Author Topic: 1975 CBB550 build- very first bike and first build (Read 15902 times)

CBertels · « **Reply #50 on:** September 06, 2015, 06:28:11 PM »

Example of porting. Both intake and exhaust look pretty similar.

CBertels · « **Reply #51 on:** September 06, 2015, 06:32:55 PM »

Shot of the valves.

CBertels · « **Reply #52 on:** September 06, 2015, 06:35:16 PM »

Head and cylinder:

CBertels · « **Reply #53 on:** September 07, 2015, 07:26:04 AM »

Thanks Cal! Now go back to bed!

I sent you a PM with contact info. Let me know when you're in town.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #54 on:** September 07, 2015, 08:37:07 AM »

Yeah, that head looks a little funky. Go with Cal's.

CBertels · « **Reply #55 on:** September 07, 2015, 09:27:46 AM »

That head is comically bad. Every time I look at it I find something else. Found this near one of the head bolts. Any ideas what this might be. Has three tiny prongs on it facing inwards and is about dime-sized.

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #56 on:** September 07, 2015, 09:34:55 AM »

Quote from: CBertels on September 07, 2015, 09:27:46 AM

That head is comically bad. Every time I look at it I find something else. Found this near one of the head bolts. Any ideas what this might be. Has three tiny prongs on it facing inwards and is about dime-sized.

Looks like a wayward spark plug washer.

CBertels · « **Reply #57 on:** September 07, 2015, 09:52:43 AM »

That's what I thought but it wouldn't quite fit. Oh well.

So with all the less-than-stellar things I've found so far, any thoughts on opening up the bottom end? The PO said they didn't do anything to it, but I still wonder. I plan to yank it out to clean up the frame, paint etc. but didn't plan to crack it open.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #58 on:** September 07, 2015, 09:58:50 AM »

If you've found stray washers about the engine, it would be a good idea to inspect the lower end. At a minimum, remove the pan and oil pump and screen and visually inspect the bottom end for any apparent damage or bits and pieces of metal. I personally would do a complete tear down since you don't know what the cowboy prior owner did to the engine.

CBertels · « **Reply #59 on:** September 08, 2015, 07:21:29 AM »

Gotten the bike stripped down a bit more over the weekend. Still need to remove the wheels and front end, but I need to find something to support the bike underneath first.

I'm going to remove the last of the engine as well but still debating how to go about it. I've heard others have had success by laying it on its side and lifting the frame off. I've also heard others have just lifted the engine out. Since I have just the bottom end left, I'm wondering how heavy it will be. Any recommendations?

Here's how it sits for now:

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #60 on:** September 08, 2015, 07:58:58 AM »

Can't imagine the bottom end of a 550 is too gawd-awful heavy. If you can convince Cal to meet us at your place tonight or tomorrow night we should be able to lift it right out.

I'll bring a lifting bar and straps if necessary.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #61 on:** September 08, 2015, 08:39:57 AM »

With the top end off, it should be manageable to lift it out. Put a car jack and block of wood under the crankcase and relieve the pressure off the engine mounts to remove the bolts. Give it a lift. If it's too much, lay the bike on its side.

CBertels · « **Reply #62 on:** September 20, 2015, 06:52:07 PM »

Not a ton of progress with work keeping me real busy. Engine is out and on the bench. I'm gonna pull the pan and see if anything looks amiss. Currently waiting on 59mm pistons and some machine work before the engine can go back together. (Thanks Cal!)

In the mean time, I've torn the frame all the way down. I've trimmed off all the nonsense PO welded on and cleaned up some nasty spots. Need to begin fabricating the rear section/seat pan and get a hoop ordered up but I'm torn between flat and upswept. Kinda thinking I'll build the tail first and see how it looks and can always trim it to fit an upswept section.

The original swing arm bolt is long gone, and a length of all-thread in its place. The grease tube was there, so I just need a bolt. Also appears its lacking bushings all together so I got those on the order list too. One of the longer engine mount bolts is also replaced with all-thread.

