Author Topic: 76 CB550 Cafe build (Read 87202 times)

Ryan66 · « **Reply #500 on:** January 18, 2021, 12:57:25 PM »

What seat is that? Love the bike. Goals for my build

tshrey · « **Reply #501 on:** January 18, 2021, 01:00:28 PM »

I made the rear seat/bodywork and had it custom upholstered.

Ryan66 · « **Reply #502 on:** January 18, 2021, 01:30:19 PM »

Quote from: tshrey on January 18, 2021, 01:00:28 PM

I made the rear seat/bodywork and had it custom upholstered.

Well damn! Talented mofo

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #503 on:** January 18, 2021, 05:24:27 PM »

Great news!

Did you custom paint your FZ-09 in the background?

tshrey · « **Reply #504 on:** January 18, 2021, 05:32:06 PM »

Yeah, the cafe bike looked so good and I bought way too much paint so I said what the hell. The FZ was a flat black and it scratched ridiculously easy. The two bikes look really great next to each other.

I went out and backed out the air screws a little more until I maximized the idle rpm. Then I moved the needle clip up one slot. Made a big difference in performance, feels like it just wants to get up and go now. Also got the speedometer working. Unfortunately my charging system doesn't seem to be working so I have to tear into that next.

algophobe · « **Reply #505 on:** January 18, 2021, 05:57:44 PM »

Quote from: tshrey on January 18, 2021, 11:54:50 AM

Been waiting four years for this...

Idle is set at 1000 rpm, let it warm up for a minute and then took it down the street and back.

Now on to the work that I am a total novice in - how does one tune up the carbs? I'm sitting at 1/2 turn out on the idle mixture (before I had to be 2.5 turns out, found a tiny speck of dirt on the seat for the float bowl on #4 and it was running super rich) - how do I know when I've got it dialed in? Once I start riding it is very responsive to throttle off idle, but at 2500-3000 rpm it starts to stumble. How do you know if you are rich or lean at the point? If this was FI I would hook up my laptop and be done after 20 minutes

I guess first question (after the idle air adjustment question) - do I sync up the carbs first or move on to the needle height first?

i had the same issues with my cb750, using the Keihin CR's as well. from what i hear they tend to run super rich. also problem with these cr's is that there are note sites for vacuum spigots.

tshrey · « **Reply #506 on:** January 18, 2021, 06:08:42 PM »

On the 550 the vacuum ports are on the intake manifolds, synching them up won't be an issue.

I got all my jet info from others who have the same upgrades as I have (Mike R stage 2 head, dynoman bigger pistons, CB650 cam) so I really should be close. I think all my other issues with getting this thing running have been because I didn't have a fuel filter between my temp tank and the carbs and there was some #$%* getting the jets.

tshrey · « **Reply #507 on:** January 19, 2021, 10:47:00 AM »

Just did a cold start. Even with the smallest pilot jets you don't want to use more than half choke on the CRs and as soon as it catches you back it right off.

Fixed the charging system - apparently the reg/rec plugs have to be pushed all the way on to function correctly

Have to find his thread or reach out to @FunJimmy to see which Pingel petcock he used that clears the CRs.

Neutral and oil switch are now set up. Realized I need to fab up a license plate bracket and light. Would like to take it for a ride around the block at this point but need to wait until I can put the gas tank on, just too conspicuous as is right now.

Also, every bike I've ever owned doesn't let the shift lever go down at all once you are in first. On this one I can push the lever all the way down. Is that normal or did I leave out something when I put the engine back together?

tshrey · « **Reply #508 on:** January 25, 2021, 10:57:49 AM »

Last couple of pieces are in hand now to put the real tank on. Got a new cap and figured out a way to get the fuel out.

My question is, what kind of thing can I use to seal the adapter to the tank. Can regular rubber be in a gas environment or do I need a special kind of o-ring? I have a kit of nitrile o-rings, would that work?

Alan F. · « **Reply #509 on:** January 25, 2021, 11:13:59 AM »

Nitrile is good for fuel. I keep this link handy: https://mykin.com/rubber-chemical-resistance-chart-3

Last time I chose an o-ring from a kit for a petcock I chose one size large and had leaks, the correct size will drop right into your adaptor and rattle a tiny bit side to side. A little grease on the o-ring and all surfaces will help it to seat without binding.

tshrey · « **Reply #510 on:** February 03, 2021, 06:30:01 AM »

Fuel is now plumbed in. Used a cheap in-line fuel switch that isn't the most attractive thing but it will work. This setup also forced me to use an in-line fuel filter which is also rather ugly but both things are pretty tucked out of the way. At some point I will find an attractive looking filter but this will let me get it on the road for now. Need to put some old gas in the tank and swirl it around to clean it out, it has three years of dust in it.

Took the wiring apart in the headlight bucket for a final clean up of lines and installed the cognito cup for the motogadget gauge. The cockpit and front end of the bike are fully done!

Can anyone recommend a throttle system? Right now it is a generic motion pro with their cables but it really is garbage. The cables don't fully seat in the throttle housing and flop around and it irritates the hell out of me. Feels like I ordered it off Alibaba. Ideally I would like something with cables that I can cut to length, I don't like the extra loop over the headlight bucket either.

All that is left is the mLock install (trivial, all the wiring is in place), figuring out a mount for the rear brake switch and machining a more attractive linkage from the rear brake lever to the rear brake. I have the materials for all of that except the mLock, ordering that next week.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #511 on:** February 03, 2021, 02:31:27 PM »

Have you checked out the Domino throttle systems?

tshrey · « **Reply #512 on:** February 03, 2021, 03:03:43 PM »

I just ran across that today. Think I'm going to do the X2 that Revival sells.

slikwilli420 · « **Reply #513 on:** February 03, 2021, 09:00:43 PM »

Quote from: tshrey on February 03, 2021, 03:03:43 PM

I just ran across that today. Think I'm going to do the X2 that Revival sells.

