rode. I can already tell a huge difference just sitting on the bike in the garage.

[Scott S]

 Clean is good. Replaced the one aftermarket main jet with a genuine Keihin jet. FWIW, the aftermarket jet is slightly smaller in I.D., even though it's marked 100.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's pretty damn clean - almost as clean as the date they rolled off the factory line. Keeping the jets uniform can only help with synching, too.

[riverfever]

This is such a clean bike. Those pipes look great.

[Trad]

Nice work. Looking forward to updates.

[Scott S]