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Author Topic: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build  (Read 5896 times)

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Offline skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #25 on: November 07, 2017, 05:04:20 PM »
Good deal! Thanks Cal!

Figure I'll talk about the overall plans for the bike, anything stock will be rebuild:

Stock Wheels (black)
Stock Forks (black)
New rear coilovers
Chop off the rear loop and weld in a shorter with integrated light array
Stock tank, paint TBD (assuming it won't leak or need major referb)
Totally rebuilt motor, 61.5mm Overbore, pod filters, aftermarket 4-1 exhaust
HID Headlight conversion
Tracker style bars with new grips and button layout
Cafe style seat
M-Unit wiring overhaul (I'm an electronics guy and will have fun with this)
New rear sets
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Online calj737

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #26 on: November 07, 2017, 05:49:20 PM »
What’s an M-unit?  ???
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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 skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #27 on: November 07, 2017, 05:54:45 PM »
Just went through your 550 build and saw some mentions of an m unit. I assume you must have some pretty serious in depth knowledge of it!
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #28 on: November 07, 2017, 11:17:37 PM »
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #29 on: November 08, 2017, 05:23:09 PM »
Figured I'd take a quick picture of where I am now, I'm waiting on my 16mm x1.5mm bolt to come in so I can pull the rotor and hopefully split the cases.


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Online calj737

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #30 on: November 08, 2017, 05:26:30 PM »
You can get a full oil pump rebuild kit from a member, Elan, that contains all the unobtanium O-rings and seals. Runs about $35 I think. He's in Europe, but ships back across the pond. Worth doing especially given the moisture infiltration and you want to inspect the rotor anyway.

By the way, you have all the screws and bolts removed from the underside too... right?
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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 skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #31 on: November 08, 2017, 05:38:15 PM »
I believe so, even the one hidden in the oil pan.

I got get the two sides to split about 1/4in without issue, it just feels jammed from going any further.

Good to know about the pump rebuild, I'll order that now!
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Offline skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #32 on: November 08, 2017, 05:40:56 PM »
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Offline CycleRanger

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #33 on: November 08, 2017, 05:52:28 PM »
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Do you have a copy of the Honda Shop Manual or Parts List for your bike? Get one here:
https://www.honda4fun.com/materiale/documentazione-tecnica
CB750K5        '79 XL250s     CL350K3
CB750K3        '76 XS650      '76 CJ360T

Offline skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #34 on: November 08, 2017, 06:04:06 PM »
Thanks! I'll read through it!
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Offline skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #35 on: November 19, 2017, 08:22:34 AM »
A little bummed out. Got my piston kit this past week and it looks like there is a crack in the casting for the wrist pin journals. I assume this could be catastrophic? What do you think?

https://imgur.com/a/5cNt2
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Online calj737

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #36 on: November 19, 2017, 11:28:05 AM »
Catastrophic. Return to sender for replacement.
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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 skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #37 on: November 24, 2017, 01:01:02 PM »
Got a new one en route! Seller felt awful, great service!

Finally got the cases apart after getting the rotor off, cleaned the whole thing up and down and have ordered new seals all the way around
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Online calj737

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #38 on: November 24, 2017, 01:21:24 PM »
With that overbore, you’ll want HD studs from APE, and adjustable cam sprocket, and a cosmetic head gasket with a specified thickness (once your machine work is done, measurethe piston to valve to achieve a nice, tight, squish. Best performance from your motor.
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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 skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #39 on: November 25, 2017, 05:29:00 AM »
You think even running stock cam I'll need the adjustable sprocket?
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Online calj737

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #40 on: November 25, 2017, 02:00:13 PM »
Quote from: skinsfn36 on November 25, 2017, 05:29:00 AM
You think even running stock cam I'll need the adjustable sprocket?
No, but surely you’re going to run a hotter cam with those piston, right?  ;) It’s only money...
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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 skinsfn36

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #41 on: April 24, 2019, 12:44:39 PM »
It's been awhile, but it's finally done!

I'll post a few pictures shortly, but I'm having some issues getting it to run smoothly

I know Pods + 4-1 exhaust can be a bear to tune, but under about 4000RPM and less than half throttle this thing runs just terrible. It chugs along and actually has died on me once coming to a stop.

Is this generally the indicator of the slow jet being too small?
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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: 1978 CB550K Barn Find Build
« Reply #42 on: April 24, 2019, 01:58:06 PM »
The slow jets only really come into play at idle. The needle has more impact once the throttle starts to open. The trick is figuring out if you have too much fuel or too little.
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Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200
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