I just put one on my race bike. Holy #$%* its a nice piece of kit.

tshrey · « **Reply #514 on:** February 07, 2021, 01:30:54 PM »

Ordered the Domino throttle and cable kit.

Still not happy with my tank outlet solution, too many fittings and clamps jammed into the area above the carbs. Had to pull the tank off and it was just a pain in the ass. Fortunately I came across this:

https://www.common-motor.com/honda-cb500t-cb550f-petcock

It is listed for a 500T but the tank threads are m20 and if the picture is accurate this will fit perfectly above the carbs and the offset outlet will also clear them. I'll know more when I get it. Also nice because of the internal fuel filter, won't need to run the snowmobile filter I have inline now.

Found a solution for my rear brake switch. The standard pull spring switch just doesn't work with my peg setup without some seriously ghetto work and modification to the lever. So I ordered a simple push connection like some dirtbike brake switches that I can actuate off of the connection between the lever and the arm that goes back to the brake. Minimal fabbing to get that done, just an L bracket that I can bolt to the backside of the rearset mount. Should be almost invisible.

wolf550 · « **Reply #515 on:** February 07, 2021, 06:17:18 PM »

could you flip the carb intake inlet mounts to give you a little more wiggle room up top?
It looks like the mounts kind of sweep up to the carbs.
unless the special carbs need it that way.

tshrey · « **Reply #516 on:** February 07, 2021, 06:36:28 PM »

I was originally hoping that, but the intake manifolds can't be swapped from side to side, the bolt holes don't line up right (cylinder 1 bolt mounts up top, cylinder 2 on the bottom, mirror age for 3 and 4)

wolf550 · « **Reply #517 on:** February 07, 2021, 07:16:23 PM »

I see now. I had to go out and check my bikes to see what was going on cause the little air screw inlets where you put the carb sync tool they are on the bottom on mine.
I wonder if the cycle x single intake manifolds would help to alleviate more room under there, but at 200 bucks, I think I would see if I could make a sand cast mold to have them swoop down. (cause I am frugal me thinks)

tshrey · « **Reply #518 on:** February 07, 2021, 07:26:14 PM »

I've never seen the cycle X ones. I could machine my own but for $200 it would be worth it to me to just buy them and drill and tap a hole for the carb sync mechanisms. They look a lot shorter than the stock manifolds.

That also looks like it would move #2 outboard a little - really don't like how the throttle cable is RIGHT under the main frame spar and has to take a tight bend in the standard CR26 setup. I have to measure and make sure I have all the rail components to move the carbs outward. Pretty sure my setup has only enough mounting rails for the width they came set up in.

Thanks for pointing those out.

Godffery · « **Reply #519 on:** February 07, 2021, 10:09:27 PM »

have you looked at Pingel?
http://www.pingelonline.com/prodcat/fuel-valves.asp

tacc13 · « **Reply #520 on:** February 08, 2021, 01:45:50 AM »

Got a pair of Golan petcocks on mine. If you want some measurements for clearance I can try and measure displacement from some part of the engine to the base of the petcock.

tshrey · « **Reply #521 on:** February 13, 2021, 02:15:47 PM »

Got the 500T petcock, wound up being just like the stock 550 but with only one outlet. That wound up being just right. Lots of extra casting on the unit so I cut and saved a couple nubs off and in the end have a few mm of clearance between it and carb #1.

Not a whole lot of quality control going on for this remanufactured unit. Holes don't line up worth a #$%* on either outlet. Not so concerned about the reserve side but this hole is pretty small considering the inlet to the carbs is 5/16", so I opened it up and got all the flow. I guess I'll find out if this is a limitation eventually but honestly I don't plan on driving this thing full throttle for more than a few seconds at a time.

After (note I changed the orientation just to confuse the reader)

Also got the Domino throttle system and cables in my hands as well as the rear brake switch and started on a stainless rod for the rear brake actuation.

tshrey · « **Reply #522 on:** February 14, 2021, 10:08:19 AM »

Some more time in the garage this morning. Connected up all the choke circuit inputs for the CR26s; Godffery or some other elder wrote that the choke circuit can get crud in it and then the valve never closes all the way causing all sorts of issues.

Started to do the cables for the Domino throttle. One thing I really like about this system is the curved ends they include with the kit to prevent the cable adjusters from being jammed right up against the frame. The downside is since they are curved you can't adjust them in place, if you want to make primary adjustments to the tension you have to have the carbs off of the engine. The kit includes ends that go in place with a tiny bolt, but I don't trust that setup; going to dip them in solder after measuring the length a dozen times or so.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #523 on:** February 15, 2021, 10:24:34 PM »

Nice work Travis.

MRieck · « **Reply #524 on:** February 16, 2021, 01:04:07 PM »

Quote from: tshrey on February 14, 2021, 10:08:19 AM

Some more time in the garage this morning. Connected up all the choke circuit inputs for the CR26s; Godffery or some other elder wrote that the choke circuit can get crud in it and then the valve never closes all the way causing all sorts of issues.

Started to do the cables for the Domino throttle. One thing I really like about this system is the curved ends they include with the kit to prevent the cable adjusters from being jammed right up against the frame. The downside is since they are curved you can't adjust them in place, if you want to make primary adjustments to the tension you have to have the carbs off of the engine. The kit includes ends that go in place with a tiny bolt, but I don't trust that setup; going to dip them in solder after measuring the length a dozen times or so.

I was pulling my hair out back in the day with that issue. That whole cold start system on the CR's isn't very good.

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Author Topic: 76 CB550 Cafe build (Read 87202 times)