Topic: Just picked up a 1974 CB550

[kennyle]

Hello everyone,

I'm from Portland, Oregon and like most of us here, I just picked up an old vintage machine. How much? It was love at first sight so it didn't matter too much. Anyways like most 40+ year old bikes, its most likely going to come with some problems and I was okay with that. The PO told me the carbs would need some TLC but besides that, the bike is good. I took it out and rode around the neighborhood for about 20 minutes. Decided the price was fair and brought it home. First thing I did was rode it to a motorcycle repair shop near me called MotoFactory PDX to have it "professionally" looked at. The owner tells me having all the carbs repaired was going to be $450 so I said sure (knew it wasn't going to be cheap). Then he inspected the chain and said to have that replaced as well for $150 cause it was in a dangerous condition (it was dirty, rusted, and loose). Then he noticed an oil leak from the right side of the engine (between the top and bottom engine/cyclinder, excuse my terminology, I do not know much about motorcycles. Anyways, he told me fixing that would probably be around $1000 (i'm holding off on that for now). Now the bike is in the shop for about 2 weeks due to high customer volume. I went from super happy and excited to thinking man, did I just F'd myself by buying this bike?

TL DR, new bike, carbs being repaired and new chain, oil leak on the right side between the top and bottom engine

[MD]

$150 chain,  If that means 1 1/2 hrs labor and a standard chain.  Might not be over priced.  You might want to start picking which projects you can do and which to farm out.

-MD

[Stev-o]

Go pick the bike back up!

I highly doubt the chain is "dangerous" and changing it is pretty basic.  BTW - sprockets are typically changed at the same time, did he mention that?

[scottly]

Go pick the bike back up!

1+
The chain is most likely worn out, judging by the adjusters being all the way back, but the other repairs(?) are questionable. You did ride it to the shop....

[dhall57]

Im with the other guys here, I would go get my bike Ken. I myself have done chain, sprockets, and carbs on all my bikes. If I can do it Im sure you can to

[CycleRanger]

Howdy! Welcome!
If it's running now the carbs can't be that bad.

$450 for a carb job?!      
Wow, I really under price my time..

Oil leak may be the pucks, and while it's not an expensive or particularly difficult fix it usually requires removal of the motor.

Grab a copy of the shop manual here: http://honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/shop-manual   
and start reading. 

[flatlander]

Oil leak may be the pucks, and while it's not an expensive or particularly difficult fix it usually requires removal of the motor.

it's even less scary. on the 550, you can replace the pucks and even head and base gaskets with engine in frame.

i'm with the rest here: pick up the bike, download that manual, get your tools out and your hands dirty. put up a thread about your work and people will be helping you with all sorts of wanted and unwanted advice.

the sad fact is that most shop mechanics these days are not familiar with bikes 40 years old. they end up throwing parts and hours at them without necessarily understanding what's really needed, wasting time and your money. what are the odds that they're now busy installing an o-ring chain that will eat away your engine case?

[CycleRanger]

Oil leak may be the pucks, and while it's not an expensive or particularly difficult fix it usually requires removal of the motor.

it's even less scary. on the 550, you can replace the pucks and even head and base gaskets with engine in frame.

what are the odds that they're now busy installing an o-ring chain that will eat away your engine case?

Well heck, I need to get me one of these 550's! 

And what he said about an o-ring chain, avoid installing one on a 550.

[kennyle]

Not sure if I'm replying correctly to everyone but here I go..

$150 chain,  If that means 1 1/2 hrs labor and a standard chain.  Might not be over priced.  You might want to start picking which projects you can do and which to farm out.

-MD

Thanks MD. Being a pharmacy student and all, time is just something that I don't have so that is why I went to the shop for the carbs and chain but after reading everyones response and looking at the manuals, it empowered me to make time to work on my own bike.

Howdy! Welcome!
If it's running now the carbs can't be that bad.

$450 for a carb job?!      
Wow, I really under price my time..

Oil leak may be the pucks, and while it's not an expensive or particularly difficult fix it usually requires removal of the motor.

Grab a copy of the shop manual here: http://honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/shop-manual   
and start reading. 

Thanks for the links CR. You just boosted my confidence by 1000%

Im with the other guys here, I would go get my bike Ken. I myself have done chain, sprockets, and carbs on all my bikes. If I can do it Im sure you can to

Thanks for the faith haha. I will start to do my own work after I get the bike back. But I do have one project that might require a professional and that is to weld a seat loop to my frame for a brat seat look. I did some research and don't think I am capable of doing that.

This was my first post and everyone has been very helpful. You guys have opened up Pandoras box and will now hear from me again!

[strynboen]

a shame to hack that  total stock and orginal bike up.
..but its your bike. do it as you like..
.often ve use a rusty crash bike for that type of builds..bay one more and make that to a brat..and save that as a stock. orginal.then you have the best of both Worlds..still think they hold value more, then less you hack them..
stock bikes is better riders..all that Building #$%*,,just make them perform worse..and cost you all lot of money

and dont fix that leaking...all sohc 500 and 550 leaks in the head...vait some years..only if your get oil at your legs /Shues..start think abaut a new gasket..and after some monts it  restart leak ..and all over...and over...vaste of money
my advise is...get fixed the chain..send the carbs to harisulv..here on forum. he fix them to new standart.and let you local install them ..and just ride the bike for some sesons..and vait to build ..you dont have any idea of hov it perform stock..so give it a thance to survive as a stock bike..and get a hell lot of respekt from all us inhere..arnmhhh almost  most of us...ve have some /hipsters/ lurking

[Stev-o]

a shame to hack that  total stock and orginal bike up.

+1.  Do you know the value of it will drop once you modify it in a way that cannot be reversed?

[Gene]

Don't chop the seat - bring your baby home and do what you can do when you can do it.  That shop is messing with you.  I know - I have made that mistake.  Never again.

EDIT:  And they are a "Reputable Shop" with many loyal fans.

[Gene]

and dont fix that leaking...all sohc 500 and 550 leaks in the head...vait some years..only if your get oil at your legs /Shues..start think abaut a new gasket..my advise is...get fixed the chain..send the carbs to harisulv..here on forum. he fix them to new standart.and let you local install them ..and just ride the bike for some sesons..and vait to build ..

And this is the best advice you'll get.  Harisuluv will do your carbs and you'll probably get them back faster than waiting at that shop.  AND - he has people to vouch for him.

[Stev-o]

and dont fix that leaking...all sohc 500 and 550 leaks in the head...vait some years..only if your get oil at your legs /Shues..start think abaut a new gasket..my advise is...get fixed the chain..send the carbs to harisulv..here on forum. he fix them to new standart.and let you local install them ..and just ride the bike for some sesons..and vait to build ..

And this is the best advice you'll get.  Harisuluv will do your carbs and you'll probably get them back faster than waiting at that shop.  AND - he has people to vouch for him.

vouch