« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2  All   Go Down

Author Topic: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?  (Read 3731 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« on: November 22, 2015, 04:28:50 PM »
Got my hands on this 78 550K a week ago for dirt cheap. Had been wanting to try out a 550 for awhile after getting my 78 750F going last winter. Had a blast on it this season but it left me wanting something more agile. Any way. The 550 runs and drives but leaks from the carb overflow tubes and bowl gaskets. The rest of the bike is relatively sound for a 18k mile bike that's had little maintenance aside from oil changes.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline pipeguy

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 132
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2015, 05:18:02 PM »
What do you have in mind for the bike?
Logged
1970 CB750 K0 
1980 CBX
2001 Electra Glide
2013 CRF450R
2013 KX450F
 
1977 KH 400 triple (gone)
1973 CB750 K3 (waiting it's turn)
2000 KLR 650(gone)
2001 BMW 1200RS(gone)
2004 Busa limited(sadly gone)
2003 ZZR250 ninja(gone)
1996 VFR750(gone)
1974 RD350(really sadly gone)

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2015, 05:29:21 PM »
Im gonna take the winter and get her road worthy. The fairing and backrest/luggage rack are going for sure. Will get rid of the HM 404's when i decide on another exhaust, most likely a 4-1. Come spring ill ride it for a few weeks and if i like it as much as some other guys say i will ill keep it. If not sell it. If i keep it I'm thinking drag bars or superbike bars and some bar end mirrors. I have a cafe seat i originally planned for my 750 but will most likely end up on this. I was thinking 592 kit, with a 650 cam, minor port and polishing the head. Not looking to go all out but wouldn't mind a little more pep. Want to do twin disc brakes up front as well. Probably fork brace and progressive springs for the front and some reconfigured rfy shocks for the back. Im open to ideas suggestions as i know little about the 550.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
« Last Edit: November 22, 2015, 05:37:44 PM by hsas.69 »
Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline riverfever

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,796
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2015, 05:36:16 PM »
Love the wind jammer. Great looking bike.
Logged
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=127186.0

"You wouldn't think that out here...a man could simply run clear...out of country but oh my...oh my...nothing but the light." -Ben Nichols

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2015, 05:38:35 PM »
Quote from: riverfever on November 22, 2015, 05:36:16 PM
Love the wind jammer. Great looking bike.
Interested in buying it? The windjammer that is.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline riverfever

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,796
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2015, 08:30:49 PM »
I would if my project was stock but it doesn't fit my build.
Logged
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=127186.0

"You wouldn't think that out here...a man could simply run clear...out of country but oh my...oh my...nothing but the light." -Ben Nichols

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

  • Speak up, Whipper-Snapper! I'm a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,731
  • SOHC/4 Member #1235
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2015, 09:39:12 AM »
That bike is a good starting point for anything -- restoration, mod or just plain survivor.
Logged
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 hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2015, 05:04:25 PM »
Had some "good" weather yesterday, low 40's, and got a good start to my tear down for the winter. Looks much better with the luggage rack and the fairing off.

I'm going to rebuild the stuck front caliper and the leaking carbs first. Then replace the fork seals, steering stem bearings, front wheel bearings and front tire that has seen way better days. Followed by the swing arm bushings, rear shocks, chain and sprockets, rear wheel bearings and at least adjust if not replace rear brake shoes. Luckily the rear tire is a relatively new shinko, although the po said he gooped the wheel to run tubeless so that has me a little nervous. But ill run it until i have an issue or at least until i know for sure what I'm gonna do with her.

After getting the air box off I have run into my first road block. The boots between the air box and the carbs are shot. One of them is so bad one end stuck in the air box the other clamped to the carb and all that was between them was taped wrapped around.

Luckily work was slow today and i had a chance to do some searching. Unable to find any boots for sale anywhere. Will try the local dealer tomorrow but not holding my breath... So i now have the dilemma trying to find some good ones laying around at someones place or switching to pods/stacks. I would prefer to stick with the air box but I'm not afraid of the tuning process either.

With all that said anyone have some good air box boots they could part with or preferences on stacks/pods. If i have to make the change I'm thinking stacks with mesh screens and oiled foam would be the route to go.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline riverfever

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,796
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2015, 05:22:29 PM »
Logged
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=127186.0

"You wouldn't think that out here...a man could simply run clear...out of country but oh my...oh my...nothing but the light." -Ben Nichols

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2015, 07:20:38 PM »
Thanks riverfever but its a 78 with the pd carbs and those wont fit. I did however, receive a pm from another member that has some.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline riverfever

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,796
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2015, 07:53:09 PM »
Oh I'm sorry. Gad someone had a set for you.
Logged
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=127186.0

"You wouldn't think that out here...a man could simply run clear...out of country but oh my...oh my...nothing but the light." -Ben Nichols

