Topic: 1974 cb550k

[my79]

So i have been watching craigslist for a while, and found this guy an hour away.  I dont know much about it, other than it was last tagged in 05 and "ran" 5 years ago.  The side covers are gone, but that seems to be the only item.  I plan on doing a 3000 mile tune up, and cleaning the carbs.  New tires and a battery are also on the docket.

From yalls experience, is there anything you see that looks different than stock(other than the sissy bar and fairing)?  The exhaust is 2to1, and i haven't seen it in any pictures of other bikes, aftermarket?  Would anybody like that fairing? Is it a sought after item? Its made by Bates.

should i go ahead and replace brake, clutch, and throttle cable to be safe?  The clutch seems pretty tight, and feels like its bound up a little bit.  Also i might need a new tank. There seems to be a little bit of rust, and there might be a pinhole somewhere. 

Thanks for the help, Im sure i will add to this thread as i go.  Oh and this is also my first bike. Im not new to mechanicing, but i am new to motorcycles.

[Deltarider]

I wonder what brand the exhaust is. Never seen that one before. Get rid of that sissybar (it's dangerous) and I'm not fond of that windscreen either. Could be a good bike. Welcome.

[my79]

Cal, sounds great.  Thank you for the help.

And yes the windscreen and sissybar are the first to go. 

[my79]

Haha im from central Texas, Cal. 

Well after some research and digging, i have ordered some replacement parts for the bike.  Also luckily, Trey Allen has a massive stock pile of goodies for 550's a short drive away.  Thanks to him, i now have a good tank, side covers, right hand control, and some new turn signals. Next im probably sending the carbs off to harrisuluv for a complete rebuild. 

Hopefully within a couple weeks this ol bike will be on the road! I still need some tires and a battery to hopefully get the bike running for the rest of the season.  What are yalls suggestions on tires for factory wheels?  Also, the tank i have is pretty clean and has a little rust inside.  What kind of tank coating should i put on?  por 15?

[RAFster122s]

I like Bridgestone BT45s in 100/90-19 front and 110/90-18 rear virtually stock sizes.
They have great grip and decent life for a higher performance tire you are trusting your life with...
I find them predictable and dependable and worth the expense.

Curious why the sissybar is dangerous.

POR15 works well if you prep it correctly and do it in a dry tank. It really really has to be dry or the coating flash cures and it is ugly what the trapped moisture does to the tank. Get the coating too thick and you can have a huge chunk in the top or bottom of the tank. So, pull the filter and petcock and keep the passage for those cleared or you beg for trouble regardless of which method you choose.
The Casswell  epoxy liner is a good solution and has been growing in favor by many on these forums. .
David

[my79]

The tank i have seems very solid, in the fact there are no huge rust issues.  The inside looks like its just had surface rust spots, from sitting on a shelf.  So maybe i will try the vinegar trick before coating and see what happens.

Thanks for the rec on the bridgestones! Are those close to the widest tire we can fit on our wheels?

[RAFster122s]

Not the widest but they perform very well and keep the unsprung weight down.  You start running into fender clearance and swingarm clearance issues.  Also, at speed the tires will not be like when ssitting, so...clearance is not just static clearance but also dynamically influenced.  The bike really performs great on the modern rubber.
Lots of guys will rebuild the wheels with wider rims to accommodate the wider tire and go to an 18" front to open up additional performance tires.

You won't know the improvements if you don't start with the stock tire sizes and move from there. Just merely supposition as what it might be like.
I like to do it in phases so I understand the changes and improvements.
David

[my79]

RAF, the plan is to run some stock size tires for now.  Eventually i would like to build a scrambler/bratstyle bike with an inverted fork.  Some fatter tires are definitely in for that build.

[Stev-o]

Hey Austin.....I found you.  Cal gave you some great advise.  Did you get a battery yet? If not, get a Scorpion. 

You get that goofy fairing off yet?

[my79]

Steve-o! why are the scorpion batteries good?  Should i go with the size they suggest for my bike?  what about lithium vs sealed AGM, any advantages from one to the other outside of price and weight?

Today or tomorrow i will have tires and battery ordered, then its a weekend of thrashing to get it on the road! I should be pretty close to having all the necessities for getting it on the road.

Edit: I used the search button, and wound up ordering a shorai lithium, and some bridgestones. Amazon credit card points made it easier. haha

[lrutt]

I got that same time of slip on exhaust on the bike I picked up last month as well.

[my79]

Cal, what Reg/Rec unit are you using? should i worry about it right now, or get the bike running first.  I just got my carbs back from Harrisuluv yesterday. So hopefully this weekend and next net me a running motorcycle.

[Stev-o]

I like Scorpion for various reasons, no acid to spill, easy to get (free shipping) and reasonably priced. 

Heard you bought a new tank, is the old one for sale?

[my79]

Cal or Steve-o, or anyone.  Is this the ricks unit yall are talking about?   http://ricksmotorsportelectrics.com/part/10-100/NzRIb25DQjU1MEs=

Steve-o  it possibly could be, the problem are the small pinholes in it. 

[Stev-o]

Here it is...

http://ricksmotorsportelectrics.com/part/10-100/NzRIb25DQjU1MEs=