Author Topic: My 1977 CB550F project (Read 20718 times)

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #75 on:** May 23, 2017, 08:33:17 PM »

The seat has a tongue under it in the front that slips in under the frame work and two bolts to attach it with a couple knurled brass nuts.
The 3/8" rubber strips attached to the seat frame provide a raceway for the electrical wires and a little more shock absorption.
We have a small tool box area under the front part of the seat. Our license plate is tucked up under the seat in front of the rear wheel and is visible for the man to seefrom about 5 to 50+ feet away.
We replaced the ugly original stock ignition switch with an earlier model version attached to the front right side of the frame 😊
We made a new custom exhaust from the header collector back and installed screened velocity stacks on the carbs and increased main jets from 105 to 110, what we really need are 107.5 main jets, but I can not find any 😞 Do you know of any one capable of drilling out some smaller main jets to 107.5 size? New Biltwell synthetic rubber recoil hand grips are very comfortable.
The electric starter is working again, the PCB circuit inside the housing crumbled, I replaced it with a DPDT NC (normally closed) NO (normally open) push button momentary switch and a relay switch.
Since I could not find a micro DC switch, I used a DPDT AC switch to provide more contact area by wiring each of the two poles together.
The relay switch handles all the heavy current draw to the halogen headlight NC and the starter solenoid NO, the starter button only handles a small amount of current to operate the relay switch. The relay switch for the headlight and starter is attached on the under side of the tool box.
The black/red wire from the starter switch that use to send power to the headlight is now a power source for some future LED lighting.
We painted the chrome signal housings semi gloss black.

I think that about covers most of the changes made from winter 2016 to Spring 2017

The bike is running great, I was having so much fun riding it I almost did not take it to my son for him to ride

My 9 year old grandson Gabe posing on the bike

Our next mod for this winter is a 1977 CB550F Fat Boy ... Not

Fezzler · « **Reply #76 on:** May 24, 2017, 07:14:09 PM »

A looker!

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #77 on:** May 25, 2017, 05:30:02 PM »

Thanks

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #78 on:** June 15, 2017, 09:59:15 AM »

FYI - Blown main 15 amp fuse.

Apparent cause lose connector to Black/White coil wires.
All four plugs had no spark even after 15 amp fuse was replaced.
We are running DynaTec electronic ignition.

Repair
Connector cut off, wires soldered together and covered with heat shrink.
Cranked the bike up and it is running Great
As a matter of fack it is running stronger than it ever has in the 2+ years we have owned it

About 200 miles have been put on the bike since the repair and no blown fuses

It's till running rich in mid to top end and we are not able to find 107.5 push in main jets
So I guess we will drop the #42 pilot jets down to #40 pilot jets, then remove what little baffle there is from the exhaust except for the resistance caused by the bend in the tail pipe and see what happens.

Surprisingly the bike is not real loud with straight pipes

RAFster122s · « **Reply #79 on:** June 15, 2017, 02:45:09 PM »

Playing with photochop eh?

Nice build, hope it gives many years of riding pleasure. 550 is a great handling bike.

David

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #80 on:** June 15, 2017, 07:37:13 PM »

Thanks, I am sure it will, it only has a little over 16,000 miles on it

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #81 on:** July 12, 2017, 06:17:01 PM »

My son has had the bike for about two months now and has put about 700 miles on it, the bike is running great and there have been no issues about the license plate location from law enforcement

I am going to have to commandeer the CB550F so I can ride it some

Hope all of you are having a great summer!

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #82 on:** July 26, 2017, 08:42:33 PM »

I found 108 main jets for the later model screw in main jets, but none available for the earlier MODEL push in main jets

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #83 on:** August 07, 2017, 03:55:23 PM »

I finally got around to making the bracket to install the earlier model ignition switch.

Just need to dress it up a little and paint it, then install it on the right front frame down tube

I'll place a piece of old inner tube between the frame and the bracket to help snug it up and provide a little anti vibration for the switch.

