Topic: New builder in Ontario, Canada

[marccrabtreee]

Hello my name is Marc I'm 53yrs. old I'm new to the forum and new to restoring motorcycles. I've owned and ridden bikes for 35 years but due to my mechanical abilities I've never even changed my oil. Now thanks to youtube (Hackaweek, Classic Octane) and this site I'm determined to rebuild a classic Honda. A month ago I purchased a 1977 Honda CB550K (I paid way too much money for it!) the bike was missing it's oil pan and battery. The front brakes are seized, fork seals leaking. The seat and tank were not properly attached and the bike is covered in years of grime. But i'm determined to make it look new again.

Over the past month I've started collecting the parts that I see I need (Oil Pan, Points Cover, Seat, Side Covers, Grips, Passenger Pegs, Levers) unfortunately what i haven't done is determined whether the engine will run? The engine is the only thing that I don't think I will ever be able to tackle. When I bought the bike the owner showed me a video from last August of the bike running so I'm hoping. The oli pan gasket just arrived so tomorrow i'm going to install, fill with oil and do a compression test.

Yesterday I did my first wrenching, removed the oil filter bolt (which I rounded off and now need to replace) and attempted to remove the speedometer cable (completely stripping the small screw on the front wheel) so i'm not really off to a good start but i'm not giving up. I have read here that since i'm such a newbie that I should do things in sections as opposed to stripping the bike completely but the frame has rust and ultimately I want to paint it so I'm not quiet sure how to approach the overall task? the items I have removed so far have been cataloged and i'm taking photos and shooting video of everything I do.

My next task after the oil pan/ compression test is to rebuild the front brake caliper and master cylinder, are these kits a good choice? http://www.common-motor.com/honda-550-brakes or any suggestions on where to purchase parts?

I have taken some pictures to post and will do so as soon as I'm allowed.

Thank you in advance for any guidance and the search function has been invaluable.

[rocket johnny]

 :)hello and welcome from western colorado,usa !    sounds like you have your hands full with a new project .   if you have not scrubbed and clean the bike from top to bottom , front to rear .  i would do that first .  how bad is the rust on the frame ?   your brake barts look good but you may want to shop around .  maybe the 550 guys can chime in on good parts sources .   take it slow and easy , and have fun !

[MD]

Welcome from NE MN,

I am only 25 miles as the crow flies from Ontario.  Odds are you are a little farther away than that.

Before working on the brakes and everything else, try getting the motor running.  Try draining the carbs first.  Is the gas rusty, clean, or no gas.  Best story for you would be no gas.  Clean the inside of the tank.  Put in a gallon of gas turn the petcock to res. and wait.  If gas does not flow out of the overflow tubes then the float valves are not stuck open.  Choke, Battery, ignition.  If you are real lucky the bike will bark or even start.

Why was the pan removed?

Keep plugging away.

-MD

[marccrabtreee]

Thanks Rocket Johnny, I'm dying to clean the bike but another foot of snow fell today and it's -15!

[calj737]

Don’t rebuild the master, replace it. David Silver Spares sells reproduction units for $49 and they work flawlessly. All the screws on your bike are JIS, not Phillips. Correct bits and they come right out. Welcome!

[marccrabtreee]

Thanks MD! Tomorrow I plan on doing the compression test and then hopefully try to start it. I will attempt to drain the carbs first. As it is right now the tank isn't attached to the bike (although I didn't realize it when I was buying it!). I was planning on simply attaching a funnel to the fuel filter/hose and filling the carbs then trying to start it. I will figure out how to attach the tank? there is the petcock and then another tube that comes from higher inside the tank is that simply an overflow tube or does it attach to something?

The PO told me that the pan was off because he had cracked the pan at the drain plug when changing the oil at the end of the season.

Welcome from NE MN,

I am only 25 miles as the crow flies from Ontario.  Odds are you are a little farther away than that.

Before working on the brakes and everything else, try getting the motor running.  Try draining the carbs first.  Is the gas rusty, clean, or no gas.  Best story for you would be no gas.  Clean the inside of the tank.  Put in a gallon of gas turn the petcock to res. and wait.  If gas does not flow out of the overflow tubes then the float valves are not stuck open.  Choke, Battery, ignition.  If you are real lucky the bike will bark or even start.

Why was the pan removed?

Keep plugging away.

-MD

[marccrabtreee]

Don’t rebuild the master, replace it. David Silver Spares sells reproduction units for $49 and they work flawlessly. All the screws on your bike are JIS, not Phillips. Correct bits and they come right out. Welcome!

Awesome calj737! Replacing the master cylinder is going to be much easier than rebuilding and i'm going to pick up a JIS driver first thing tomorrow.