Topic: 1978 CB550K - new project - COMPLETED

[Stev-o]

I am in the middle of a complete kitchen remodel...

Cabinets and flooring too?    We're in design stage of master bath remodel...

[Johnie]

Correct Stev-o...cabinets, putting in some hickory hardwood floor, removing a wall and soffit to open it up. I am doing all the de-construct. She gave me the shop so I am giving her the kitchen. The oak cabinets were from 1987 and looked really good so from a guys point of view it was not necessary, but she has been very good to me

[RAFster122s]

Johnie, the old cabinets make a nice shop storage cabinet or you can donate to a charity.
if there is much usable oakw I would recycle it for woodworking projects.

I will save you the trouble ofsearching for a buyer and you can just ship it to me...I will give ya 2x  the purchase price and parts...double your money.   

Should easily fetch 2500 if she runs well.
It is cleaning up nice.

[Stev-o]

Correct Stev-o...cabinets, putting in some hickory hardwood floor, removing a wall and soffit to open it up. I am doing all the de-construct. She gave me the shop so I am giving her the kitchen. The oak cabinets were from 1987 and looked really good so from a guys point of view it was not necessary, but she has been very good to me

Sounds like a good plan, will benefit you in the end (home value and good food!)

[Johnie]

Got the engine covers clean of oxidation and they turned out nice. Now just waiting for harisuluv to send back my carbs and she will be ready to button up, fire and sell.

[Stev-o]

Sell?! Arent ya gonna ride it at least a month? Oh, gotta pay for that kitchen!

[Johnie]

Yah, probably got to ride it a month or so

[Johnie]

Got the carbs back from harisuluv (Jim) and they look new. Only deal is the post office broke off the brass drain tube on the float bowl. No problem...I mentioned that to Jim and he promptly send me a new bowl. This kitchen remodel has set me back so I hope to get these carbs on soon and test it out. Need to get some room in the shop.

[RAFster122s]

So, any photos of her all cleaned up and running?
My older sister did a major remodel, taking down walls in dining and kitchen to open up the space between living room, dining room and kitchen to a large open planform and removed the carpeting in the house and installed hardwood flooring and granite countertops with large island/eating area.  Stainless kitchen appliances, some tile work in kitchen cooking area...all of that work really changed the looks.  The master bath was totally redone as well.  Large walk-in shower, tilework, modern sink/surround design.  All the lighting replaced was done with  LED lighting and some of it was of dimmable lighting.

[Johnie]

Still need to install the carbs. Need to button up this kitchen project for my wife.

[Johnie]

Wanted to show the pics of the carbs I got back from harisuluv after the cleaning and rebuild. They look fantastic and so good I thought they were new. Now I have to get them mounted so I get this project done. I have had some offers for the bike already. This kitchen project really set me back...

[hoodellyhoo]

Wow those sure are clean! Cad plated bit are nice and bright too.

Still not done with that kitchen? Doesn't your wife know you have CB750's to attend to?

[Lostboy Steve]

Fezz...Dupli-Color Engine Enamel DE 1615 found at most automotive stores in squirt can.

I used the same stuff on the same spot. Looks great.


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[Stev-o]

Still not done with that kitchen? Doesn't your wife know you have CB750's to attend to?

+1!     Your not the carpenter, right?!

[Johnie]

Just part time on this project

[Johnie]

Finally got a break from the kitchen remodel project to install the carbs and throttle cables. Install went fine. So getting close. Will get the air box and other stuff buttoned up to fire it up and ride. More to come...

[RAFster122s]

Imagine the newly zinc-yellow cad plating bumps the price up a tad. Sure looks great!
 Imagine you are eager to get it running.
Paint on motor came out nice.

[Johnie]

Thanks RAF...yes, harisuluv did a fine job on the carbs. The new paint on the motor really cleans it up nicely. Can't wait to get a ride on it. Then I need to get back working on the 69CB750 I picked up in early spring. Plus, I have a K1 waiting in the wings I did not expect to get. I should save some of this for when I retire in about 18 months

[RAFster122s]

Going to need a couple more to have a dozen...then a couple more to have one so you can ride a different bike every day for two weeks.  It starts to become a maintenance nightmare when you have so many bikes that riding them to keep them in good tune and to keep the acids & moisture down in the oil and batteries up becomes a serious challenge.  Retirement gives you that freedom.  You just wish you had all that "free-time" with the former pay.

[Johnie]

RAF I hear you about the maintenance as the bikes accumulate. However, I am not going to keep anymore including this CB550K, CB750K1 (pic) and the 69 CB750 (pic) which is on the lift and already started in the project board. May even part with others in the stable, but for sure the 3 I mentioned will be sold. It is fun to get them running and let them go to a new home.

[Stev-o]

Hey Johnnie...good to see you back at it. 

Not real familiar with the later model 550K, but on my '76 550F, I put the carbs in while the airbox was already in place.

[RAFster122s]

Fitting airbox or getting it out and in will require the the carbs to be out.  SohRon has a good piece about the method to do it in his restore thread. It takes a special sequence to get the intermediate filter box back in and hooked up to the filter box in the triangle.

[Johnie]

Stev-o & RAF...wish I would have talked to you sooner   You are both correct and since this is my first 550 I am learning as I go too. This bike came to me with the carbs off and I took the air box off to do some further detailing. Was doing it the 750 way...carbs first air box second. Now I have to change my way of thinking on these 550's. I had some time today and took the carbs back off and did it the right way. Have the carbs and air box back in place. Now I have to dig into the service manual as the bike came to me with the breather hose off. Looks like it goes from the valve cover and either into open air like the 750 or there is a nipple at the bottom of the air box just behind the carbs on the left side. Not to be confused with the drain nipple under the air cleaner element.

[Stev-o]

Once again, I dont know the 550K that well, but believe the breather goes to the airbox.

[Johnie]

No luck with the service manual. Pretty vague about the air box. Here is a pic of the open nipple I was talking about. It is located directly behind carb #1 and is actually in the air chamber in front of the air box. Suppose the vent could connect there, but the vent hose that came with the bike seems a lot longer than to go to that nipple. I will give it a try. To compound the issue there is another nipple on the air box itself near the battery which angles to the front.  Maybe it goes there? So basically I have 2 open nipples to figure out. If anyone can shed some light please do. I am not talking about the drain hose nipple in the air filter area. Thanks ...