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #84 on:** August 20, 2017, 06:59:56 PM »

I overlooked something, but I think Murphy had a hand in it

Right where I planned to install the ignition switch bracket turns out there is a cross tube between the two front frame down tubes

Back to the drawing board or at least the bracket, drill press & band saw, in the end it all worked out.

Some rivets, JB weld epoxy, a beer and a few *@#! it's all good.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #85 on:** August 21, 2017, 08:59:47 AM »

Hopefully, the bike makes a positive impression enough for Gabe to ride it someday.

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #86 on:** August 24, 2017, 09:19:52 PM »

There's a good possibility Gabe and his older sister Kinsey both may ride it some day as we have no intention of getting rid of it.

My son Shelby and both grand kids are into skate boarding, surfing and dirt bike riding as well.

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #87 on:** August 24, 2017, 09:50:44 PM »

I just finished checking the float level only one was slightly off.

Changed the pilot/slow jets from #42 to #40 with the #110 main jets and that seems to have brought air fuel mixture where it needs to be

I also opened the baffle up a little more, almost straight pipes, but not quite.
The bike feels real strong

Spark plugs are no longer sooty black, they are a nice tan and brown color.

No need for the #108 main jets after all

Thank goodness I was not looking forward to drilling out 4 main jets in hope of getting them all exactly the size of a #108 main jet.

Jet needle clip on 3rd notch from the top
#110 main jets
#40 pilot/slow jets
Air screws out 2 1/8 turns

The bike now has 17,000 miles on it, we have put 5,000 of those miles on it

We have had no problems with law enforcement about the license plate location

I need to sync the carbs one more time.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #88 on:** August 25, 2017, 02:09:51 AM »

Great work and glad to hear the jetting change sorted out your issues. What was your final setup in comparison to stock jetting? What is the stock starting point on a 77 carbs given your 110 and 40 w 3rd needle position.

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #89 on:** August 25, 2017, 08:16:09 AM »

Note (The 1977 K models are slightly different from the F models and use a newer version of the carburettors with Screw in #100 main jets and Press in #40 pilot/slow jets, why, I don't know)
Personally I liked the earlier model carbs like the ones that were on my 1974 CB750 with the spring clip to hold the float bowls on instead of four screws

Stock 1977 CB550F Our 1977 CB550F
Jet needle clip on 2nd notch from the top Jet needle clip on 3rd notch from the top
#98 Press in main jets Press in #110 main jets
#38 Screw in pilot/slow jets Screw in #40 pilot/slow jets
Air screws out 1 1/2 turns Air screws out 2 1/8 turns
Stock air filter Screened velocity stacks
Stock muffler Straight pipes slightly baffled
Stock coils Dyna 5 ohm coils
Points & Condenser Dyna Electronic Ignition

Looks like we might get another 5,000 miles on the dunlop tires, I am thinking about some Bridgestones for the next set of tires if they are the same quality or better than they were in the late 60's early 70's

The Bridgestones did not last quite as long, about 8,000 miles, but they had real good traction

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #90 on:** October 29, 2017, 10:19:16 PM »

The disc brakes had been sticking, not fully releasing.

Saturday my son and I took the calipers off one at a time and found debris from the orange paint that was on the metal backing of the EBC brake pads gumming up the housing where the pads are located.

We cleaned up and removed all the orange paint from the pads and housing then applied some brake lube to the caliper housing and the metal backing on the pads.

No more sticking disc brakes

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #91 on:** February 26, 2018, 08:35:27 AM »

I found a nice site for CB500/550 performance parts

http://cyclexchange.net/500-550-Hi-Perf.htm

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #92 on:** August 28, 2018, 10:11:14 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on June 06, 2016, 05:05:56 PM

Quote from: JMS28411 on June 06, 2016, 04:59:02 PM
I read some where it could help keep the rear brakes from locking up
I've never heard that. Interesting notion. I wonder what the premise for that is? Chamfering the leading edge would only prevent chatter (in my opinion) of the shoe when it first contacts the drum. If you can recall what/why I would be interested to hear it.

