Topic: short 550 rebuild thread - facelift

[Shtonecb500]

I got outbid on a very gorgeous nos cb500 seat and a very good cb500 used in good condition over the last few days....I did manage to score an OEM 550 seat that is just dusty, so I found something.

[Shtonecb500]

Ive got Wolfs aluminum side covers coming soon and I have a dent removal kit on the way for two dents on the 550 ss tank. I have a dent in my wrinkle tank too that I want to address...hopefully this cheap glue and puller kit will work. The bike is basically going to be nothing but brushed steel/aluminum and polished aluminum....It will make both my main bikes a black/grey/silver scheme...idk how i feel about that lol.

[Shtonecb500]

here is  a picture of the NOS seat i lost out on, i wish i bought it. Then, here is a picture of the dusty 550 seat i got and new pictures of it cleaned up a little and in my possession.

I didnt picture the other 500 seat i went for cause i cant find it anymore but oh well....it looks like this OEM seat wasnt used, the seller said it was sitting on a shelf all these years and the only rust i see on the underside is where the rubber mounts are missing.

The oberon bar end mirrors that are on my 750 are getting installed on this bike...they make my 750 too wide but this 550 uses 400f bars and arent any wider than my shoulders, so they will be prefect on this.

I paid 260 delivered to me, aftermarket from Taiwan are like 220 plus 100 bucks delivery...so since this seemed unused I figured it was worth a brand new seat price.

If this seat isnt going to fit my 73' 500 frame someone tell me lol

[Stev-o]

That seat should fit.  I'd apply some vinyl/leather conditioner to it to soften it up.

Original seats in good condition are getting hard to find.

[Shtonecb500]

That seat should fit.  I'd apply some vinyl/leather conditioner to it to soften it up.

Original seats in good condition are getting hard to find.

I had some mink oil, I put multiple applications on there so far and this saddle looks really good now.

[Shtonecb500]

I swapped all the hardware and rubbers over to the new seat pan, installed the seat and it looks great. The 550F tank, while fits at the rubber, it’s still too long and won’t let the seat close. My stock 500 tank is almost too nice on the inside to give away to someone else lol. The tank has been stripped of hardware and will make it to the painters this week after I strip it.. I guess Ill have to source another cb500 tank to make it work with my seat, there is one in storage but it has knee dents hammered in with two spots up front for round emblems.

The side profile of these headers are garbage, maybe considering selling this entire set up. Depending on the tank that I get, I may just cut out the stock spout and make it recessed bc thats the only way ill want it with a brushed finished....the 550f tank trap door is slick.

[Shtonecb500]

Never mind, I forgot I had the tank for these side covers, my bike is gonna get this patina set instead. While the blue tank and a newly sourced set of side covers gets painted and go towards the 71' restoration.

Roasted inside, just how I like the inside of my tanks.

[Shtonecb500]

Starter cover and side covers showed up today, thanks wolf, They look awesome!

[wolf550]

Glad they got there safe. phew!

[Shtonecb500]

First round of sanding and polish

[RAFster122s]

Nice work

[newday777]

I'd apply some vinyl/leather conditioner to it to soften it up.

I had some mink oil, I put multiple applications on there so far and this saddle looks really good now.

Which one will not make the seat slippery?

[newday777]

I have a dent removal kit on the way for two dents on the 550 ss tank. I have a dent in my wrinkle tank too that I want to address...hopefully this cheap glue and puller kit will work.

I'm interested to know if it'll work too. I have a couple 750 tanks with some dents.

[Stev-o]

I'd apply some vinyl/leather conditioner to it to soften it up.

I had some mink oil, I put multiple applications on there so far and this saddle looks really good now.

Which one will not make the seat slippery?

I like Meguiars...

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-MC20306-Motorcycle-Leather-Conditioner/dp/B001G9MA7A?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[wolf550]

First round of sanding and polish

Wow! I got to get these 750 covers out to to see how good they can look! Maybe trade some work for some Ron finch 750 and 550 points covers I'm working on

[Shtonecb500]

are they finned covers or smooth?

[wolf550]

no finned here. all smooth.

[Shtonecb500]

no finned here. all smooth.

sweet, do your best at filling in your holes/pits. i'm just gonna sand and polish...at a certain point i couldn't tell if my sanding was creating more holes or not so i just stopped.

[Shtonecb500]

Finally pulled this motor for rebuild, I miss this bike so much. Swapped the bars out too so they can go to the k1.  The replacement tank I got from mid Ohio and some pics of the inside of it. I think Im going back to the my old blue paint color again.


edit: top end off

[Shtonecb500]

needed a valve job they all leaked and my valve cover was shot, the hole for the rocker arm pins were wallowed out, not sure if i explained that right.

Got the tank from mid ohio stripped down still need to order some repop side covers and get this stuff painted...there are two small dings on the left side of the tank...i think they came from the same drop....only a little bondo needed. Hopefully I can use some heavy flake base to get the blue to pop a little more.

[Shtonecb500]

Degreased the motor and frame and got everything back in and buttoned up. I decided to eliminate the stock air box and going to try out this breadbox I bought about 4 years ago. Installed the nos finned covers, cleaned the chain and got the tank completely stripped of paint but still need decent set of side covers. This has me thinking about wolfs side covers since the middle space is open it shouldn't be hard to come up with a legit way to secure them from the inside. The only problem im running into so far is the clutch cable is fighting for space with the breadbox, I have it tied up in the middle so the cable is more relaxed.

[Shtonecb500]

Bike started up, ran good, carbs leaked at the T's. I put on the aluminum side covers because Ill be able to secure them from the inside with the seat up easily, buffed and polished out the tank to match, Ill take my time on deciding what kind of color scheme I would like to go with, no rush in ruining 70 dollar decals. I really missed sitting on this bike.


Edit: the metal cb500 side cover emblems that I bought for the K0 can go to these aluminum covers, I can drill holes for these....For some reason I kept thinking because i swapped a 550 motor in there it should have 550 emblems but its a 500 chassis so #$%* it.

Also, after i drill the holes Ill carve a recess into the surface and pull wire through all the holes that way the wire doesnt sit flush on top of the cover, Ill secure both covers from inside with some kind of tightening method.

[newday777]

That looks great all polished up.
I like the gold on the disc's too.

[Shtonecb500]

drilled the side covers and fit the 4into1 metal side cover emblems on there, removed some material on the back side to fit the clips. Installed my bar end mirrors off my black bike on this 550, swapped the grips as well, fit a k0 rear tail light to my fender which also solved my license plate dilemma, torozzi brace and fender back on this bike. Drilled all three posts on the side cover to run wire or something through there...lots of options for securing the side covers, just wanna make sure i choose one that doesnt put too much stress on the posts.

Im not sure what im gonna do about a speedo, might get a magnetic pick up since there is the godfrey speedo delete. Couple updated pics...carbs are still off for rebuild at the T's. bike should be ready to ride this weekend....im geeked.

[seanbarney41]

Great looking tasteful bike!  Looks fun to ride.