Offline silvercloud1960

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #11 on: November 26, 2015, 06:45:20 AM »
I would like to have the backrest an rack if your not going to use them!
Logged
Project 78 CB550K, Project 77 Yamaha XS750, 2000 ZRX 1100  First street bike 1978 Suzuki GS750

Offline BakerCB550

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #12 on: November 26, 2015, 07:07:37 AM »
1978 Honda CB 550
Frame off restoration. Everything is NEW!
Powder coated frame, custom paint.
Motor has all new gaskets.
Runs perfect
Logged

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

  • Speak up, Whipper-Snapper! I'm a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,731
  • SOHC/4 Member #1235
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #13 on: November 26, 2015, 11:29:57 AM »
Quote from: BakerCB550 on November 26, 2015, 07:07:37 AM
1978 Honda CB 550
Frame off restoration. Everything is NEW!
Powder coated frame, custom paint.
Motor has all new gaskets.
Runs perfect

Nice threadjack. 
You have a nice bike, deserving a separate thread to show it off. ;)
Logged
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 riverfever

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,796
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #14 on: November 26, 2015, 11:49:46 AM »
Yes. This is random.
Logged
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=127186.0

"You wouldn't think that out here...a man could simply run clear...out of country but oh my...oh my...nothing but the light." -Ben Nichols

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #15 on: November 29, 2015, 06:54:56 PM »
Quote from: silvercloud1960 on November 26, 2015, 06:45:20 AM
I would like to have the backrest an rack if your not going to use them!
Shoot me an offer. Not gonna use them.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #16 on: December 01, 2015, 06:37:35 PM »
Been slacking on posting updates. Got the carbs disassembled and cleaned up with my favorite cleaner. Mean green. Soak for five minutes, light scrub with old toothbrush, soak for an hour. Final scrub if needed and rinse. This stuff works wonders and no worries cause its biodegradable.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #17 on: December 06, 2015, 07:12:55 PM »
Take off stuff for sale. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=153509.0

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2015, 07:58:41 PM »
Carbs clean and all back together.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #19 on: December 19, 2015, 08:05:26 PM »
Now with the clean carbs, new manifold and air box boots. Carbs will go back on tomorrow with the new exhaust and see how she sounds.

The rear tire was a relatively new shinko but the front was an old dry rotted no name tire. Swapped out the front for a decent tire i had laying around.

Chain and sprockets aren't that great but will do for a while. Long enough to know if i wanna play with the gear ratio or not.

Waiting on the steering bearings and fork seals to get the front end finished and rear shocks due to the stockers leaking and the springs sagging.

 She'll then be road worthy enough for me to make sure the rest of her is sound before thinking about aesthetics and upgrades.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
« Last Edit: December 19, 2015, 08:10:12 PM by hsas.69 »
Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline Stev-o

  • Ain't no
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 34,324
  • Central Texas
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #20 on: December 20, 2015, 12:37:21 PM »
Personally, I would trust a rear rim that has been "gooped"  to run tubeless.
Buy a tube.
Logged
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #21 on: December 20, 2015, 02:54:15 PM »
Its holding air and the PO had been riding this way for awhile. After i ride and decide to keep her or not will determine what i do. Leave it if I'm selling, informing the buyer, or new tubes and tires if I'm keeping.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #22 on: December 20, 2015, 02:59:31 PM »
Got my carbs back on and the exhaust mounted up today. Fired up second kick although the #4 carb had a small drip from the overflow and the rpms hang. Have to flick the kill switch off and on to get back to idle.

Didn't have a good way to clear tube the carbs off the bike so that and the rest of the 3k tune-up and carb sync is next of order.

The rpms hanging i would think would point to a vacuum leak but have all new boots for the carbs, air box and manifold sides, and new o rings on the manifolds. Unless the sync screws leak that much through the threads I'm not sure where a vacuum leak would be.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4

Offline Retro Rocket

  • Eggs are hard due too a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 19,279
  • ROCK & ROLL
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #23 on: December 20, 2015, 03:10:03 PM »
Quote from: hsas.69 on December 20, 2015, 02:59:31 PM
Got my carbs back on and the exhaust mounted up today. Fired up second kick although the #4 carb had a small drip from the overflow and the rpms hang. Have to flick the kill switch off and on to get back to idle.

Didn't have a good way to clear tube the carbs off the bike so that and the rest of the 3k tune-up and carb sync is next of order.

The rpms hanging i would think would point to a vacuum leak but have all new boots for the carbs, air box and manifold sides, and new o rings on the manifolds. Unless the sync screws leak that much through the threads I'm not sure where a vacuum leak would be.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Its not the throttle cables binding somewhere..?
Logged
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline hsas.69

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 226
Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #24 on: December 20, 2015, 03:12:46 PM »
No retro i even twisted the throttle back to make sure. Cables need a little lube but they're  not binding at all.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Logged
78 CB750 F3
78 CB550 K4
Pages: [1] 2  All   Go Up
« previous next »