Topic: The Lost Socket Garage

[Scott S]

 While I was in there I got a couple of nice surprises....

 Dyna ignition



 And upgraded valve cover

[Scott S]

 Found a use Delkevic exhaust on eBay. Made the seller and offer and combined it with a 20% off sale in the app. Got a basically new Delkevic for about $85 off the list price.



 I also busted apart these hubs I had. The rear was from the Glutton bike and sat in a leaky shed since the '80's before I got it. It took two days of soaking, heat, cursing, bloody knuckles and lots of beating to get the retainer ring out. The ring is now kinda ugly but should be reusable.
 Cleaned these up and I plan on painting the inner fins and having a set of hoops that have been in my stash for years powder coated. New spokes and bearings are on the way.

[Scott S]

 The powder coated wheels will go on the Springer bike. I have a nice set of chrome wire wheels that are from another parts haul from about two years ago that will go on the other bike.



 The Springer bike will be a tracker of sorts.




 While the other bike....well....I have some ideas spinning around in my head. It will be built using this tank with an awesome, original, old skool '70's paint job on it.
 I picked this up during the eBay sale day, too. I just couldn't pass up the '70's goodness, minor chips, patina and all!

[Kelly E]

What year's have the upgraded valve cover?

[Scott S]

 I believe '77 and '78 had them.

[RAFster122s]

I believe '77 and '78 had them.

That is correct, the 77-78 had the pinned rocker shafts eliminating the eccentric wear problem of the early 550s.

[Kelly E]

Thanks, I will look for one. Mine is definitely an early 550K. It is number 449 with 18k miles.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I had forgotten that spinger's bike was in Cal's garage during the collapse.  The clean-up (wire brushing and paint) turned out great. 

I love that 70's tank with scales and line work!!

[Scott S]

 Got the carbs and air box installed.

[Scott S]

 And when I pulled up on the clutch arm on the side cover, I knew something didn't feel right. The lifter part of the cam had popped out from under the arm in there, so I pulled the clutch cover to fix that.
 I'm glad I did.... Hmmm, something seems to be missing here!



 Found a pushrod on eBay for $10 shipped and it's on the way.

 I'll be laying out the main harness soon. I'm trying to figure out if I have enough bits to put together the electrical panel. I also need a ground cable if anyone has a spare.

[springer]

scott  You know I'm gonna want this back right Don't say what the 550 Yes when you get done with it I'm coming to get it It's been awhile since I've been on the Forum  Or is that old man Cal at I know hes not to let me post and not say something

[Scott S]

 I'm sure he'll be along shortly!

[calj737]

scott  You know I'm gonna want this back right Don't say what the 550 Yes when you get done with it I'm coming to get it It's been awhile since I've been on the Forum  Or is that old man Cal at I know hes not to let me post and not say something

Nothing would thrill me more than to see you able to ride, Jim. Guessing you and I both know that's further from likely than we both would have hoped. 

[754]

 One ofvthe chrome front wheels  looks like a 21 inch.
 I bet some chopper guy would love that, being able to run a decent brake on it.

[Gurp]

Frank you're right.
Scott is you still have that 21 laced to a 550 hub in a few weeks when my work pics back up I'd be interested.

[Scott S]

 That's just a trick of the light. They're both 19".

[Gurp]

Scott, Frank had me all excited there. Haha. I scrolled up and said yep thats bigger. Lol.

[Scott S]

 Took an old set of hoops I had laying around...



 ...and a friend powder coated them for me with his home set-up.



 I also took the two old hubs I had and he powder coated them, too.

[Scott S]

 Part of a recent $40 parts haul was a seat. Cut up the pan to fit inside the tracker seat...




 ...glassed it in...



 ...and painted it up.

[Scott S]

 Now I have a hinged, locking Tracker style seat. Being true amateurs, and despite our best efforts of measuring and fitting it multiple times and marking the pan in about 5 places, it's style slightly off at the front. 

[Scott S]

 Whenever I have an old rusty fender, I cut out the brace before throwing it away. This one actually came in the $40 parts haul, though. Someone drilled out the rivets and kept just the brace.
 The fender was a $5 find in the swap meet at Barber.



 Trimmed the fender and tried fitting it up but I'm not sure about the way it hugs the fender. Almost like it's for a larger wheel. Gap is a little too wide at front and rear. I might be able to raise the rear and get the gap a little better. Still undecided on this.

[Gurp]

Scott looks perfect for a 21.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Scott,

I really like the idea of integrating the original seat into the glassed one to retain the hinge functionality. 

[Scott S]

Scott,

I really like the idea of integrating the original seat into the glassed one to retain the hinge functionality.

 Yeah, me too. Unfortunately, I don't think I can make this one work. The seat just doesn't sit right for my taste. Add in the fact that despite our best efforts it's not square on the frame and I'm probably cutting the pan out and going with a different mounting method.
 This just bugs me TOO much.

 It doesn't look to bad from this angle...



 ...but at the front it's awful.



 Plus, I think it sits just a little too high. I'd like to get it down closer to the frame rails and have the pad line up with the tank better.

[Scott S]

 You may have noticed that I got the Delkevic exhaust installed. I got a great deal on it used but it was on a K model. I was able to modify the stock F model exhaust hanger/center stand bracket for the rear hanger.