Author Topic: '76 550f barn find. (Read 6870 times)

rb550four · « **Reply #50 on:** October 06, 2020, 04:36:56 PM »

They do look nice . But I wonder if they are close enough to the oil filter to heat it up , they don't look like they offer air circulation around the filter housing cooling fins. And looks like it blocks the filter bolt making filter changes even more joyous then it would have to be. I was thinking that you wanted to have deeper sump and a cooling radiator to keep the temps down ....now because of this header design, you have neither of those things working for you, and it isn't the one you ordered? I'd send it back and so you can make the machine that you intended to make.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #51 on:** October 06, 2020, 07:21:57 PM »

It does fight tight, maybe too much, there's little to no room between the oil filter and the header. I might try two sets of exhaust gaskets and see what effect that has with the spacing from the oil filter. My main problem is, this pipe leaves no room for the oil cooler or the deeper 650 oil pan and it would take another 8 weeks or more to get the sidewinder. So I'm more than likely going to get another pipe over the winter (not a carpy) but for now I'll use this.
I haven't any idea if its fat or lean, just rode it around the neighborhood, it not registered yet. It has 100 mains and 40 slow jets. On the up side, it does sound soo much better. Packed and wrapped the baffle to keep it as quiet as I can.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #52 on:** December 22, 2020, 10:31:08 AM »

So I bought these on ebay, $85, free shipping, how could I refuse. They're from a 79 kz650, they cleaned up rather well, just waiting on a fuel pump kit and new bowel gaskets. When time allows after the holidays, I'll see whats involved in getting these properly mounted. Any input would be very appreciated.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #53 on:** December 22, 2020, 11:13:21 AM »

KZ650 carbs,has it been done yet ?

Mark1976 · « **Reply #54 on:** December 22, 2020, 02:17:01 PM »

Well, I'm not sure, but they're a touch larger (24mm) than the stock units which are 22mm. Will need to fab up an intake adapters to get them to fit up. Will have to use the manifolds from a kz650 and then an adapter plate between the head and the kz manifolds. Or, if anyone has any had any experience with this type of modification, I'm open to suggestions.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #55 on:** December 22, 2020, 02:33:12 PM »

Quote from: Mark1976 on December 22, 2020, 02:17:01 PM

Well, I'm not sure, but they're a touch larger (24mm) than the stock units which are 22mm. Will need to fab up an intake adapters to get them to fit up. Will have to use the manifolds from a kz650 and then an adapter plate between the head and the kz manifolds. Or, if anyone has any had any experience with this type of modification, I'm open to suggestions.

They should be an excellent upgrade

even though it'll take some modifications

Mark1976 · « **Reply #56 on:** April 18, 2021, 04:58:35 PM »

These showed up a while back, just getting around to installing...

Mark1976 · « **Reply #57 on:** May 07, 2021, 12:52:37 PM »

This showed up today, thanks so much Fantino. Hopefully will have time tomorrow.

Shtonecb500 · « **Reply #58 on:** May 07, 2021, 08:44:42 PM »

thats a sexy pipe

Mark1976 · « **Reply #59 on:** May 08, 2021, 08:01:16 AM »

That it is...
Its on, much better. Really like the spring and spigot attachment, it'll make oil changes that much easier. There's more room up front and underneath so hopefully I'll be able to mount and remount the oil cooler and deeper oil pan.

fantino · « **Reply #60 on:** May 09, 2021, 04:10:50 AM »

Looks great Mark! Happy to see it found a good home. Now let’s get a clip of it running

Mark1976 · « **Reply #61 on:** May 26, 2021, 08:54:55 AM »

One more thing, now waiting on a new set of sneakers to fit on once they're laced up

Mark1976 · « **Reply #62 on:** May 30, 2021, 02:18:18 PM »

Tires arrived this morning. Pulled the rear wheel, dismounted the tire and stripped off the oem rear rim last l night. Gotta look thru the spoke collection next.

rb550four · « **Reply #63 on:** May 31, 2021, 10:10:47 AM »

Soo, does the 650 pan fit without hitting the new header? And is the oil cooler possible now? That was an idea that I would've liked to try out too. The factory pipes ( not that they are easily obtainable anymore) were close on 550 pan too. Makes me wonder just how hard it would be to bend some fresh exhaust pipe to an extended semi stock configuration that would accommodate this application.
I would be happy with a 4 into 4, or 4 into 2 set up again. Way too many headers in my herd, I'm missing a stock-ish set up. Next time I get near an import exhaust pipe bender I'm gonna ask if they'll give it a whirl.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #64 on:** June 13, 2021, 03:30:26 PM »

