Topic: Turbo Charged CB550 Landspeed Attempt

[Alan F.]

Well that's not so bad at all. I've got an old HF 7x10 lathe and the Micro-mill they made about a dozen years ago, small capacity but good for the imagination. You'll do well.

[BomberMann650]

Seems i underestimated the value of the compound slide tool holder gib.  Trying to find one that won't cost more than the machine, in a size that will work.  Not easy.

[Alan F.]

I wonder if a gib from one of the other Central Machinery machines will do? Here's a .pdf of what you can get from HF, Central Machinery starts at page 37. Uh... too big to attach here, link: https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/parts/In_Stock_Replacement_Parts.pdf

Also I took a look at www.littlemachineshop.com you might want to give them a call, your machine doesn't come up in their list.

On eBay I'd just search Cross Slide Gib and hope to find something in the correct size, you can always grind your own setscrew dimples with a Dremmel in a pinch.

Good luck.

Edit: http://lmscnc.com/1110

Length   4.7" (120 mm)
Width   0.4" (9 mm)
Thickness   0.22" (5.5 mm)

Maybe this can work? They're for the 7x lathes but they're in stock for $6.95

Cast iron is the slickest, but brass works too. You don't want to make one out of tool steel for sure, you'd want the gib to wear out not the dovetail.

[BomberMann650]

Thanks for the links Alan. 

Though i may have gotten the part name wrong.  I'm looking for one of these assemblies.
https://www.cncest.com/products/square-type-at300-lathe-tool-post-holder-mini-lathe-change-tool-post-80mm-stroke?variant=40859277852842&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQiAraSPBhDuARIsAM3Js4rZgMrapnEuHic2211TUO218sZK_Uv3RCBflPDikj3XKy5G-IM6je0aAlVJEALw_wcB
The ones with longer slides jump up in price dramatically.  The LH009 has one.  Hopefully a parts supplier might have replacements

Also need to find a millway bed to get better use of the overhead drill.  Those are a bit easier to find.
4 jaw headstock chuck wouldn't hurt either
Will probably need to get a few extra dial guages and gadget extendo holders.

[Alan F.]

Frank would have loved this.

[scottly]

The part you are looking for is called a compound slide; your machine has the four-way tool post mounted on a pedestal to raise it up to the chuck center-line. I think by "millway bed" you mean a cross-slide, which has a table that moves back and forth (X) and in and out (Y). Try using those terms when searching. BTW, 80mm is more than adequate travel for a compound slide on a small machine.

[BomberMann650]

Frank would have loved this.

You may be right.
Has anyone heard from Frank's family about the whole "spreading the ashes" thing?  I'd be willing to run part of a relay.  Get him down to wendover one last time.
Haven't even built the race bike yet, but there's a growing list of memorials to include in the livery.

Thanks for the tip Scottly.  I should probably read the manual more thoroughly 😅
Will order up that 80 mil slide the coming weeks.  Been looking at this slide for milling/drilling.

https://www.amazon.com/Mophorn-Milling-Machine-CrossCross-Drilling/dp/B0713YLS3K/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?crid=11FNV5RBFDC0L&keywords=milling+cross+slide&qid=1642749877&sprefix=milling+cross%2Caps%2C225&sr=8-14

Might be a bit big for the 007.  There are smaller ones. 
Not sure how many operations i'll be able to accomplish with it.  Certainly more than I could without it. 
Not having a motorized feeder may be a blessing or a blight 🤷‍♂️
Manual machining.  Emphasis on the Man.

[Alan F.]

Yup, you'll use muscles you may or may not know you had. Optimal height for those wheels is important, as is a good antifatigue mat to stand on.

[RAFster122s]

Have you ever used metal lathe and mill before?

[BomberMann650]

Have you ever used metal lathe and mill before?

Have you ever watched the older Grind Hard Plumbing Company videos on youtube?
They joked alot about their "idaho lathe".
A corded drill strapped in a vise, they used to rotate whatever thing they were trying to cut!

Thats basically my experience.
I've been consuming a good bit of machine shop channel content lately.
Some of the people are really good at explaining their craft.

Might take the cnc/dro courses at the college back home. 

[RAFster122s]

Recommend you take some training on lathe and mill usage, can save you a potential injury or damage to your new "toy" or your person and give you a good basis for capabilities and skills needed.
Walk before you try running...

[BomberMann650]

Hopefully the learning curve won't be a hairpin turn.

The first challenge will be getting it set up proper.  Spending time with the finer measuring tools.
This Old Tony suggests pvc pipe as a kid safe learning material.  A few hours of that and maybe graduate to aluminum.

