Topic: 1974 CB 550 motor restoration and swap into my 500 - completed

[Shtonecb500]

I bought this bike for about $200 with no title the guy said it had been on the road in 2016, has 11,700 on the clock. It looked toasted as hell but the motor looked good but dirty. I usually only find these motors with around 22k or more on them, and heavy  oil stains around the fins, this had maybe some sweating around the gaskets and no rash or damage to the cases.

After 3 seasons, multiple rattle can touch up jobs, my original rattle can paint job on my bike looks beat. It looked good in the beginning but its time to get it done the right way, it's had 3 motors in it, and always leaked...it's time for a lower mile non leaking motor I'm thinking.

I'll be using this motor for a swap into my everyday rider, a 73' 500. It already has a 550 motor in it but it's got a crack on the bottom of the lower case and is pissing oil, I was still riding it but stored it early. I'll have to pull it and have it welded from the inside. Once this swap is done I'll have my original 73' motor, a spare 71' with no 3rd, and 550 with a crack in the lower case sitting in my garage. This 550 restoration has given me some inspiration to tackle those 3 motors and make them look good again. I have a spare 500 thats stuck, hopefully it has a good transmission and can get swapped over to the one with no 3rd gear. The plan is to break my bike down, have it sand blasted and powder coated, I have an early GSXR 600 fork Ive been itching to apply, Ive got the conversion bearings but I need to source a new/used stem because the stock stem has corrosion near the base.. I'm going the Harley Dyna hub route, I've already got the hub, bearings,  inner sleeve, I'll need the 99'-07' Hayabusa rotors, Harley rotor spacers for the 20mm offset and to trace the new bolt pattern on the rotor, a 17" Harley rim and spokes, and 10mm caliper spacers.

I covered the necessary areas, degreased, scrubbed the entire motor with a brush and scotch-brite between the fins, then power washed this sucker. Steel wool, scotch-brite, sandpaper on a stick for in-between the fins and you will get it clean. I painted over the entire thing since I was pulling everything off to sandblast then polish them. Before removing anything I took a razor blasé and scored around everything. I didn't want to risk the paint tearing.


DUPLI COLOR ceramic engine paint gloss black was used, 1 can. I used 1 can Spraymax 2k clear coat high gloss on my gas tank job years ago and its stood up to gas like a champ. I decided to try it on the motor this time, it got my about 3 full generous coats.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

So, just to clarify, are you swapping the 1974 550 motor into your 1973 500, or are you rebuilding the entire non-titled 1974 with its existing motor?

[Shtonecb500]

So, just to clarify, are you swapping the 1974 550 motor into your 1973 500, or are you rebuilding the entire non-titled 1974 with its existing motor?

Im swapping the 550 motor and electrical over to my 73 cb500 which is titled and registered already.

[Korven]

Good finish on that ceramic. In my taste engines look super neat when they are not entirely "one" colored. Did you do something to the topend?

[Shtonecb500]

Good finish on that ceramic. In my taste engines look super neat when they are not entirely "one" colored. Did you do something to the topend?

Nothing done to the top end, I decided to just leave it alone and not open it up. Im hoping with this having so little miles and having been on the road not too long ago this thing will perform alright.

[Stev-o]

Motor looks great!

[Shtonecb500]

Motor looks great!

Thanks Steve o

Question for you guys, anyone running 16"front and back? I have a line on set of 16"harley spoked wheels for 100 bucks and Im already running a hog wheel on the back of my 550 and putting a gsxr front end next. sooooo what you think? 16 front and back??

remember, Im using a dyna hub with the gsxr forks.

lmk what you guys think.

[RockCityCyclist]

Looks great!

[Gurp]

Great looking project.
Love what you did with the motor!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I like what you did paint-wise with the engine.

[OldZaskar]

Definitely following along - I have a '73 500 and a spare 550 that I'm debating whether to sell or hang on to.

The 550 motor turned out great! Nice work.

[Shtonecb500]

So here is my daily rider before I break it down. I've beat the crap out of it. I thought I would show you what a rattle can paint job will get you over 3 seasons in Michigan. Here are a few of my bike when i first finished it versus what it looks like now lol. Over the time I pulled my original motor out and swapped with another 500 I picked up but ended up losing 3rd gear on that. Currently there is a  550 with a cracked lower case pissing oil thats about to come out. I burned up my transmission in my chevy over a year ago and this bike got me through a pretty #$%*ty winter to be honest. Its gotten me to Chicago and back 3 times every Summer with no breakdowns on the interstate with countless miles ridden in Chicago along lake Michigan. Actually, I was hauling this bike when my transmission blew up on me about 2 hours outside of the city, I packed what I could in my backpack, unloaded my bike, and rode the rest of the way.

Im excited to do a proper resto mod to my bike now that I kinda know what im doing with these things. That new motor is gonna look good.

[Shtonecb500]

Got my 550 and 750 frame back from powder. Spent the day sand blasting and preparing all the small bits.

