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Author Topic: Help Finishing My Project Bike!  (Read 292 times)

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Offline Ricisan

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Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« on: December 09, 2025, 07:29:40 PM »
I was mesmerized by the "Gentleman's Express in Cycle! I have hung on to a 78 550K project for 40 yrs. Time to finish it before I die. Most of the parts that I have acquired over the years. I need a shop that specialises in Honda 4s, some small bits will be needed. I have some nice parts that required fabrication to fit. I need a shop that will not rob me or cheat me. Sacramento would be great, the bay area is doable. Any suggestions?
I really appreciate any help.

Rick
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Offline newday777

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Re: Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2025, 01:10:33 AM »
Hey Rick
Is this the article you mention? From 1975

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=20601.0

Or the article of a supercharged CB500/4? (July '77)

I don't know anyone up in NorCal, just Kurt Jordan(Jordan Engineering) down in Oceanside, known for building many racers from 550s and more(formally with Action Fours back in the 70s & 80s). I haven't seen him in a couple years since I moved east to NH.
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Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 1 K2, 4 K6, 1 K8, 1 F1, 1 F3
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline MauiK3

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Re: Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2025, 06:59:02 AM »
I would think with the former air bases there that there would be some old timers left around, maybe some with a small shop. Plus, there is a good bit of vintage car folks in the area, look for a car club.
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1973 CB 750 K3
10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Offline Ricisan

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Re: Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2025, 07:25:09 AM »
I'm looking for an old recluse with a shed full of parts!  lol
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Offline MauiK3

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Re: Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2025, 07:13:01 AM »
They are there, maybe Fair Oaks or further into the foothills.
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1973 CB 750 K3
10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Offline Ricisan

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Re: Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2025, 06:40:51 PM »
Not too many eccentrics left, meth did them in!
Where are the gearheads?  lol
Is everyone playing with their phones?
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Offline HondaMan

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Re: Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2025, 06:48:40 PM »
Be aware about that [in]famous article: the version of the bike they built with modified CB750 pistons burned oil, badly. It was barely mentioned in the article, but later was talked about much more. It was impossible for the oil rings to seat in the engine, given the way they were modified.

Not all is lost, however: today you can get big-bore pistons from places like CruisinImage that will do the same build, but will actually work pretty well. Since yours is the CB550 you can use the 605cc big-bore kit, although I [strongly] recommend doing their 590cc big-bore versions first (which is the big-bore for the CB500 version), in case something either goes wrong in the rebuild, or if you'd like to have en engine with a "future" ahead of it, which would then be their 605cc kit.

Use piston clearance of 0.0010" with these big-bore kits, and all should go quite well!
;)
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See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
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Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book
Link to My CB500/CB550 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=my+cb550+book&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00
Link to website: https://sohc4shop.com/  (Note: no longer at www.SOHC4shop.com, moved off WWW. in 2024).

Offline MisterKnife

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Re: Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2025, 11:16:43 PM »
Dynoman has also some nice piston sets for the 550: https://www.dynoman.net/engine/pistons/dp-CB550.html
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Offline Ricisan

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Re: Help Finishing My Project Bike!
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2025, 04:13:57 PM »
Thanks for the info. Before a big bore kit, I think I should get it running first. lol
I have some really good parts already on, took time and money.
Now it needs to be finished and running, or at least running!
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