The first run of steel parts I will have to make are simple pipe welding slugs.
Then a tube to fit the xs factory swingarm bearings.
The more advanced project will be milling axle plates and exhaust collars.

That said, I won't be turning down any warnings or advice.  No pun intended.

In other news.  Tig Welding class is rather enjoyable.  One of the full-time welding degree students came by to see what the new guy was doing. 
Took a look at my coupon and says "whoah - how long have you been doing this?"
Then i tell him "umm, about 45 minutes?""
He walks away and tells his buddy "new guy's doing better than I am!"
The instructor came by later, right as i f/// up and stick the electrode in the filler puddle 🤦‍♂️

Reminds me the oxyacetylene welding i did back in high school shop class.

[BomberMann650]

Why did i put off learning to tig weld for so long?!
These things are great!  Got to use the HF start machine with a pedal today.
Not using the pulse mode yet.  But lovin me some outside corner welds.
Methinks these will make it past the scrutineers.

[Old Scrambler]

Tune into Paul Brodie on U-Tube................He is from Vancouver and a few things about building race-bikes.

[BomberMann650]

Way ahead of ya buddy!  Brodie's channel and approach to bike building is superb!
Reverse engineering his Henderson was impressive.

[BomberMann650]

Oh
My
Gawd

Why is it so hard to find a machinist to balance the crank?

[Old Scrambler]

I've had good luck finding auto-techs and machine-shops proximate to race-track venues.

[BomberMann650]

I've had good luck finding auto-techs and machine-shops proximate to race-track venues.

There is a race car fabricator down the road from my garage.
Though i wouldn't be offended to find out their balancer is ill equipped to work on compact inline 4's

[BomberMann650]

Spent the last hour searching for carburetor alternatives to go on the race motor.

Recalled something about KZ650 carbs and head spacing works with some adaptation?
Certainly more budget friendly than the CR26 system.  Cheaper than the dual mikuni setup too.

If I am to hold onto the idea of "more built than bought" - what could be a kickass 4 pack carb to bodge onto the head?

[BomberMann650]

It's been a while since any update to this thread.
Granted, the bike build has yet to begin.  The skills acquisition phase is moo-ving right along.
The wish list of fabrication tools continues to grow on my amazon account.
Tig welder has been ordered.  Primeweld 225x will get sent to the workshop soon.
Meanwhile, i passed the welding class midterm exam on 3F horizontal T plate.  The vertical 3f didn't go as smoothly for some reason.  My previous attempt at a 3F vertical T joint was better.  Oh well.
Now if I could just get my stainless pipe joints under control.  The youtube welders make it look so easy!
Watched 28 videos of lathe skills, from bench setup to making your own machinist hammer.

Ironically, if I were to factor the cost of tooling into what is supposed to be a "budgeted" race bike build.  A hiyabusa with nitrous might actually cost less.

[BomberMann650]

Houston we have a problem

Contacted DP for availability on their stage 3 kit.
The big metal parts are out of stock with an indeterminate possiblity of resupply in 3-9 months.

Will have to consider alternatives for a high compression 61mm piston kit and camshaft.

At $70/ea for hardweld cam followers - it's tempting to give that the ol college try myself.

[BomberMann650]

In lieu of dp592 11.5:1 pistons.
I've come across the gentleman's express threads
It's tempting.  hypereutectic cb750 piston faced down to a cb550 deck height 🤔

[BomberMann650]

I guess the build can begin now - slowly.
The first of the race bike parts has been measured.  Camshaft Runout - core is good to go for regrind.
Until the funds replenish, the core will make a handy guide for polishing the bearing surface of the rockerbox.
Will try to avoid transferring the thickness of the sandpaper to the valve cover.

[BomberMann650]

The prodigal son has returned to the garage of his fathers!

It's been a busy day of clearing the workshop and finishing the walls.
The next two months will be a prep phase, as there's some more tools to acquire.  Carts to make, lathes to align, etc.
Gotta service the FJ for the trip to BMST'22.  Something made the ABS light come on before the deals gap trip.
Oil and Tires will eat up some of my spare cash so...race bike gets to wait for September

Then i'll double down on the race bike build.  The old forks are rusted, but will work for a leading link setup.  The cost/benefit of a gsxr front end wasn't there.  Plus+ I have a welder and know how to use it!

[BomberMann650]

Started disassembly on what will become the race engine.

This was the motor i blew up all those years ago.  Found what was left of the cam chain guide today.

Only broke one cylinder stud in the process.  I'll get a nut welded on there no problem.