Author Topic: '76 550f barn find. (Read 6764 times)

Mark1976 · « **on:** May 05, 2020, 06:07:48 AM »

'76 cb550f, barn find.
I parted with my money, loaded it into the truck and here it is. 10k and change on the clock, last registered in 1987. Also came with an extra tank and side covers.

Tews19 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2020, 06:13:09 AM »

Nice find! Slap some new rims on it and she is good to go!

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Mark1976 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2020, 06:20:01 AM »

I'd like to think that, but its stuck. I've peered into the cylinders with a hawkeye and all the cylinders look good, no rust just dry. So its soaking with kroil in it, it'll loosen up in a day or two or three.

Stev-o · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2020, 06:28:00 AM »

Quote from: Mark1976 on May 05, 2020, 06:20:01 AM

So its soaking with kroil in it, it'll loosen up in a day or two or three.

I've heard Kroil is good but the best "cocktail" is a 50/50 mix of ATF & Acetone.

Either way, after a day or two, rock it back and forth in 3rd or 4th gear. It will free up...

Mark1976 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2020, 06:30:00 AM »

Pulled the carbs, a real mess.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2020, 06:48:55 AM »

One of the reasons for picking this was the fact that its pretty intact, albeit a bit rusty. It was last registered in 1987, paperworks still under the seat. The gentleman I picked up from had many bikes, "just thinning the herd" as he put it.

MauiK3 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2020, 10:04:59 AM »

Looks like a great candidate for cleaning up.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2020, 10:37:38 AM »

Yeah, we're getting there. Pulling things apart, making a list.

rb550four · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2020, 11:55:55 AM »

Nice find. Did you get it locally? I thought I knew where most of the 550's were around here, it's amazing how they keep popping up. Has this gentleman thinning the herd happen to have another 550 , or a 450 he would part with?

Mark1976 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 05, 2020, 12:07:42 PM »

I'll find out, he's on vacation. 350's, 400's, 750's definitely even some early (late 60's early 70's) yamaha twins. looking to thin the the herd as he put it. i know he's looking to part with whole bikes, not parts...

rb550four · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2020, 04:30:30 PM »

Thanks Mark. I usually buy whole bikes ,never know what other parts you may need later on, like decent exhaust pipes, extra forks or rims with decent chrome. I see that you will be in the market for some of that stuff too. Good tanks, seats, and never seized engines are also getting harder to find around here anymore.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2020, 04:42:20 PM »

I'm really looking for a CB650 cam to toss in it, but yeah I'm gonna need a few pieces here and there to make it presentable. Gotta get it running and see whats what.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2020, 10:42:31 AM »

Its now free, turns easily, one less thing.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2020, 08:45:45 AM »

Carbs are clean, replaced the original brass with some replacements from my 40+ year collection of mains, slow jets and float valves. The original brass was in awful condition, this was just easier. Now just need to set float heights as well as new bowl o-rings and on they go.

Can550 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2020, 09:45:50 PM »

Good find
These are great bikes when get to good running
Congratulations

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Mark1976 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 24, 2020, 05:29:34 PM »

And I have a runner, spent the last few days reinstalling the carbs, cleaning and gapping the points, changing the oil, setting the timing and installing new plugs. Did the dual disc mock up,
no brake line yet, but everything lines up fine. I then started it today and did a quick carb sync, it obviously is a bit loud, the muffler was rusted beyond repair, but it idles fine and revs up without any issues. Can't take it for a spin yet, the clutch it stuck, it retracts but doesn't disengage, so it looks like I'm pulling the clutch cover next. I've got a few electrical bugs, no brake light or head light, but we'll figure it out. Still looking for a useable front fender, a cb650 cam and a kerker header. I do have the the cb650 oil pan, pump and oil p/u as well as a primary chain adjuster. Once I'm able to take it for a quick couple of spins I'll have a better idea of what direction to head next.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 24, 2020, 06:18:07 PM »

Got'er running

Mark1976 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2020, 02:46:30 PM »

So, I found a few minutes to pull the clutch, and it was definitely stuck. Pulled each plate apart carefully, all were stuck and all had minor corrosion. Lightly cleaned with a scotchbright pad, that's the last one before cleaning in the pic. I'll reassemble it later tonight. Pulled the rear tire off a few days back, a small nail had lodged itself in the tire and punctured the tube, patched it and threw it back on, now its holding air. Looking forward to a shake down ride.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2020, 03:36:22 PM »

Quote from: Mark1976 on May 18, 2020, 08:45:45 AM

Carbs are clean, replaced the original brass with some replacements from my 40+ year collection of mains, slow jets and float valves. The original brass was in awful condition, this was just easier. Now just need to set float heights as well as new bowl o-rings and on they go.

Wow,you got them clean

Mark1976 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 06, 2020, 04:10:13 PM »

Clean enough, i just need to be able to get a ride or two on it.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 07, 2020, 08:51:04 AM »

So, I've had a few rides around the neighborhood, got everything to work. Its a bit loud, no muffler, waiting on a header to pop up, if not I'll have to buy a current version of one. Anyways, everything seems fine so far. The ubiquitous box of 650 parts is growing, camshaft showed yesterday.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 07, 2020, 09:04:56 AM »

Couldn't help myself, figured I'd see how the camshaft looks once its dropped in. The original looks ok, theres a bit of minor galling on the intake lobe on #1, rockers the same. We'll have to see if it'll clean up.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2020, 09:45:01 AM »

Had to carefully clearance the head, mainly where the intake lobes run and more so on the #1& 4 cylinders.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 10, 2020, 10:47:04 AM »

Found a few more minutes, installed the cam.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 10, 2020, 03:04:23 PM »

Quote from: Mark1976 on May 07, 2020, 10:42:31 AM

Its now free, turns easily, one less thing.

Excellent

Do you think the original CB550 rockers will match-up to your CB650 camshaft without uneven wear ?
I would prefer getting the original rockers that mated to the CB650 camshaft,where the wear on both was matched;it's possible that using different rockers that aren't matched can cause premature wear on the cam and rockers.

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Author Topic: '76 550f barn find. (Read 6764 times)