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Author Topic: 78 CB550 Four K4  (Read 2174 times)

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Offline Fezzler

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78 CB550 Four K4
« on: December 29, 2016, 11:34:40 PM »
Fez from Charlotte, NC.  Long time Shadow rider.  Current Road King rider.  Buying a 1978 CB550 Four K4.

A few questions.

1. What other websites/forums will be helpful?
2. Can I search for nearby members?  Or Honda clubs?
3. Best source for online manuals and printed manuals?
4. I have Jeep with a hitch.  Cheap Harbor Freight or Northern Tools trailer okay to get it home?  (Not enough tongue weight capacity on Jeep to use hitch carrier.

About the bike.  Student used it 3 days a week to go back and forth to school.  Kept in a shed.  But stopped riding in mid 2015.  Mid 2015 to today it has be outdoors but under tarp.  Looks to be in 5/6 out of 10 cosmetic condition.  No parts have been take off.  Buying from Craigslist via photos and information from text exchanges.  I can back out once I see it (1 1/2 hours away) for any reason.  Not afraid of a project bike.  Not looking to do mint restore but rather just get it running to ride locally in 5-20 mile radius of home.   

That's it - other than wife thinks I am getting into an endless money pit. 

Fez
« Last Edit: January 01, 2017, 05:46:03 PM by Fezzler »
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1975 Honda CB550f in parts in progress
1978 Honda CB550 Four K4
1971 Honda CB500 Four K0
2008 105th Anniversary Edition HD Road King
(Sold) 1998 Honda Shadow ACE Deluxe VT750
1973 Schwinn Stingray (Blue Deluxe - RIP Jack and Rose)

Offline Scott S

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Re: 78 CB550 Four K3
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2016, 01:14:12 AM »
 Hey Fez, welcome. I'm right down in Rock Hill and have tons of spares for the 500/550's. I even have a nice stock 4-4 exhaust for the '77-78 models hanging in my rafters. Let me know if I can be of any help!
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Offline calj737

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Re: 78 CB550 Four K3
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2016, 04:16:31 AM »
If its a '78, its a 550, not a 500.

Best place for manuals is this forum- http://manuals.sohc4.net/cb550/
A very good website as a resource for factory part numbers, assembly drawings, etc is: http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550-four-cb550k3-1977-usa_model1015/partslist/
Buy the factory parts locally, but use that website for reference purposes.

Avoid buying anything with a brand name of "Emgo". If you rehab your carbs, do NOT change the stock brass with aftermarket kits.

You want to buy a decent set of "JIS" screwdrivers or bits. Every "phillips" screw on your bike is not a Phillips, its a Japanese Industrial Standard and its rather different. Thats why they get wallowed out.

Ample members in the Carolinas, GA, TN, VA. The "Members, Search For..." link is here- http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=mlist;sa=search
May or may not work always.

If you need spare parts, they're always available from a member somewhere. Post a thread in the SOHC Bikes or Project section, or in the "Wanted" section or scan the "For Sale" section. Easy enough.

Bike only weighs about 450# soaking wet, so the HF trailer is fine as long as its not a "front wheel tow" only. Secure with 4 straps, 1 at each corner and cinch them down tight enough to compress the suspension while trailering it.

Welcome, and post some pictures up as soon as you can!
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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 Stev-o

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Re: 78 CB550 Four K3
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2016, 05:31:10 AM »
Welcome from Texas.   We pay no attention to what wives say!
« Last Edit: December 30, 2016, 07:07:00 AM by Stev-o »
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline calj737

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Re: 78 CB550 Four K3
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2016, 06:23:07 AM »
Quote from: FezzlerCB550FK3 on December 29, 2016, 11:34:40 PM
That's it - other than wife thinks I am getting into an endless money pit. 
Tell her marriage taught you that behavior!  ;D
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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 calj737

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Re: 78 CB550 Four K3
« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2017, 04:23:58 PM »
$1500-$2,000 if its running well seems fair. If it won't start, even with a donor battery, I'd start at $1200.
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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 b52bombardier1

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Re: 78 CB550 Four K4
« Reply #6 on: January 01, 2017, 06:03:57 PM »
Post it in the Project Forum.   The rust on your rear shocks will clean up easily so don't worry too much about that. More pictures close up and in variety, please.

Rick
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Offline calj737

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Re: 78 CB550 Four K4
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2017, 06:04:27 PM »
Start a "Project" thread. It will be a great way to chart your progress, track questions, and reference yourself with a "before" and "after".
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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 BomberMann650

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Re: 78 CB550 Four K4
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2017, 01:29:41 PM »
Never use wood planks for ramping bikes.

Youtube has numerous examples why.
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