Topic: 76 CB550 Cafe build

[calj737]

The sensor is pretty weather resistant. Under a stock side cover is no issue at all either. It's all RFID so surface contact isn't required.

[bill440cars]

The M-Lock needs only be positioned close to the sensor to activate the M-Unit. From then, the bike is energized. You re-present the fob to electrically disable the bike when you want to "turn the key off". While riding, the fob goes your pocket.

          I knew that this system was available in cars & trucks, but never had any clue that it was available for motorcycles as well, guess I should have realized it would make it's way to the 2 wheeled market as well, huh. 

[calj737]

          I knew that this system was available in cars & trucks, but never had any clue that it was available for motorcycles as well, guess I should have realized it would make it's way to the 2 wheeled market as well, huh. 

It's pricey for sure, especially when coupled with the M-Unit. But, for people doing up custom bike builds and wishing to remove all 40 year old electrical gremlins, it's a no-brainer. It also makes it possible for someone with very limited knowledge of wiring up a bike to do a fully turnkey solution that's just about bullet proof. That to me makes it worth every penny. 

[Lostboy Steve]

Doesn't Harley do something kind of similar?


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[SF]

Yes HD uses fobs


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[bill440cars]

It's pricey for sure, especially when coupled with the M-Unit. But, for people doing up custom bike builds and wishing to remove all 40 year old electrical gremlins, it's a no-brainer. It also makes it possible for someone with very limited knowledge of wiring up a bike to do a fully turnkey solution that's just about bullet proof. That to me makes it worth every penny. 

           Oh yeah, I can see where it would be beneficial alright. I have no clue as to what it all would cost, but I can clearly see the benefits of going for it. Now, where did I stash that "Money Tree"? Still pretty cool though. 

[calj737]

I have no clue as to what it all would cost, but I can clearly see the benefits of going for it. Now, where did I stash that "Money Tree"? Still pretty cool though. 

$300 for the M-Unit, another $175 for the M-Lock. No worries, Bill, the Spring bloom of fresh Franklins and Grants is just around the corner....

[RAFster122s]

The sensor isn't a radio signal link, it is a sensor that sends out a low range signal just like clothing scanners that have a rfid tag built into a tag or dye pack clip.  They respond and are powered by the magnetic field the reader outputs and answer the query by the sensor/reader.  You can and often do have rfid chips in credit cards or drivers licenses in some states.

[calj737]

The sensor isn't a radio signal link, it is a sensor that sends out a low range signal just like clothing scanners that have a rfid tag built into a tag or dye pack clip.  They respond and are powered by the magnetic field the reader outputs and answer the query by the sensor/reader.  You can and often do have rfid chips in credit cards or drivers licenses in some states.

If you're referring to the M-Lock not being RFID, I need to correct you-

http://motogadget.com/en/electrics/rfid-ignition-lock-m-lock/m-lock-rfid-zundschloss.html

Every unit comes with 2 fobs; 1 Master and 1 User. The User fob can be associated with up to 5 different M-Locks, allowing a single User to operate 5 different bikes with the same fob.

[RAFster122s]

Yeah Cal, That was what I was trying to get across, it is an rfid switch not a signal like bluetooth that has to be maintained or when connectivity is lost it shutsdown.  Cb750 seemed to think the way I read it that the fob or grain sized device had to be within proximity of the sensor to operate and when outside that range it would turn off.  Maybe I misunderstoon what he was saying.
The RFID stuff used by stores has a switch function as well allowing it to pass the sensors without alarming.

David

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I wonder how much the M-Lock draws when the bike is "off."  I expect not much since the range is limited and you would not want to constantly worry about battery drain.

[calj737]

I wonder how much the M-Lock draws when the bike is "off."  I expect not much since the range is limited and you would not want to constantly worry about battery drain.

If you use the supplied really, 0. Else, it's like 0.5ma or something minor. They say it's rated for up to 6 months of standby charge before effecting the battery.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I wonder how much the M-Lock draws when the bike is "off."  I expect not much since the range is limited and you would not want to constantly worry about battery drain.

If you use the supplied really, 0. Else, it's like 0.5ma or something minor. They say it's rated for up to 6 months of standby charge before effecting the battery.

Ask and you shall receive (the answer from Cal).

[riverfever]

          I knew that this system was available in cars & trucks, but never had any clue that it was available for motorcycles as well, guess I should have realized it would make it's way to the 2 wheeled market as well, huh. 

It also makes it possible for someone with very limited knowledge of wiring up a bike to do a fully turnkey solution that's just about bullet proof.

