Topic: 1977 CB550F Newbie in Boston MA

[nbcam]

Hi

Newbie here to SOHC forum, just picked up a 1977 CB550F here in Boston, currently not running previous owner last had it running about 3 years ago. Plan is to clean carbs, tank and change oil and plugs and try to get it running.

Overall bike is in good condition, if i get it running and there is no major issues plan is to strip it down over the winter and rebuild the engine and make myself a cafe racer. Seems like allot of useful information and lots of people on here that has allot of knowledge that will be very helpful when I start to work on this bike.

ill post pics soon and might start a project trend too !!

 

[Stev-o]

Welcome from a fellow 550F owner.   The 550 is a great motor, dont start rebuilding it just yet, may not need it. 

Do the entire 3000 mile tuneup in addition to the oil change and carb clean.

[MD]

Hello,

I'll echo Steve-o.  Don't be quick on tearing down the engine.  My bike sat for 20 years without running.  Since reviving the bike I have done over 3000 miles without having to tear apart the engine.  The carbs yes, engine no.

-MD

[nbcam]

Thanks guys, ill clean the carbs to start with and ill take readings of the compression of each cylinder tonight. Currently the bike has about 18,000 on it. What would you expect for the compression to be roughly 

[Stev-o]

What would you expect for the compression to be roughly 

Since it's been sitting, I'd expect it to be low, maybe 110? Unless you have a good quality small engine tester [non-automotive] you may not get accurate readings.
However, it is more important that the reads are within 10% of each other and compression has been known to rise after the motor has been revived.  Good luck!

[nbcam]

thanks for the info much appreciated. Have the carbs off the bike at the minute, going through and cleaning each carb and trying to keep all OEM parts. Only issue im having is the o-ring on the main jets are bad so I have ordered 4 new jets from JETSRUS, plan to keep the original OEM main jet and just replace the seals hopefully this will work

While im waiting for the replacement Jets to come I charged up the battery and put it in the bike, I put new spark plugs in and turned over the bike, I noticed that i was not getting a spark on cylinders 2 & 3

I then went and checked the ignition timing, I used a 12v tester and put it on the blue wire of the condenser and ground, for cylinders 1 & 4 the timing looks good, light on the tester just came on as the line between T and F  passed the mark on the housing

I then moved onto check the timing for cylinders 2 & 3, the light on the tester is on continuously and does not go off, I lined up the line between T and F with the mark on the housing and adjusted the timing, no matter what position I slide the plate the light does not go off so it looks like I have a short



I plan to check coil resistance tomorrow any other suggestions !!

[calj737]

Look carefully at the ignition plate. The ground wire from the points can sometimes contact the plate, essentially grounding out that side of the points. This is not uncommon an issue. All this provided that your points are in good condition and properly gapped?

[nbcam]

Look carefully at the ignition plate. The ground wire from the points can sometimes contact the plate, essentially grounding out that side of the points. This is not uncommon an issue. All this provided that your points are in good condition and properly gapped?

thanks for the reply, worked a while on the bike yesterday, that was the problem the lug of the point was touching the ignition plate, move the lug and set the gap on the points so thats one thing off the list to try and get this starting

[nbcam]

Being working on this any free moment i get and i have to admit im enjoying it. Tried to start a project trend and it wouldnt let me, prob not enough posts, im also not able to upload pictures either so Ill give you the update in text 

I cleaned the OEM brass jets and valves and and put the new o-rings and gaskets on and also set the float height. Once the carbs were reassembled I put them back on the bike along with a new air filter


I then proceeded to check the valve inlet and exhaust, the valve clearances looked good and did not have to adjust any of the valves. With the help of calj737 i noticed that the lug of the points was touching the plate its mounted on and thats what was causing the short

When I started to kick the bike over I noticed that i was not getting a spark on cylinder 3, I installed 4 new plugs and still had no spark so I decided to check out the coils, took out the voltmeter and checked the resistance of the coils and all resistance measured normal, I narrowed it down to a bad plug top

Jumped on ebay and ordered 4 new plug tops, once I put the new plug tops on i had a spark on all 4 cylinders so i decided to connect the fuel tank and threw in the charged battery .


Once the battery was in i cranked it over and it started right up, only cranked over once or twice and started right up  Before i started to disassemble the bike I wanted to hear it running to make sure there was no major issues, I was extremely happy with how easy it started !!


Sorry for all the text im having issues uploading pics at the moment !!

[swestleyj60]

Once the battery was in i cranked it over and it started right up, only cranked over once or twice and started right up  Before i started to disassemble the bike I wanted to hear it running to make sure there was no major issues, I was extremely happy with how easy it started !!

Nice work, NB - I know the feeling.
I'm working on my 1978 CB550K, about 45 minutes south of you as a matter-of-fact, and I started mine up just this past weekend, after it had sat for about 14 years.
Good job, brother...!

[nbcam]

Once the battery was in i cranked it over and it started right up, only cranked over once or twice and started right up  Before i started to disassemble the bike I wanted to hear it running to make sure there was no major issues, I was extremely happy with how easy it started !!

Nice work, NB - I know the feeling.
I'm working on my 1978 CB550K, about 45 minutes south of you as a matter-of-fact, and I started mine up just this past weekend, after it had sat for about 14 years.
Good job, brother...!

Thanks swestleyj60, great to hear another CB550 owner nearby, im living just south of boston  best of luck with your project 

[nbcam]

Currently working on this bike have the engine removed and the bike stripped. I am going to remove any brackets etc off the frame that i am not going to be using, going to strip the frame right down.

Stating to look at seat options and would like any suggestions of seat ideas, was thinking of one similar to this off ebay with the removable cowl hump, I will be using the stock 550 super sport tank

Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cafe-Racer-Removable-Seat-Cowl-Hump-KIT-CB550-CB750-CB350-brat-style-yamaha-/222432662406?var=&hash=item33ca051386:m:mfTN6EGJYQfzmT6llrChCmg&vxp=mtr


I also like the look of the Bedlam Werks rocket fast back, has anyone used these before and do they require a rear hoop welded in  I am worried it wont match up with my tank and will not look good

Link: https://www.dimecitycycles.com/bedlam-werks-aluminum-rocket-fastback-cb550-seat-pan.html

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated