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Author Topic: 1974 cb550 barn find  (Read 2309 times)

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Offline MikeyF

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1974 cb550 barn find
« on: February 01, 2018, 07:14:31 PM »
Hey there everybody!  This past Sunday my sister-in-law calls me to let me know she’s bought a motorcycle.  She bought it at an estate sale for $50. Over the phone all I know is it’s old, a Honda, has sat in a barn since 93’, and she wants me to restore it.  She’s never been on a motorcycle but was so fired up about it I was hooked before even seeing the bike.  I’ve been dying to do a 70s Honda and I think this will be a cool project to do with my 13 year old son.

Here it is in all its glory!
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Offline calj737

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2018, 04:41:14 AM »
Welcome! That one will be rather fun.

Is she going for a restore to original, or slightly resto-mod some small upgrades? True restores cost more, and a 550 doesn't fetch the selling money to ever make it financially even. But, a nicely cleaned up, put back to near original is a classic and worth all the fun!

This thread (once you've installed the Photobucket browser hack http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=168102.0) will be an invaluable source of documentation and clarity for doing your restore http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=86697.0

And what part of the country are you in? That way when you need some parts, people can help guide you or ship them off to you?
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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: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2018, 09:17:34 AM »
I'm interested to see what it looks like after you remove all the accumulated dust and dirt.  Whether you go the route of a restoration or semi-restoration, you'll be shopping for a seat and bars.  It looks like the prior owner also modified the wiring harness to install the key switch on the dash (whereas it was mounted on the frame rail originally). 

Looking forward to your project.
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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 spuds

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2018, 10:51:24 AM »
Cool!!!
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Offline MikeyF

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2018, 07:06:18 PM »
She wants to keep it original with the exception of custom paint for the tank and side covers.  The plan is a nut and bolt restore.  I tried explaining how expensive this sort of build would be and she claims to be ok with it.  It will take me a while so hopefully that will ease the wallet pain :)

Thanks for explaining the ignition.  The PO had jenky wires extended from the ignition to the quick connect.  The seat is a Corbin for a cb650.  I didn’t realize the bars weren’t stock.
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Offline MikeyF

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2018, 07:19:46 PM »
Gave it a good scrub and after removing decades of dirt and animal poo it looks a lot better.
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Offline MikeyF

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2018, 08:57:58 PM »
The tank is in good shape. No dents and some minor rust inside.  Not sure where this petcock came from but it was toast.
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Offline calj737

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2018, 05:12:45 AM »
Once you remove that rattle can paint, you may discover some dents or bondo
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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 MikeyF

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2018, 07:03:59 AM »
Quote from: calj737 on February 03, 2018, 05:12:45 AM
Once you remove that rattle can paint, you may discover some dents or bondo
You know I didn’t think of that.  I was hoping those highway bars had kept it safe but with my luck :)
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Offline MikeyF

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2018, 07:08:19 AM »
I thought it would be bad, since the petcock was left on, but I wasn’t expecting varnish stalactites.

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Offline minimo

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2018, 08:22:39 AM »
Maybe the barn needs a restore too? :-D
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Offline MikeyF

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2018, 06:52:03 PM »
Trying a hot lemon juice bath.  It works very well but smells like demons having a farting contest in my kitchen.  Currently the whole house reeks and my wife is NOT happy 8)  In the future I’ll use my camping stove outside.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2018, 03:32:37 PM »
Subscribed...your sister sounds like a cool chick, she single?  HA!
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline MikeyF

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2018, 06:36:30 PM »
The mystery of the odd petcock and tank are solved... turns out it’s a 75 model 8). I forgot model year was determined by vin# and not the manufacture date.  Correct petcock is on the way👍
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #14 on: February 05, 2018, 08:03:02 PM »
I thought it looked like a 75-76 (dual).  Don't skimp and get a cheap reproduction petcock.  Many have learned the hard way.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the only guy who has a line of genuine Honda petcocks for that year range: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-NOS-petcock-CB-550K-550F-550-F-K-CB550-1975-76-part-16950-374-671/232637730586?epid=1023298215&hash=item362a4a0f1a:g:Ri4AAOSw~cVZ0r4a&vxp=mtr
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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 MikeyF

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Re: 1974 cb550 barn find
« Reply #15 on: February 08, 2018, 04:34:45 PM »
Did the tank with POR15 and it turned out pretty good.  Now waiting for parts to arrive and for the tank to dry.  I hate waiting😃
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