[Shtonecb500]

I forgot to send my motor mounts, triple, battery box, and some other hardware with the frame and swing arm to powder. I have been sand blasting and spray painting those parts and sandblasting nuts and bolts before I put them on. The fork ears im using required me to downsize to a smaller headlight, I thought I wouldn't mind the fork lowers but im going to pull them and polish them properly, The rear wheel will get a 130/18 on the back , the wheel will get sand blasted and spray bombed for now with a polished brake plate, The electrical turned out to be a wonderful donor, I wiped everything down with lacquer thinner to refresh it. Im a lot further than I have pictures, the only thing remaining on electrical are rear lights and all turn signals, I've never heard this motor run.

[Shtonecb500]

Got the brake assembly front and back worked out and installed. My other set of 4-1 pipes ran slanted downward and this set runs parallel with the lower rail of the frame...I'm pleased cause the other one looked sloppy.  I made up a new rear brake pedal because the pipe gets in the way and I didn't have a stock super sport lever.  I was able to install the handle bars and controls and decided to run the wires on the outside this time. I really love the wide super moto bars and have been wanting a bar 30 inches or more across. Installed the carbs and airbox and I'm going to buy that adapter to eliminate the stock air filter, Gotta pull the rear wheel off, throw it in the sand blaster, spray bomb it black, but some new rubber on it, install signals and connect all the wires.

[Shtonecb500]

I was able to fire the bike up today, first time hearing it run...I know..who the #$%* does this much work on a bike you've never heard run. Put in new spark plugs, checked for spark, the wires on the coils were connected backwards. Once I switched that this puppy fired up, its timed and the valves are adjusted. Im 95% done with electrical, forgot to buy an electrical relay so the lights just stay on.. I put the LED turn signals from revival inside my indicator housings and I lost my bates tail light lens so I need to make some sort of housing for two lights. I also thought there was an oil leak at the shift lever but I didn't see anything while i ran the bike today, Maybe I will have to ride it for it to piss anything.

finish electrical, prep and paint rear wheel, new rubber, correct battery, make new clutch cable, wet sane and re clear my tank, idk how to finish the exhaust. My new brake lever is in the way of my kickstart lever so I will have to mod that.

[RAFster122s]

Congrats on it starting and running well. You will need to tune it after you put a muffler on it,as that will affect the back pressure and mix a bit.
David

[Shtonecb500]

Congrats on it starting and running well. You will need to tune it after you put a muffler on it,as that will affect the back pressure and mix a bit.
David

Thanks, im excited to get my bike back and ride this season. A chopper just doesnt hit the spot for me.

[Gurp]

Wanna sell that fork brace off the donor chopper?

[Shtonecb500]

Wanna sell that fork brace off the donor chopper?

Never used one so let me run it, if I don't like it Ill sell it to you.

[Shtonecb500]

I did my 50 mile shake down ride, it was more like 75. I'm running just the headers with no muffler but I found a small baffle that slid in and tacked it in until I grab a muffler from cycle X (if anyone wants to suggest another muffler im all ears). I did about 60 miles around macomb county running from Shelby Township to Oak Park, Jumped on 696 both there and back, tested some major potholes and construction zones and did some night time riding. A few hundred feet from my driveway at my last turn my turn signals wouldn't  work. I woke up this morning, bike starts up lights and signals are working...so I go. I was going meet my buddy in West Village in Detroit, the only real way to get there without going through the hood is Jefferson along the water and I don't always wanna go out of the way. Anyway, my buddy and I were going to leave for Gilberts car museum in Hickory Corners, MI...about a 2.5 hour ride but as soon as I got just south of McNichols(6mile) heading down Gratiot my bike wanted to die lol. I was 10 minutes from my buddies house, I didn't want to #$%*ing stall there, I had expensive #$%* in my back pack, I wish I was just little closer to downtown...BUT! Right there on Gratiot and Gunston the 9th precinct...so I rolled my relieved ass right into that parking lot, waited for my buddy to take me back to my truck, and went and grabbed my bike.

Bike wasn't charging, bike was completely dead, no noise at the starter button and didn't even try to kick it. I buy my buddy lunch, I head to the shop to get a spare regulator and rectifier, (I just ordered a new combo idk I didn't buy that first) on my way to the shop, I get off the freeway and my drive shaft snapped. I got towed back to the shop, my non running Honda, sitting in the bed of my broken Chevy, on a flat bed. It was gorgeous here in Michigan by the way and I couldn't spend it on two wheels....but Oh well...I'll get on the bike first thing Monday and address the snapped U joint on my truck.

[Gurp]

Sounds like the kinda day that makes you want to kill the firat person that asks you a stupid question trying to be funny.

[Shtonecb500]

need to bump up to 105 mains...pulls better with he choke slightly out. Tightened everthing on it today, installed chain guard, need to swap forks to a set of 550 forks i have...have a little sag in them. I wanted to show you guys the lights, in the housing is the same led light...I love them.

I have a set of cb360 gauges i was thinking about running, I like the smaller size. I don't know how much I like the smaller headlight...it feels and looks awfully empty up front. Installed new jt sprockets and a new DID chain, the motor is very responsive and it all feels great. I picked up a set of used renthals that I will swap out sometime but Im in no rush.

[Shtonecb500]

i broke my wrist so my bike has been sitting for about 8 weeks...i get my cast off this week.
i still need to sync the carbs

[RAFster122s]

It sounds good.  Good luck with your PT on the wrist.  How did you break the wrist, a fall?