So, had some time yesterday and today, did the rim yesterday, the rim is a cheap ebay knockoff, it true's up ok but It is by no means is a quality rim, in the past I've always used Buchanan's for their akront or more recently excel rims. But boy, you can by 2 ebay cheapies for the price of one of Buchanan's rims, yet the cheapies are just that. Cheap. The finish is also not even close and the weld finish at the rim joint was awful. You can true the rim on the inside but the rim was very wavy on either side of the weld on the exterior.
It is what it is, inexpensive rims, inexpensive tires (dunlop 404's). The tires slid right on, 2 plastic tire tools (same ones I use to mount bicycle tires) and some zip tires, 20 minutes later and their on.
Going to see if I can remount the 650 oil pan next.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #65 on:** June 15, 2021, 09:20:45 AM »

Ok, finally a little progress, 650 oil pan is back on. Looking to go to the front end next. Going to DMV next week for registration and finally a ride on the open road.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #66 on:** June 21, 2021, 02:07:22 PM »

Got my plates today, and while its a PIA to make an appointment and wait, DMV is so much better for it. took maybe 20 minutes, including pulling up the history on a 34 year old title. In the past I would have had to wait a week or more for a title that's been purged from the system to be verified.
Rode around for about 15 minutes, starts and stops fine. Idle is hanging a smidge, a few good blasts or the throttle, returned home. Will take an other ride in the next day or two and then take a look at things. but all in all, a good start. Gotta get the front rim and tire on next.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #67 on:** July 02, 2021, 10:45:15 AM »

One less thing to do, laced up and trued the front rim. Its been raining for the past day or so and will tomorrow as well so may get the tire mounted tomorrow. Then I'll pull the front end and clean it up as well.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #68 on:** July 04, 2021, 04:48:11 PM »

Well, found a little time today to mount the front tire and put it all back together. So up next is a lower handlebar.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #69 on:** July 04, 2021, 06:02:46 PM »

so nice!

Mark1976 · « **Reply #70 on:** July 05, 2021, 06:47:08 AM »

Thanks, one thing at a time. Going to take for another ride today, providing my back compiles (getting old sucks) then go thru and double check all the vitals, then put the new bar on.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #71 on:** July 10, 2021, 06:35:01 PM »

So, went for a ride on Friday and Saturday, Friday's didn't start out well. I noticed after the first
few miles and runs thru the rev range that it would break up intermittently once it passed 8500. So turned around came back home checked the plugs and closed the gap up on the plugs to .025 and went back out. Rode for 20 miles or so everything seemed fine, ran the full range of rpm up to 9500, seemed a little soft on top.
Then today I thought it'd be a good idea to run thru the gears again today, and until the last 5 miles of a 25 mile, ride it ran pretty good. Then an intermittent stumble developed between 4 and 5k. So after a few miles of backing off the throttle and letting cool off a bit I was able to get one last clean pull and then pull in the driveway. The pipe is picking up a nice lite bronzy hue from the head to the collector. Looks really nice.
I'm pretty sure the jetting is a little lean on top, it's stock jetting, and considering it now has a 650 cam and a pretty free flowing pipe, it's gotta be lean. I haven't pulled the plugs but will do that first chance I get. Won't be for a week or more, going on vacation.

desertrefugee · « **Reply #72 on:** July 10, 2021, 08:51:49 PM »

Really nice transformation.

Hey, did the 550F come factory with dual disc in the front? Or did you do that? I didn’t remember the 550 having dual discs.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #73 on:** July 12, 2021, 12:08:25 PM »

I picked up the additional disc and caliper from the gentleman I bought it from. It was one of the first changes I made once I got it back home.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #74 on:** September 19, 2021, 04:39:31 PM »

So, long time no see. Been busy, work, vacation, more work then life in general and in between work on the bike ride the bike and repeat. But I have determined what was causing the off again on again stumble.
Checked the plug caps and found 1 that was out of spec (17k) they're the original 10 ohm caps, so replaced them and thought I was done, yeah not. Still stumbled, SOB. Well since it really wasn't pronounced until warmed up I'm thinking, could be condensers, they're 30+ years old, so I replaced them with a pair I had that I knew were good. Ya know what, that didn't help either. So up next, pull the freaking carb rack.
Once off, I found a silty residue, especially in number 2 carb. Cleaned, again and blew everything out, found out that the 3&4 slow jets were not entirely clear, so I replaced them. Reset the float heights, they were a smidge high (clear tubed them) put it all back together and it runs great. Pulls right to 10k and never skips a beat, very satisfied.
Then put the proper decals on the tank and side cover and it appears to be making its way back to how it looked in 1976. So now I've ridden it on and off for the last few weeks and I gotta admit, it's a lotta fun to ride, more midrange than my 400f but with the 650 cam it still has a little topend rush. Not like the 400 but its there. It's also really oil tight, no smoke, no leaks, I really can't stand oil leaks, such a pita.
Up next will be the oil cooler when I do the next oil change, here's a couple of pics.

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Author Topic: '76 550f barn find. (Read 6870 times)