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Author Topic: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?  (Read 3730 times)

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Offline hsas.69

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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.

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Offline pipeguy

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Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2015, 05:18:02 PM »
What do you have in mind for the bike?
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2001 Electra Glide
2013 CRF450R
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Offline hsas.69

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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.

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« Last Edit: November 22, 2015, 05:37:44 PM by hsas.69 »
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Offline riverfever

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Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2015, 05:36:16 PM »
Love the wind jammer. Great looking bike.
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"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

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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.

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Offline riverfever

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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.
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"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

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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.
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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 hsas.69

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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.

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Offline riverfever

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Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2015, 05:22:29 PM »
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"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

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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.

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Offline riverfever

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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.
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"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

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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!
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Offline BakerCB550

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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
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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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. ;)
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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 riverfever

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Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #14 on: November 26, 2015, 11:49:46 AM »
Yes. This is random.
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"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

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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.

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Offline hsas.69

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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.

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Offline hsas.69

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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

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Offline hsas.69

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

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Offline hsas.69

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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.

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« Last Edit: December 19, 2015, 08:10:12 PM by hsas.69 »
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Offline Stev-o

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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.
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Offline hsas.69

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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.

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Offline hsas.69

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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.

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Offline Retro Rocket

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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.

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Its not the throttle cables binding somewhere..?
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Offline hsas.69

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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.

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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #25 on: December 20, 2015, 03:14:30 PM »
Quote from: hsas.69 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.

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No worries, Just thought I'd mention it, its quite common on these old bikes..
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Offline hsas.69

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Re: 78 550K Build ?Cafe?
« Reply #26 on: December 20, 2015, 03:16:24 PM »
I appreciate it. Any and all help is. I'm still relatively new to these bikes.

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