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Author Topic: 78 CB550  (Read 971 times)

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Offline DJBlackRabbit

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78 CB550
« on: March 09, 2022, 10:07:35 AM »
I think we can all agree that the Clymer and Haynes manuals leave a lot to be desired and if you have the 77-78 for some stuff you are SOL. I have the Clymer manual, the owners manual, and a printed copy of the honda shop manual. Any other books that would be helpful for a 78 550? I know honda man has a book but for the 750. Thanks!


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Offline bryanj

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2022, 12:23:57 PM »
The 77/78 has very little of a manual from Honda being only a few pages long and showing only the differences from the 74 to 76 550, which also had a small manual showing the differences from the 500.
The big difference is the carbs and they have particularly bad picture, which to my mind match the type of carb
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Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline DJBlackRabbit

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2022, 12:29:51 PM »
Quote from: bryanj on March 09, 2022, 12:23:57 PM
The 77/78 has very little of a manual from Honda being only a few pages long and showing only the differences from the 74 to 76 550, which also had a small manual showing the differences from the 500.
The big difference is the carbs and they have particularly bad picture, which to my mind match the type of carb
Yup! I just got my carbs back together after cleaning and it took weeks of detective work comparing pictures and old forum posts to get an idea on how everything works/goes together. The upside is I know this carbs like the back of my hand now lol


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Offline amitr0

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2022, 12:30:23 PM »
Quote from: DJBlackRabbit on March 09, 2022, 10:07:35 AM
I think we can all agree that the Clymer and Haynes manuals leave a lot to be desired and if you have the 77-78 for some stuff you are SOL. I have the Clymer manual, the owners manual, and a printed copy of the honda shop manual. Any other books that would be helpful for a 78 550? I know honda man has a book but for the 750. Thanks!


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I have the '76 550K and I have the exact same gripe. Compared to the 750 manuals which are as thick as dictionaries, the ones for 550 are like comic books, thickness wise, and a joke content wise. I have hte heynes, clymer, and the pdf version of the shop manual.
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Offline DJBlackRabbit

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2022, 12:32:34 PM »
Quote from: amitr0 on March 09, 2022, 12:30:23 PM
Quote from: DJBlackRabbit on March 09, 2022, 10:07:35 AM
I think we can all agree that the Clymer and Haynes manuals leave a lot to be desired and if you have the 77-78 for some stuff you are SOL. I have the Clymer manual, the owners manual, and a printed copy of the honda shop manual. Any other books that would be helpful for a 78 550? I know honda man has a book but for the 750. Thanks!


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I have the '76 550K and I have the exact same gripe. Compared to the 750 manuals which are as thick as dictionaries, the ones for 550 are like comic books, thickness wise, and a joke content wise. I have hte heynes, clymer, and the pdf version of the shop manual.
Yea its ridiculous and a little surprising to be honest


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Offline bryanj

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2022, 01:19:43 PM »
Its because you only get the DIFFERENCES from the previous model so you have to read the 500 first AND its the same with the 750, every model gets a "supplement" showing the differences from the immediately preceding model.
750 was easier in UK as we went straight from 750K2 to K6, didnt get any of the intermediates and 500K1 went from 72 to 76 then we got 550F1 and K7
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Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline DJBlackRabbit

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2022, 01:32:46 PM »
Quote from: bryanj on March 09, 2022, 01:19:43 PM
Its because you only get the DIFFERENCES from the previous model so you have to read the 500 first AND its the same with the 750, every model gets a "supplement" showing the differences from the immediately preceding model.
750 was easier in UK as we went straight from 750K2 to K6, didnt get any of the intermediates and 500K1 went from 72 to 76 then we got 550F1 and K7

I hear you but they dont even go into detail on how to do things with the different parts. If I didnt have this forum and youtube I'd be lost lol
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Offline Kevnz

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2022, 08:54:02 PM »
Quote from: bryanj on March 09, 2022, 01:19:43 PM
Its because you only get the DIFFERENCES from the previous model so you have to read the 500 first AND its the same with the 750, every model gets a "supplement" showing the differences from the immediately preceding model.
750 was easier in UK as we went straight from 750K2 to K6, didnt get any of the intermediates and 500K1 went from 72 to 76 then we got 550F1 and K7
Bryan, with the later K3 500 you got over there, what colour schemes\ graphics did they come with? Did they just continue with the earlier 500 stripes and colours, or did they get the later wide stripe with gold a la K0550 and then the K1 graphics? Seems odd that they would run a whole separate paint scheme just for the UK market, so I would expect them to look like the contemporary 550
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Offline bryanj

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2022, 10:40:21 PM »
We never had the K3 500 only ever the K1. The 550 we got was the K3
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Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline Deltarider

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2022, 08:32:01 AM »
Quote from: Kevnz on March 09, 2022, 08:54:02 PM
Bryan, with the later K3 500 you got over there, what colour schemes\ graphics did they come with? Did they just continue with the earlier 500 stripes and colours, or did they get the later wide stripe with gold a la K0550 and then the K1 graphics? Seems odd that they would run a whole separate paint scheme just for the UK market, so I would expect them to look like the contemporary 550
The CB500K3 is in looks identical to the CB550K3. You have to look at the badge on the side to spot it is a 500. They were traded in continental Europe. No more than 4200 were ever assembled.
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Offline Kevnz

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2022, 11:23:13 AM »
I seem to recall seeing a picture in a factory parts manual of a 500 K3 which looked just like a K1, but had the larger 550 instruments. Mistaken?
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Offline bryanj

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2022, 11:50:19 PM »
That was a K2
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Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline Kevnz

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2022, 12:42:42 AM »
Ah, makes sense. So in UK you never got K0 or K2? Was it only the K3 that was basically a 550 engine\trans with 500 barrels? Any idea why you never got the 550 K0,1 and 2? Was there some kind of tax involved with engines over 500cc ?
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Offline dave500

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2022, 01:06:31 AM »
the later 550s with that flip gas tank lid were pig ugly things?i guess designed to look bigger than they were?
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Offline bryanj

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2022, 01:37:14 AM »
No tax but there was an insurance step for some years.
There was a short time when Honda were producing 500 K1, 500 K2 and 550 K0 all at the same time.
In UK we prefered the smaller clocks, black rear light bracket, grab handle and small indicators.
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Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline Kevnz

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #15 on: March 11, 2022, 05:33:17 PM »
My last 500 had a front fender with holes for a number plate bracket and a black tail light mount. I assumed it was a UK import, but didn't realise the bracket could have been correct, thought they were all chrome. I agree with Dave about the looks, the later one with stepped seat looks even worse IMO. Mind you, the opposition wasn't great either, maybe the Kawa Z650 being the nicest looking. Can't beat the original, I feel.
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Offline dave500

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #16 on: March 12, 2022, 01:38:33 AM »
the 500 and first gen 550 using the same frame and tank were the best lookers,and i think the better handlers aswell?
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Offline Kevnz

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Re: 78 CB550
« Reply #17 on: March 12, 2022, 04:32:57 PM »
Probably the most valuable and sought after too.
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