Brake Arcing
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.racetech.com%2Fpage%2Ftitle%2FBrake%2520Arcing&h=AT15PPqIp5M9gdVbIZxfQvaUDzIEXoayVptchrb2-jsQb31CEVYXTYVsvQ_6Y-Sg-T0mMY8qo3HuDiGgxBE15Fa2LtPkSDDTQacO6_d1LmknpiOlaFHlVYaNgIzxo-jrP1ehs1UbfAINH20O_qqMrmANXjkQI7S56GeeFP0Hi2wGUZ-PiDsjeJFBs4oMNlxNavfzAPSjsJJYMTw4A0W3rB8B4zaucOttnVqgQE865VRu0tzYshNff2ZrhlNHWHqMKdZFE-nXrWp60zHsGV1hgRjmKAwYGPLcVGwY_aHLo14LiLLIZm8klBdlyVMkHIgoA1BvqmIS8oBIgpm_V_oPhZxJ9s5F6fgiywYAnqSH3rNp

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #93 on:** August 28, 2018, 10:38:22 PM »

Well our chinese tail light crapped out so we tried something different, (4) LED light strips with signal,tail & brake lights on each one ... bright during day time and very bright at night

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #94 on:** August 28, 2018, 10:41:01 PM »

Holy smokes! That taillight is BRIGHT!

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #95 on:** August 28, 2018, 10:47:01 PM »

I ran across something interesting, I always thought the screws on these old bikes were phillips head screws, but no ... apparently they are JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screws

I ordered two sets, one for me and one for my son

https://www.webbikeworld.com/vessel-jis-screwdrivers-review/

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #96 on:** October 30, 2023, 11:55:03 AM »

FYI - Awhile back we were having periodic problems with the main 10 Amp fuse blowing on a regular basis, eventually the starter would not work, I thought maybe the starter switch was bad, it was not

Turns out the starter solenoid was bad

I replaced the starter solenoid switch ... no more blown main 10 15 amp fuses and the bike starts up way better than before

I just drained and replaced the fork oil with 205ml 10w Honda fork oil.

I installed new front & rear sprockets and a new chain.

Installed new Bridgestone Batlax BT46 tires, I wanted Pirelli Speed Demons, but I could not find the rear tire 110-90/18

scottly · « **Reply #97 on:** October 30, 2023, 12:12:12 PM »

Quote from: JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken on October 30, 2023, 11:55:03 AM

FYI - Awhile back we were having periodic problems with the main 10 Amp fuse blowing on a regular basis, eventually the starter would not work, I thought maybe the starter switch was bad, it was not

The main fuse should be 15 Amp, not 10.

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #98 on:** November 09, 2023, 05:27:28 PM »

You are right it is 15 ampthat we were blowing due to the bad starter solenoid switc

Don't know why I said 10 amp.

JMS28411 I'm no Spring Chicken · « **Reply #99 on:** May 21, 2024, 12:51:18 PM »

We did some recent maintenance and installed some new Bridgestone Battlax BT46 tires, man these tires have made a world of difference in handling and braking

Date Mileage
10/28/2023   19,718   New Tires, Chain & Sprockets YES Bridgestone Battlax BT46 Front 100/90-19 & Rear 110/90-18 Directional Tires,
10/28//2023 19,718 New Sprockets & New Chain, Tire Air pressure 30 PSI Front & Rear
10/29/2023   19,718   Fork oil   YES   Drained and replaced fork oil with 205 ml Honda 10W Fork Oil in each side
10/30/2023   19,718   Change Oil & Oil Filter YES   Used 3 quarts Honda GN4 10w40 motorcycle oil Hiflofiltro HF401-3 Oil Filter
10/30/2023   19,718   Front Disc Brake Pads   YES   Checked Front Brake Pads and rear Brake Shoes they are both in good condition - no need for replacement
11/01/2023   19,736   Clutch & Throttle cables YES   Lubricate Clutch & Throttle Cables
11/04/2023   19,746   Replaced Brake Fluid   YES   Valvoline DOT 3 & 4 Synthetic Brake Fluid - Tire Air pressure 30 PSI Front & Rear

News:

Author Topic: My 1977 CB550F project (Read 20718 times)