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Author Topic: 1974 Honda CB 550 almost finished!  (Read 3119 times)

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Offline Way Way norcal

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1974 Honda CB 550 almost finished!
« on: September 01, 2015, 06:36:55 PM »
This bike has been a work in progress for almost 2 years.  The bike when I got it was in rough shape and it was beyond restoring back to original.  At least it was for me.  Below is the pic before and the pictures after.
  I completely rebuilt just about everything.  It absolutely rides like a dream.  Super quick and handles very well.   I put a Power Arc ignition system in it and it really made a huge difference.   I only have one issue at the moment and it is the Acewell Digital Speedo.  The RPM's bounce from hell to breakfast.  I am trying a few things to correct it but so far none have worked.

« Last Edit: September 15, 2015, 05:48:04 AM by Way Way norcal »
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2015, 06:41:41 PM »
Nice job!  Nominating you for BOTM...
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Marco83

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2015, 06:51:41 PM »
 nice and clean bike!
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Offline calj737

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2015, 06:53:48 PM »
Is your PowerArc thru CycleX or C5? Are you running their coils and wires? If so, you may need insulation on the wires to help eliminate the multi-fire signal from their ignition. Most digital tacos aren't expecting 3 fires and this is probably what's tweaking the reading.
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"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 SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2015, 07:16:02 PM »
Very tidy build norcal!!  Awesome job!
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Way Way norcal

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2015, 09:12:09 PM »
Quote from: calj737 on September 01, 2015, 06:53:48 PM
Is your PowerArc thru CycleX or C5? Are you running their coils and wires? If so, you may need insulation on the wires to help eliminate the multi-fire signal from their ignition. Most digital tacos aren't expecting 3 fires and this is probably what's tweaking the reading.

It is a Power Arc setup from cycle x
what type of insulation?  Is there a link to buy it or a link showing how and what to use to insulate it?
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Offline calj737

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2015, 04:48:41 AM »
You might need a different type of plug wire (if possible). You could also ping CycleX and inquire if they have any insight to compatibility with electronic tachs and multi fire ignitions (I'd suspect they do since they've run this ignition on their race bikes). I'm sure they've encountered it and solved it.

There may be a setting in the Acewell for signal type too that you might research. When I've looked at their manuals previously, they cite either a connector type screw to the coil or wrapping the sensor wire around the plug wire. The more times you encircle the plug wire, the better/more steady the signal is read. How is your installed?
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"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 Way Way norcal

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2015, 06:05:34 AM »
Quote from: calj737 on September 02, 2015, 04:48:41 AM
You might need a different type of plug wire (if possible). You could also ping CycleX and inquire if they have any insight to compatibility with electronic tachs and multi fire ignitions (I'd suspect they do since they've run this ignition on their race bikes). I'm sure they've encountered it and solved it.

There may be a setting in the Acewell for signal type too that you might research. When I've looked at their manuals previously, they cite either a connector type screw to the coil or wrapping the sensor wire around the plug wire. The more times you encircle the plug wire, the better/more steady the signal is read. How is your installed?
I wrapped the sensor wire about 8 times around the #1 coil wire and the signal was bouncy and not accurate.  I then wrapped it 2 times with the same results.  So I suspect it is the multi fire that is causing this.  I will call Ken at cycle x and see what they say.
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2015, 07:43:41 AM »
Heads up NorCal. You've been nominated for the October BOTM. Head over to the nomination thread and post an acceptance of the nomination.
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Way Way norcal

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2015, 06:01:53 PM »
I managed to get the RPM on the digital speedo (Acewell) to calm down.  On the Power Arc Ignition system there are 6 wires.  1 of those wires is green and it is a tach wire.  I completely forgot about that.  I hooked up the green wire to the yellow Acewell RPM output and it works perfectly. 
Now my issue is getting the speedometer calibrated.   The front wheel of the honda is a 19 and I set the Acewell to that and it is reading too slow.   I have to hook up a GPS and get is calibrated.
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Offline Way Way norcal

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #10 on: September 02, 2015, 06:04:02 PM »
I want to thank the people who nominated my bike for Bike of the Month.  That is a HUGE compliment to me.   I really tore my hair out a few times on this bike.  Someone recognizing the work really is nice!  Thank you!
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #11 on: September 02, 2015, 06:09:34 PM »
Quote from: Way Way norcal on September 02, 2015, 06:04:02 PM

   I really tore my hair out a few times on this bike. 

Having a difficult time during a rebuild can actually make the finished product all that much more sweeter!
I recently had a difficult time tuning my Kawasaki H1 after a full motor rebuild. It came to the point where I just parked the bike, stepped back and did some research.
Turned out the Sudco brass parts installed in the Mikuni carbs was crap. Sourced good, used genuine Mikuni brass [new are not available] and now the bike runs like a dream! So, I know your pain.
Looking forward to hearing the full story of your build in the voting thread.
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline bambuhiphop

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #12 on: September 02, 2015, 06:14:43 PM »
Bike looks great!! How far north are you NorCal?
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75' CB550K -- Still in pieces but it rolls again!!!!

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: FINALLY done! sorta.. 1974 Honda CB 550
« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2015, 07:57:51 PM »
It's pretty cool that this bike materialized onto the project board yesterday and today is in the running for BOTM.  Like I said, a very tidy bike!
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Frijec

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Re: 1974 Honda CB 550 almost finished!
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2016, 04:04:26 PM »
This is a thing og beauty, gonna bookmark it for inspiration!
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1973 Honda CB500 Four - Brat
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