CBertels · « **Reply #63 on:** September 21, 2015, 05:37:16 AM »

The grease fitting is in the end, not the center. I'll have to check on theengine bolt tonight.

CBertels · « **Reply #64 on:** October 15, 2015, 05:24:24 PM »

I haven't updated in a while but I have been busy solving a lot of small stuff. Stripped the frame to bare metal in anticipation of welding up the hoop, a new kickstand, and then getting it powder coated.

Machined some new spacers for the rear wheel to get it centered and will work with the new rear brake bracket. Kinda hated the CBR brake and bracket, so I scored some Brembo units from a Ducati Monster.

Pulled the font brake calipers apart to rebuild and found one piston was a bit pitted. Both are pretty dry and need rebuilding. I though they looked a little strange next to the new rear, so I went Brembo calipers up front as well. Awaiting a shipment from Cognito Moto to get the front end buttoned up.

Figured anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #65 on:** October 16, 2015, 06:45:02 AM »

Progress!

CBertels · « **Reply #66 on:** November 18, 2015, 06:38:29 PM »

No posts recently but have been doing quite a bit of fab and frame clean up. Its finally off to the powder coater for a shiny new finish. Had a rear hoop fabled and got it welded on. Chopped off the old kickstand in favor of the TC Bros. unit.

Finished up a tail section a good friend helped get welded up. It turned out a bit bigger than I intended but I think it came out awesome.

While the frame and misc. parts are getting coated, its time to turn to the engine build so its ready to drop in when the frame is back. Waiting on some parts from our awesome vendors to get this thing buttoned up.

I had to mock it up to see how its coming along.

CBertels · « **Reply #67 on:** July 21, 2017, 07:33:26 PM »

Finished this thing up but never updated. Aside from an electrical gremlin, it's absolutely screams.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #68 on:** July 21, 2017, 08:50:58 PM »

Nice job!!

CBertels · « **Reply #69 on:** July 22, 2017, 06:45:12 AM »

Having a charging issue I think. First lengthy ride I took it died about 30 mins in. Battery was dead. Couple hours on the charger and it fired right back up. New antigravity 8 cell, new Ricks Reg/Rec and new wiring with M unit and M lock (not a fan). Ignition is new with dynamic coils and electronic ignition.

When checking battery voltage, when off it's a strong. 13.5-13.8v. At idle it bounces from 13ish to 4 and randomly everywhere in between. Doesn't seem to change with RPM. I've triple checked the wiring scheme with Motogadget and Ricks as well as all the diagrams I can find. Seems like either the stator is going or a presumed working new part has fouled somehow.

CBertels · « **Reply #70 on:** July 22, 2017, 07:07:28 PM »

It's attached to AUX. when connected to LOCK it acts pretty crazy, turning the M-Units leds into a twinkling mess. I had tried that initially to avoid stuffing two wires into the AUX output.

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #71 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:30:26 AM »

Quote from: calj737 on July 22, 2017, 02:42:48 AM

Wondered whatever happened to you Chris!

I recently wondered the same thing! Glad you have seen it through to completion.

CBertels · « **Reply #72 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:43:51 AM »

The M-Lock functions fine, but I'll probably go either the M-Unit blue or a standard key going forward.

In terms of charging suggestions, I'm all ears. I may try to get a better meter. I've gotten suggestions that the system may now be charging after cleaning up some connections but the meter isn't properly reading. Has worked fine except measuring battery voltage while the bike is idling, then it's an unreadable mess.

I want to be confident the issue is fixed before taking the ride and dealing with another trailer trip or damaging the battery by running flat too much.

CBertels · « **Reply #73 on:** August 30, 2017, 07:27:25 PM »

Finally had time to run through the wiring. Ended up re-wiring the controls with the m-button to slim down the harness. Not sure exactly what was incorrect the last time but its running great now. No charging issues and runs pretty well. Put about 20-30 miles on it in between rain storms. Thanks for all the help everyone! This forum is a huge part of the reason this thing got completed. The Mrs.'s CB450 is nearing completion now as well and should post a thread on it sometime soon.

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Author Topic: 1975 CBB550 build- very first bike and first build (Read 15902 times)