Cal's talking about me here.

I'll be testing this theory real soon here and, undoubtedly, providing humor and entertainment for all of you.

[GV1390]

Definitely have stated value or appraised value insurance coverage.

Sound advice!

+1 indeed! Out of all my bikes I pay the most for my 78' Café CB550. Mine is assessed/stated value for $20k with a $0 deductible. If you want more info on this I can PM you.

Great start! I look forward to seeing progress.

[tshrey]

So apparently I didn't take enough pictures.  Can anyone tell me where the hell this thing goes? 



It was in the bag of stuff that was the last few pieces removed from the bottom half of the case before cleaning.

[bill440cars]

I have no clue as to what it all would cost, but I can clearly see the benefits of going for it. Now, where did I stash that "Money Tree"? Still pretty cool though. 

$300 for the M-Unit, another $175 for the M-Lock. No worries, Bill, the Spring bloom of fresh Franklins and Grants is just around the corner....

            Yeah, there is something besides Warmer Weather coming in, in just a few months. Now, if I can just manage to get everything else done, that I hope to and have some, to "Play With", that will be nice. 

[Godffery]

 *LIKE*   

[tshrey]

So I think I"m all ready to join the case halves together and I looked in the manual.  'Install the crank and primary shaft in the lower half, install the shift drum and transmission in the upper half.  Join the two.'

Uh, any more specific guidance?  The transmission will fall out if I flip the top over and the crank will fall out if I flip the bottom over.  Do you line up the ass end and stand both halves up?

Also, the neutral indicator cam for the neutral switch - what prevents it from spinning on the shaft?  There are two tiny holes 180 degrees apart on the underside of the cam, are they supposed to hold some kind of key to go into the slot on the shift drum?

[tshrey]

Got the case halves reassembled.  Put the tranny in upside down in the bottom of the case and had a friend help guide everything in while I set it down. 

I almost screwed up the kickstart mechanism until I decided to look at it carefully.  I had the 'nub' on the large ring sticking up instead of down in the keeper.  That left the mechanism engaged all the time and whenever you turned the transmission you get the constant clicking sound.  Tried the other position 180 degrees away and hey, that makes more sense.  In the service manual the only picture of the kickstart shaft shows the gear engaged - that is pretty confusing.

Good thing lots of people on here take pics of their rebuild, I almost left off the bearing retainer ring for the shift drum until I found the part and went back through a bunch of builds to figure out where it went.  The factory service manual is almost useless for most of this with the number of errors it has in it.  After putting all the shifting mechanisms back together I put the shift lever on and ran through the gears.  The damn thing actually works!





I'm going to go with a dynoman 592 piston set, but that is a lot of dough and I don't see getting this thing done for riding this summer so I'll push that back, seal up the motor and get back to working on the frame and suspension.

[RAFster122s]

Glad you got her buttoned up and she is shifting well. Did you use any assembly lube on the primary chain?  I don't see your cam chain...are you riveting it to proper length or did you purchase it already assembled to length?
David

[tshrey]

There is assembly lube all over everything inside. 

Bought a new preassembled cam chain, it is just sitting down in there.

Also figured out the answer to one of my questions above - the neutral switch rotor should have a little nub on it to fit in the keyway of the shaft.  My nub is gone so I have to look at a way to fix that.  I think I might put a tiny bolt through the plastic so that the head of the bolt goes in the keyway.  I'm leery of any other way to bond to 40 year old plastic and no one has any replacement rotors that I can find.

[tshrey]

Pulled my oil pump apart and it looked new inside, so I just put it back together with new o-rings.  I've heard people say they can't find them anywhere except in the rebuild kit - I got them from Partzilla without a problem.



Also, got my Cognito Moto rearset brackets.  I love everything he makes, but DAMN these are heavy.  They will almost offset the removal of the kickstarter as far as weight is concerned.  I have to get things assembled to see if I really want them or if I can get away with just welding a tab on the frame.  3/8" thick steel seems like overkill to me, I may have some Ti plate I could use instead if I decide I really want the position these brackets put things in.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Why did you go with his older brackets and not the newer lighter billet ones? Cost?
https://cognitomoto.com/collections/rearsets/products/cb500-cb550-billet-aluminum-rearset-brackets

Devin will VERY likely exchange/credit them if you want.

[tshrey]

Because I'm a moron.  Those looked like the same shape as the cb750 ones so assumed they were without even looking.

Yeah, I'll be contacting Devin.

Thanks.